PRINCIPLES.md

Principles

The engineering principles we present here are not set in stone. They reflect our current understanding and approach. We should welcome and anticipate changes in the code base as we learn and grow. However, the core of our work should always be the designers and engineers, who should work together and be supported in every way possible to eliminate the barriers and foster innovation.

mindmap
  root((Designer and engineer))
    Proficiency
        Collaboration
        Knowledge sharing
        Learning
    Feedback loop
        Communication
        Feedback
        Improvement
    Assistance
        Automation
        Simplification
        Reuse
    Collaboration
       Teamwork
       Communication
       Respect
       Empathy

mindmap
  root((Environment))
    Evolution
        Continuous improvement
        Feedback
        Adaptability
    Innovation
        Creativity
        Experimentation
        Learning
    Risk management
        Planning
        Assessment
        Decision making
    Defect detection
        Quality
        Testing
        Improvement
    Multiple axis concerns
        Holism
        Balance
        Alignment

Evolution 🧬

Software is always changing. It adapts to the needs of our users, our business, and our technology. We welcome change and learn from it.

We value:

• Continuous improvement: We strive to make our software better every day.
• Feedback: We listen to what our users and stakeholders tell us about our software and act on it.
• Adaptability: We are flexible and ready to adjust to new situations and requirements.

Innovation 🚀

We love to explore new possibilities. We try new things and see what works and what doesn't. We deepen our understanding of problems and solutions. We learn from our successes and failures.

We value:

• Creativity: We use our imagination and skills to create original and useful software.
• Experimentation: We test our ideas and hypotheses in a safe and controlled way.
• Learning: We reflect on our experiences and apply our learnings to improve our software.

Risk management

We balance risks and rewards. We consider the pros and cons of different options and make informed decisions. We reduce risks and increase rewards.

We value:

• Planning: We think ahead and prepare for different scenarios.
• Assessment: We evaluate the potential impact of our actions and choices.
• Decision-making: We use data and logic to make the best decisions for our software.

Defect detection 🔎🐛

We find and fix defects as soon as possible. We test our software thoroughly and continuously. We prevent bugs from causing more problems.

We value:

• Quality: We ensure that our software meets high standards of functionality, reliability, usability, and security.
• Testing: We use various methods and tools to check the quality of our software at every stage of development.
• Improvement: We fix defects quickly and prevent them from happening again.

Multiple axis concerns 📊📈📉📅

We consider multiple aspects of software development, such as software engineering, user experience, business specification, documentation, architecture, and implementation. We balance these aspects and align them with our goals.

We value:

• Holism: We look at the big picture and how all the parts fit together.
• Balance: We weigh the importance of each aspect and prioritize accordingly.
• Alignment: We ensure that all aspects of our software are consistent with our vision and objectives.

Designer and engineer proficiency 🏆👏

We share our knowledge and skills with each other. We use tools that help us design and engineer high-quality software. We keep learning and improving our craft.

We value:

• Collaboration: We work together and support each other in achieving our goals.
• Knowledge sharing: We exchange information and insights with each other to increase our collective wisdom.
• Learning: We seek new opportunities to learn new skills and technologies.

Designer and engineer feedback loop 🔄👩‍💻

We get feedback to improve the design and engineering of our software. We listen to our users, our stakeholders, and our peers. We measure the impact of our changes.

We value:

• Communication: We communicate clearly and effectively with each other and with external parties.
• Feedback: We solicit, receive, and give constructive feedback to improve our software.
• Improvement: We implement feedback and track the results of our changes.

Designer and engineer assistance 🙋‍♀️👩‍💻

We use tools that assist us in our creativity and effort. We automate repetitive tasks and simplify complex ones. We leverage existing solutions and avoid reinventing the wheel.

We value:

• Automation: We use technology to perform tasks that can be done faster or better by machines.
• Simplification: We make complex tasks easier by breaking them down into smaller steps or using simpler methods.
• Reuse: We use existing solutions that have been proven to work well for similar problems.

Collaboration 👥

We work well with others. We are welcoming, inclusive, respectful, and empathetic towards other team members. We communicate effectively and work together towards a common vision.

We value:

• Teamwork: We cooperate with each other and leverage each other's strengths.
• Communication: We communicate clearly, respectfully, and frequently with each other.
• Respect: We treat each other with dignity and appreciation.
• Empathy: We understand each other's feelings, perspectives, and needs.