Reasonable Engineering Manifesto

1. I build, understand and improve reasonable systems.

1.1. Reasonable systems can be reasoned about.

1.1.1. Reasonable systems require simple and accurate specification.

1.1.1.1. If the specification of a system doesn't fit in my mind, the system is not reasonable for me.

1.1.1.1.1. Because the specification is an approximation of my wants in my mind.

1.1.1.1.2. Since a specification approximates my wants in my mind, it can be made to fit in my mind.

1.1.1.2. The standard for a reasonable specification is personal.

1.1.1.2.1. Therefore, I do not use the word we in this manifesto. I don't know how to tell whether a specification fits in our minds. I might be able to tell whether a specification fits in my mind.

1.1.2. Reasonable systems require transparent implementation.

1.1.2.1. Reasonable systems are implemented with languages and tools that have reasonable specifications.

1.1.3. The implementation of reasonable systems can be too big to fit in my mind.

1.1.3.1. Because the implementation

1.1.3.1.1. is not an approximation, and

1.1.3.1.2. does not belong in my mind either.

1.1.3.2. When the implementation is too big to fit in my mind, some bookkeeping mechanism is needed to keep track of the gab between the implementation and the specification.

1.2. For me to improve systems built by others, sometimes certain legal arrangements are needed.

1.2.1. Especially for me to publish the improved systems.

2. Reasoning tools have enabled us to engineer reasonable systems that are practically useful.

2.1. Reasoning tools have enabled us to work on big implementations, as long as their behavior is defined for the reasoning tools.

2.2. Reasoning tools do not replace my understanding.

3. Part of mathematics is reasonable.

3.1. The standard of reasonable systems can be applied to mathematical theorems.

3.1.1. The specification of a mathematical theorem is its statement.

3.1.2. The implementation of a mathematical theorem is its proof.

3.2. Mathematical theorems, whose statements I understand, are reasonable.

3.3. Mathematical theorems, whose proofs I don't understand, can be reasonable.

3.3.1. Therefore I don't behave like some mathematicians, who are only willing to work with theorems whose proofs they understand.

4. Criticism

4.1. Is this manifesto reasonable?

4.1.1. Is Markdown a reasonable format?

4.2. Should building be placed before understanding and improving?

Reasonable Engineering Manifesto © 2025 by Yoichi Hirai is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.