KISS - Fisher Price Block Stupid

April 2nd, 2008

So we have all heard the phrase KISS or Keep It Simple Stupid. In fact, Jim Weirich gave a good presentation at Mountain West Ruby Conference with three slides to hit home the point. Thanks Jim! In talking with a customer the other day they used the phrase in jest that we need to Keep It Fisher Price Block Stupid. Since I have three kids that all made it out of the toddler stage the visual imagery of fisher price blocks hit home.

How often do we say someone is trying to put a square block in a round hole? As software artisans how do we design Fisher Price Block Stupid software that works with the user instead of against the user? But wait, we need Fisher Price Block Stupid tool in order to rapidly develop software. Seriously, when I look at agile, it so Fisher Price Block Stupid (on the surface).

Okay before I get flamed.. Agile is also a black art one can never master. I hope to make a blog post soon that reconciles how something can be simple yet complex at the same time. Until then I challenge you to make everything you do Fisher Price Block Stupid.