I think you mean re-implement the wheel, people often misuse the term re-invent the wheel. You actually need to change things for it to be called an invention:

I think you mean re-implement the wheel, people often misuse the term re-invent the wheel. You actually need to change things for it to be called an invention: http://move.rupy.se/file/wheel.jpg http://move.rupy.se/file/wheel.jpg That said I always write everything from scratch, to me it's the meaning of life; If you are only using things you don't understand, you cannot (re-)invent anything. Today we also do not own anything, which makes the problem even worse. Rules for a good life: 1) own 2) understand 3) change!