The Design Zone (was Re: American English)

["Marc A. Criley" <mcquad2@earthlink.net>]

Graeme wrote:

 <snaepped>

> Some
> mathematicians "know"
> when a theory (or solution to a theory, whatever) is correct by the
> innate beauty of
> that aesthetic entity they perceive in their mind's eye... I imagine
> that a (good) programmer
> also knows when their solution is on the right track because of some
> symmetry or harmony to the system
> under analysis or construction... perhaps Ada makes this mental
> visualisation/comprehension a little
> more intuitive by its architecture ?  As a program under analysis or
> construction is itself an object of conscious
> (and unconscious ?) apprehension, perhaps you hard-core professionals
> intuit your way to the best solutions to a problem
> by the most "attractive" possible solution ?

I've certainly gotten that sense from time to time that the specific
design or implementation of some piece of software that I'm looking at
is "perfect", that there is no better way to implement what that piece
of software is to do.

Call it intuition or what you will, but I can certainly feel when I'm
"in the zone" doing some design or coding.  And the way it happens when
I'm working up a major design is to collect the information
(requirements, whatever), mix in my experience and knowledge of software
architecture and design, then let it turn over in my head for a few
days. I poke, prod, draw pictures, explore possibilities; then, in the
course of about five minutes, the entire architectural framework and
design manifests itself.  At this time I begin furiously making diagrams
and notes to get it down on hardcopy.

And that's how it works for me.

Marc A. Criley
Senior Staff Engineer
Quadrus Corporation
www.quadruscorp.com