5 ms·

Heh, the car comparison really does resonate with me: I like the Porsche far more because it is a simple design, aesthetically. Sure, the actual implementation-

by tikhonj 14y ago

Heh, the car comparison really does resonate with me: I like the Porsche far more because it is a simple design, aesthetically. Sure, the actual implementation--the weird engine position and all the mechanisms needed to compensate for it--is relatively complicated. But this does not compromise the minimalist aesthetic. Quite a nice feeling, especially for a car from that era. The great performance is just a boost. The Cadillac, on the other hand, is probably simpler mechanically. It's a much more conservative, reasonable car: after all, who would be mad enough to put an engine at the rear of their sports car? But, wow, is the design busy. Little fiddly bits, fins, wheel-covers, too much chrome... Perhaps the best way to think about it is that the Porsche is a car with a small surface area (metaphorically) and a large depth. The Cadillac is the opposite: larger surface are but less depth. I much prefer the former. And this preference carries over into programming languages. I always like a language with nice aesthetics--simple semantics--even if it's harder to implement efficiently. I want a language which is simultaneously simpler and more flexible than the alternatives. And good performance certainly wouldn't hurt! At a high level, these qualities mirror preferring the Porsche, which is why I like this metaphor. Sure, it's not perfect--but it isn't supposed to be. I don't even think of it as an argument in favor of one aesthetic over another; instead, I think it's just a great way to describe why I like what I like.

weinzierl 14y ago
> after all, who would be mad enough to put an > engine at the rear of their sports car? The rear-end is where all racing cars have their engine. Sports cars are modeled after racing cars. The rear weight bias allows for increased rear traction and therefore better acceleration. Off course a rear-engine is difficult to drive, so there are sports car with a front-engine, but it's far from optimal from a performance stand point. The conflict between performance and appeal to the masses: that is in my opinion what Paul's essay is about.
- tikhonj 14y ago
  Racing cars--and many sports cars--are mid engined. That is, the engine is behind the driver but not behind the rear wheels. The 911, on the other hand, actually has its engine all the way in the back, partially behind the rear axle. It's a very different layout and rather uncommon.
brc 14y ago
But the simple rear engine design is more minimalist and aesthetic. Having the engine at the rear improves interior space. It reduces frontal area, which improves aerodynamics. Having an air cooled engine allows the rear placement without a complicated cooling system, having it horizontally opposed allows a lower centre of gravity as well as allowing a slimmer profile while still giving interior space. The great performance was the goal all along- all the decisions that went into the design were made with performance in mind. The early 911s (as pictured) didn't have exscessive power so the rear engine wasn't such a big deal. When they started putting in turbochargers the limits of the design were easily found. But Porsche was still able to work around these without ever turning it into a Cadillac.
blumentopf 14y ago
This seems to be the only top-level comment that actually gets what pg is driving at: Simplicity. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche's philosophy was that design should be honest. The car shouldn't pretend to be more than it really is. Reduce the design to the core of the product, eliminate distractions. Don't align the design to current fashion or trends. He believed that it's the other way round, fashion aligns itself to well-designed products. "Design must be functional and functionality must be translated into visual aesthetics, without any reliance on gimmicks that have to be explained. [...] A product that is coherent in form requires no embellishment. It is enhanced by the purity of its form. Form should be presented in a way that is easily understood and that does not divert attention from the product and its functional purpose. [...] Good design must be honest.” (Source: http://www.porsche.com/spain/aboutporsche/pressreleases/pag/archive2005/quarter4/?pool=international-de&id=2005-12-05 http://www.porsche.com/spain/aboutporsche/pressreleases/pag/... )

by tikhonj 14y ago

weinzierl 14y ago

> after all, who would be mad enough to put an > engine at the rear of their sports car? The rear-end is where all racing cars have their engine. Sports cars are modeled after racing cars. The rear weight bias allows for increased rear traction and therefore better acceleration. Off course a rear-engine is difficult to drive, so there are sports car with a front-engine, but it's far from optimal from a performance stand point. The conflict between performance and appeal to the masses: that is in my opinion what Paul's essay is about.

tikhonj 14y ago
Racing cars--and many sports cars--are mid engined. That is, the engine is behind the driver but not behind the rear wheels. The 911, on the other hand, actually has its engine all the way in the back, partially behind the rear axle. It's a very different layout and rather uncommon.

brc 14y ago

But the simple rear engine design is more minimalist and aesthetic. Having the engine at the rear improves interior space. It reduces frontal area, which improves aerodynamics. Having an air cooled engine allows the rear placement without a complicated cooling system, having it horizontally opposed allows a lower centre of gravity as well as allowing a slimmer profile while still giving interior space. The great performance was the goal all along- all the decisions that went into the design were made with performance in mind. The early 911s (as pictured) didn't have exscessive power so the rear engine wasn't such a big deal. When they started putting in turbochargers the limits of the design were easily found. But Porsche was still able to work around these without ever turning it into a Cadillac.

blumentopf 14y ago

This seems to be the only top-level comment that actually gets what pg is driving at: Simplicity. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche's philosophy was that design should be honest. The car shouldn't pretend to be more than it really is. Reduce the design to the core of the product, eliminate distractions. Don't align the design to current fashion or trends. He believed that it's the other way round, fashion aligns itself to well-designed products. "Design must be functional and functionality must be translated into visual aesthetics, without any reliance on gimmicks that have to be explained. [...] A product that is coherent in form requires no embellishment. It is enhanced by the purity of its form. Form should be presented in a way that is easily understood and that does not divert attention from the product and its functional purpose. [...] Good design must be honest.” (Source: http://www.porsche.com/spain/aboutporsche/pressreleases/pag/archive2005/quarter4/?pool=international-de&id=2005-12-05 http://www.porsche.com/spain/aboutporsche/pressreleases/pag/... )