TITLE: Heuristics for predicting the future


PROBLEM: Rick Rutt <rrutt@delphi.com>

[...] if you are building a system for longevity and future reusability,
you have to consider more than just your current "context".  You have to
spend at least some effort trying to anticipate how that context may be
extended by future clients of your object classes.


RESPONSE: rmartin@rcmcon.com (Robert Martin), 12 Jul 95

Over the years I have picked up a few heuristics.  Here they are.
[...]

1.  Wherever you see the number 1, consider that it might be N.  
2.  Whenever you see a constant, consider that it might be a variable.
3.  Whenever you see two or more concepts that are arbitrarily connected,
    consider that they might need separation.
4.  If a decision seems arbitrary, consider how it could be made
    differently.
5.  Consider that what is ancillary today will be primary tomorrow.
6.  Consdier that what is low volume today will be high volume tomorrow.