The skill of the programmer is subordinate to getting stuff done at a reasonable velocity. Given unlimited time, a sufficiently skilled programmer can always r

The skill of the programmer is subordinate to getting stuff done at a reasonable velocity. Given unlimited time, a sufficiently skilled programmer can always refactor as needed, when needed, and not a moment before. Data formats can be migrated, domain primitives can be reconsidered, names can be changed, interface boundaries can be moved. But there is never unlimited time, Unless you are simply programming for the joy of programming, and not particularly concerned about finishing some thing, or being able to make changes without taking on a large project each time. YAGNI is a mantra that we use to keep ourselves away from designing too much too early, introducing inappropriate abstractions and complexity that we will come to regret. But we are not religious fundamentalists either. YAGNI is a reminder, not a commandment. Just like DRY has its opposing WET, YAGNI has its opposing principle, even if we don't have a pithy name for it.