git ssb

%5U+7Fblfzf1iO+bE+anI/wn/L9L0LkpM5A9+Mlf0Wcc=.sha256

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  "author": "@EMovhfIrFk4NihAKnRNhrfRaqIhBv1Wj8pTxJNgvCCY=.ed25519",
  "sequence": 2314,
  "timestamp": 1463958265644,
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  "content": {
    "type": "post",
    "text": "# The Ikea Architecture\n\nWhat is interesting about well designed but cheaply made flat pack furniture? The way that they manage the distinction between essential elements of their design, and arbitary elements of their design.\n\nAs is obvious to anyone who has assembled an ikea product, they are mostly made from [MDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA#Furniture). But that is only _half the story_. MDF is used for the _arbitary_ part of the design,\nthis season it might look like this, next season, like that. The machinery that cuts out the MDF can cut of any shape (and it's mostly rectangles anyway) so they can iterate on that those aspects of the design as fashion dictates or simply for the sheer hell of it.\n\nBut there is one thing that doesn't change. [_The Hinges](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/75719200/) incorporate the part of the design that is \"objective\". Not only are the hinges solidly constructed (probably rated for a much heavier door than your little warddrobe) but they are [adjustable in _3 dimensions_](http://www.wikihow.com/Adjust-Euro-Style-Cabinet-Hinges), this means that if the MDF parts don't fit exactly, or if your floor is crooked and your shelf warps, the hinge can just be adjusted so that the door still closes nicely.\n\nHandcrafted solid wood furniture would put a lot of effort into making the body of wardrobe solid and sturdy, and could then [simple \"butt\" hinges](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=butt+hinge&t=canonical&iax=1&ia=images)\nBut this furniture must be assembled by an expert craftsperson, and cannot be shipped flat.\n\nThe Ikea Architecture separates _engineering_ from _design_. This means that designers don't need to think hard about engineering problems and can simply focus on what _customers want to buy_.\n\n---\n\n_Obviously_ I am actually talking about software. Specifically, about _User Applications_. This does not apply to developer tools, because that is nearly entirely engineering. but if you looked at user software, it's mostly _mdf_, or at least it should be.\n\nTests to check if you have achive Ikea Architecture:\n\n* can designers easily break your system (fail)\n* is it easy to repurpose your work into something different (win)\n* are the hard parts useful for other things? (win)\n\nWhen we talk about \"modular user interfaces\" I think it's misleading, because the things you actually see and touch in a user interface is mostly MDF. there may be a lot of code there, but it isn't interesting.\nIf it _is interesting, that is a bad sign_ that means it should be moved out to a place where it can be solved in isolation, you need to put much more effort into a part that will be reused (it *must* be reused, to justify that effort)\n\nSo I think what we really need, if we want \"modular user interfaces\" is some quality Hinges, and an easy way of dealing with the MDF.",
    "mentions": []
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