News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit). Parent comment

Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by palish on Friday August 31, 2007 @02:39PM (#48850)
Being a perfectionist doesn't mean you make perfect things. However, perfectionism requires perfect taste for success.

It feels like there are two forms of design: "release early and release often" and "release it perfectly". Very few people have the taste necessary to find success in the latter.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by far33d on Friday August 31, 2007 @03:01PM (#48868)
Good point - "release early, release often" is also a quest to perfectionism, but is a public quest. You have your users determine what is perfect, what directions to go in.

Holding something to yourself until it is "perfect" is a solo quest. You may spend too much time on the wrong things and no time on the right things. But you also won't release something that is completely broken.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Aaron Swartz: Perfectionism (and his new startup, Jottit) by omouse on Friday August 31, 2007 @04:03PM (#48926)
"You may spend too much time on the wrong things and no time on the right things."

Aha, now we know what to call that solo quest for perfection: premature optimization.

[ Parent | on HN ]