"... Only when I get the entire program in my head (level 0 only), do things get cooking ...This approach reminds me of Jessica Livingston's chapter on Steve Wozniak in "Founders at Work" (required reading). Only when he could get the entire Apple II into his head did it become the breakthrough that it was ..."
The common theme here seems to be succinctness and efficiency in design. The Woz example is a a classic here. The design process clarity of purpose through reduction until it is as simple as you can get it has merit.
So is it the speed of iteration to reach "high efficiency design" be the goal as well?
A good friend of mine is a artist. He claims his secret is, "I paint every day." I tried that. It didn't work for me.
I have tried every combination of pens, tablets, paper, sticky notes, and electronic approach to distill my thinking and none of it has ever made much difference.
Only when I get the entire program in my head (level 0 only), do things get cooking. I rewrite everything 3 or 4 times. Sometimes I rewrite just to understand.
This approach reminds me of Jessica Livingston's chapter on Steve Wozniak in "Founders at Work" (required reading). Only when he could get the entire Apple II into his head did it become the breakthrough that it was.
I used to be afraid to exercise because it took time away from programming. What a mistake. I walk up and down steps for 35 minutes every morning WITH MY PROGRAM LOADED INTO MY HEAD. THAT'S when I do my best design work. I didn't realize what was happening until just now. Thank you!