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Feature
Think Big by Thinking Small
Build a platform, not an app
Issue: 7.6 (September/October 2009)
Author: Marc Zeedar
editor-at-rbdeveloper.com
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 21,374
Starting Page Number: 17
RBD Number: 7609
Resource File(s): None
Related Web Link(s):
http://www.daringfireball.net
Known Limitations: None
Excerpt of article text...
One of my long-term projects is in its third generation and is starting to resemble a giant tower of wooden blocks precariously balanced. One wrong move and the entire structure will collapse!
As I attempt to expand the program and add new features, I'm clearly seeing the many flaws baked into the program's design from the beginning. Of course that beginning was ten years ago; I've learned a great deal since then, so I wouldn't make the same mistakes again, right?
Wrong. A year ago I started a brand new project and figured that with all my new knowledge I could do it right this time. That program isn't even released and I'm already finding severe design flaws!
This has got me thinking a great deal about complex systems. Specifically, complex programs. I've watched a simple program of mine grow into something complex, which has been a fascinating experience. I've seen "obvious" design decisions come back to haunt me years later with ramifications that hadn't occurred to me at the time.
...End of Excerpt. Please purchase the magazine to read the full article.
Article copyrighted by REALbasic Developer magazine. All rights reserved.
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