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RubyConf AU 2015: http://www.rubyconf.org.au Mention the word architecture and you're sure to hear criticism about the difference between waterfall and agile processes. Spending time on extensibility? You ain't gonna need it, they say. Worried about speed? Cries of premature optimization ensue. But that MVP you're building is going to form the core of a business solution that will presumably last for years. Short-sightedly painting yourself into a corner is not a good way to start it off. But it doesn't have to be a choice between cowboy coding and analysis paralysis. We can take a step back and explore ways to budget for basic architecture, plan for the future, lay the foundations for growth, and avoid becoming riddled with technical debt.
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In Coraline Ada Ehmke's talk, "Pre-factoring: Getting it (Closer to) Right the First Time," presented at RubyConf AU 2015, she emphasizes the importance of thoughtful software architecture in the development process. She critiques the binary views of software development—pitting structured methodologies like waterfall against agile methods. Ehmke argues that the shift towards Just-in-Time design has overlooked valuable aspects such as comprehensive planning and documentation. She frames architecture as a discipline akin to sculpting, where the aim is to create order from chaos and avoid code entropy. **Key Points:** - **Architecture Definition:** Architecture encompasses the composition, design, and interactions within a system, similar to a sculptor shaping granite into a statue. - **Compromises in Development:** Ehmke stresses that every code writing decision involves compromises, which should be made consciously to avoid unforeseen technical debt in the future. - **Case Study - Panometer:** She shares her experience with the Panometer project, illustrating how a lack of architectural foresight led to significant technical debt and inefficiencies, particularly in data handling and read optimization. - **Challenges of Agile Methodologies:** While agile allows for rapid iterations, it can lead to issues when multiple developers work independently without a unifying architectural strategy, often resulting in messy, tightly coupled systems. - **Impact of Acronyms:** The use of acronyms like DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) can sometimes detract from code clarity and lead to convoluted implementations that prioritize abstraction over understandable code. - **Future Code Consideration:** Ehmke encourages developers to think long-term about the survivability of their code, advocating for extensibility and maintainability as fundamental architectural concerns. **Conclusions and Takeaways:** - Architecture is essential and should not be an afterthought; it requires deliberate planning to prevent legacy code issues. - Developers should create code that not only meets immediate needs but also sets a strong foundation for future iterations. - The architectural approach should balance between necessary design and agile development, ensuring that enhancements do not lead to chaotic systems. - Ultimately, Ehmke posits that thoughtful, disciplined architecture yields code that is functional, elegant, and maintainable, which aligns with creating positive experiences for both developers and end-users.
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