How Unix geeks get things done
Productivity goddess Gina Trapani from Lifehacker has been studying the Unix Philosophy and applying it to personal productivity. I think it’s an unusual idea, especially considering that, as the old saying goes, “philosophy is to real life as masturbation is to sex.” If you’re familiar with Linux or Unix you know what I mean.
Let’s think of these points as applying to the practice of NLP, though, and see where it takes us:
- Write simple parts connected by clean interfaces. (Rule of Modularity)
- Clarity is better than cleverness. (Rule of Clarity)
- Fold knowledge into data so program logic can be stupid and robust. (Rule of Representation)
- When you must fail, fail noisily and as soon as possible. (Rule of Repair)
- Programmer time is expensive; conserve it in preference to machine time. (Rule of Economy)
- Prototype before polishing. Get it working before you optimize it. (Rule of Optimization)
- Design for the future, because it will be here sooner than you think. (Rule of Extensibility)
What do you think?
Go read the full article: Applying Unix Philosophy to Personal Productivity