You probably know the famous “Mind the Gap” signs in the subway (for example in London). They remind you of the gap between train and platform. As developers we should always be aware of the gap between platform and requirements. It is the task of the developer is to close the gap between framework and requirements. But if the gap is too large,you might stumble, and the risk of failure rises.
If you need more than a few lines for a “Hello World” program, then the gap is apparently too large, and you are probably using the wrong language, library or framework. If you need already many lines of code for a very simple problem, than you need of course much more lines for a complex real-world problem. Probably too much to keep it simple, the rule number 1 in software development. In order to bridge the gap without stumbling (or falling into the abyss) we often use plugins, libraries or frameworks.
Development means closing the gap: adapting the framework until gap between requirements and raw material (libs & plugins) is closed
— 0×4a6f4672 (@jofr) February 25, 2014
Actually, closing the gap means closing the gap on multiple levels. Frontend development means adapting the views and templates until the gap between things which should be displayed and things that can be displayed is closed. Things which should be displayed are typically specified in the requirements and the wire frame models. As a developer you tweak and twist your interface until every pixel looks like it should.
Frontend developmemt means adapting the views until gap between things which should be displayed and things that can be displayed is closed — 0×4a6f4672 (@jofr) February 25, 2014
Backend development means similarly adapting the data model and the business logic until the gap between things which should be stored and things which can be stored is closed.
Backend development means adapting the data model until gap between things which should be stored and things which can be stored is closed
— 0×4a6f4672 (@jofr) February 25, 2014
The Flickr photo is from user comisariopolitico
Filed under: analogies, development
