In a Nutshell

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.

Rudyard Kipling

They’re not the most glamorous part of a software developer’s life, but specifications are an important part of our code-writing routine. Learn to read and write them effectively—to record the right information in the right place, in a way that will save time and hassle later. But don’t become enslaved by a paper-chain bureaucracy.

Good programmers . . .

Bad programmers . . .

  • Understand the importance of specifications and use them to make their development lives easier

  • Know the appropriate level of documentation required

  • Want to improve their writing skills and seek reviews and chances to practice

  • Dive headlong into a code task without a thought for design, ...

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