"Design, Composition, and Performance" by Rich Hickey (2013)

Discover how design, composition, and performance intersect in this thought-provoking talk by Rich Hickey. He explores the importance of design in programming, drawing parallels with music and emphasizing the need for modular, reusable code.

Key takeaways

Design is important as it helps understand a system, make decisions, and communicate with stakeholders. It’s not just about solving real-world problems, but also about creating something new and innovative.
In music, composition and performance are closely related. A composer writes a piece of music, and a performer brings it to life by playing it.
Instruments are limited and have their own unique characteristics, which require the performer to adapt and respond accordingly.
Design is about taking apart complex systems into smaller parts and understanding how they fit together.
In programming, design is often overlooked, but it’s essential for creating reusable code and ensuring that the system works as intended.
Good design is about making trade-offs and weighing the pros and cons of different approaches.
Design is not just about solving problems, but also about creating something new and innovative.
In music, harmony and melody are important concepts that work together to create a cohesive piece of music.
Design is about separating apart who does what, and understanding how the different components of a system fit together.
A good design should be modular, so that it can be easily modified and extended without breaking the system.
Design is about thinking about the big picture and understanding how all the different parts of a system fit together.

"Design, Composition, and Performance" by Rich Hickey (2013)

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