Inspirational Quote by Eric S. Raymond
“Prototype, then polish. Get it working before you optimize it”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Cathedral and the Bazaar, 1999
First build a functional prototype, then refine it; early working code guides effective optimization.
In simple terms: Make it work before polishing.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize functionality, then improve.
Themes
software development
productivity
iteration
Mood
pragmatic
technical
Type
process
advice
When to use this quote
- startup MVP
- software refactoring
- hardware design
Key Concepts
prototyping
optimization
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it better to prototype quickly or plan thoroughly?
- When should optimization begin?
A Different Perspective
Rushing to polish can waste resources if fundamentals are flawed.
