http://ayende.comAyende @ RahienCopyright (C) Ayende Rahien 2004 - 2021 (c) 202660All of this sounds like design to me, but it's good to know you're a rapid prototyper oren. http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment4http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment4Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:00:37 GMTThis is close to what I see, although I usually have a concept of the whole thing at a very high level as well. I tend to have today's architecture stored with what I think the goal architecture should be. I use a lot of visualization in my head. I am always reminded of (and still fascinated with) Tesla and the Mind Lab. Nikola Tesla used visualization (among other things) to take the blueprint of a system, build it, and start running it in his mind. Then weeks or months later would check back on the the system running in his mind to see where the wear and tear was! “Before I put a sketch on paper, the whole idea is worked out mentally. In my mind I change the construction, make improvements, and even operate the device. Without ever having drawn a sketch I can give the measurements of all parts to workmen, and when completed all these parts will fit, just as certainly as though I had made the actual drawings. It is immaterial to me whether I run my machine in my mind or test it in my shop. The inventions I have conceived in this way have always worked. In thirty years there has not been a single exception. My first electric motor, the vacuum wireless light, my turbine engine and many other devices have all been developed in exactly this way.” - Nikola Tesla Like I said, I am fascinated with his concepts! I don't know what truth there is to Tesla's abilities, but I can say that visualizing things in your mind really helps. I have trained my mind to go back and forth from the 10,000 foot view to what a certain piece would look like. I tend to think about things for weeks and how they will fit together. With that I can say I am probably pretty strange. Maybe in a good way? http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment3http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment3Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:31:06 GMTTotally agreed. I've been working really hard during my current project to get the guys working under me used to hearing and saying the terms "just-in-time design" and "just-in-time architecture" and to not fear the frequent (though less and less severe as time goes on) and inevitable changes that result from requirement and design insights that are gained along the way. Reminding them that every change in understanding results in a change in code, warning about being an "astronaut", reinforcing the last responsible moment principle, all sorts of things. The resulting difference in attitude, energy level, and success of the team when compared to others in the building is remarkable. http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment2http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment2Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:25:04 GMTI'm the same way. I do tend to grab the old pencil and paper and scribble my notes and arrows, etc... :) http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment1http://ayende.com/3368/my-design-process#comment1Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:18:19 GMT