8 ms·

One aspect of knots is missing from these descriptions: suitability for inspections. Wiring on something like a mars rover is going to be inspected dozens of ti

One aspect of knots is missing from these descriptions: suitability for inspections. Wiring on something like a mars rover is going to be inspected dozens of times. So you want a knot that can be easily seen as correct from a variety of angles and without manipulation. Just as climbers want a nice symmetrical knot, if you are inspecting things you want a clean-looking knot rather than one that may have slightly better technical performance, ie figure eights over clove hitches. Similarly, work with aircraft and you will see safety wire rigged not only to be secure but to be easily spotted and verified from a distance. Safety wire that cannot be verified easily means more work during every future inspection.

keepamovin 3y ago
It's interesting. It suggests something about software: - code should be obvious (and obvious about what it does), and where it lives - tests should be obvious and should surface relevant critical work - UI should also be 'inspectable from a distance', as in people should be able to glance at it, and grasp the gestalt of how to do what they need (within reason and up to the specific uniqueness of the application)
- sandworm101 3y ago
  I once worked with helicopters, very large helicopters. The "UI" in the cockpit involved at least 18 gauges measuring all the basic stuff about the engines and associated sub systems. With the helicopter powered down each gauge seemed installed in a random orientation, a couple were even upside down. But when flying the "normal" needle position would point straight up, allowing the pilots to glance quickly to see that all was good without focusing on each individual gauge.
  - throwway120385 3y ago
    People are hardwired to see patterns before details.
  - mikepurvis 3y ago
    A lot of car dashboards have this too, where 100km/h, 1500rpm, nominal temperature and battery voltage are all the straight-up position.

keepamovin 3y ago

It's interesting. It suggests something about software: - code should be obvious (and obvious about what it does), and where it lives - tests should be obvious and should surface relevant critical work - UI should also be 'inspectable from a distance', as in people should be able to glance at it, and grasp the gestalt of how to do what they need (within reason and up to the specific uniqueness of the application)

sandworm101 3y ago
I once worked with helicopters, very large helicopters. The "UI" in the cockpit involved at least 18 gauges measuring all the basic stuff about the engines and associated sub systems. With the helicopter powered down each gauge seemed installed in a random orientation, a couple were even upside down. But when flying the "normal" needle position would point straight up, allowing the pilots to glance quickly to see that all was good without focusing on each individual gauge.
- throwway120385 3y ago
  People are hardwired to see patterns before details.
- mikepurvis 3y ago
  A lot of car dashboards have this too, where 100km/h, 1500rpm, nominal temperature and battery voltage are all the straight-up position.