Murphy's Law was originally a design principle: design it so it can't go wrong.
Instead of telling people that they have to put the red wire on the red socket, and the black one on the black, make the red one square and the black one round, so they don't fit.
Jim Kidd’s Radiator Law. Any goal can be subverted by how it’s measured. Example: At one point, the USSR established a goal for factory production of radiators for cars. The goal was X kilograms of radiators per quarter. The response was the production of radiators too heavy to use in the cars.
Great post. My understanding is that the original formulation of Murphy's Law was not "anything that can go wrong will go wrong", but rather "if there are multiple ways to use a widget, and one of those ways will completely break the widget, someone will eventually do that". It was more of a specific observation about UX design rather than just a maximally-cynical generalisation about the entire universe.
Good points you made, took a project management class, I saw most of this come true, I was 40 years older than the other students, So guess who outlined how the project got done. We had to build a music studio to teach music lessons in person and on line, when I brough up overhead on the building as well as maintenance on top of rent. I got What ? I was going for cybersecurity degree and this what I given for a project, Instructors last semester.
I've definitely been using "Cunningham’s law" without realizing it 😂
I'm usually unafraid to post PRs to other people's code with my idea, and they usually correct me in some way telling me how to do it the right way. Funny there's a name for it 😄
Thanks for the shoutout, Anton. My post about X/Twitter was a semi-humorous over-generalisation. The El0n Mu5k haters fell prey to Cunningham's law, and sky-rocketed the engagement into orbit.
Murphy's Law was originally a design principle: design it so it can't go wrong.
Instead of telling people that they have to put the red wire on the red socket, and the black one on the black, make the red one square and the black one round, so they don't fit.
More of this is needed.
Interesting, I was not familiar with the origins. Makes a lot of sense, thanks!
Finally all these laws in a single list!
Haha yeah I got tired of it too! Been cooking this one for a few months, started with just 5 😅
Don’t forget Cole’s Law: cabbage, mayo, carrots…
😂
Cole’s Law
In any general construction plan there will be at least one element that someone objects to (even if they actually like it).
My wife hates mayo in recipes (unless she doesn’t know that it’s part of the recipe).
Jim Kidd’s Radiator Law. Any goal can be subverted by how it’s measured. Example: At one point, the USSR established a goal for factory production of radiators for cars. The goal was X kilograms of radiators per quarter. The response was the production of radiators too heavy to use in the cars.
I think it’s very similar to Goodhart’s law
There must be a named law that states that in any extensive comment string eventually there will be a comment by a pissant disparaging Donald Trump.
😂
It's Godwin's Law, innit? 😜
Great post. My understanding is that the original formulation of Murphy's Law was not "anything that can go wrong will go wrong", but rather "if there are multiple ways to use a widget, and one of those ways will completely break the widget, someone will eventually do that". It was more of a specific observation about UX design rather than just a maximally-cynical generalisation about the entire universe.
Ah, I see Mary Catelli beat me to it.
Yep, but still thanks for pointing out, I was not familiar with the origins :)
I don't have a name for it, but this is well-known: "Complete, bug-free, and delivered on time. Pick any two."
😂
I know it as the iron triangle which is with is cost, scope, time. So quite similar, just with the cost instead of quality.
Also, apparently, useful to cartoonists.
Good points you made, took a project management class, I saw most of this come true, I was 40 years older than the other students, So guess who outlined how the project got done. We had to build a music studio to teach music lessons in person and on line, when I brough up overhead on the building as well as maintenance on top of rent. I got What ? I was going for cybersecurity degree and this what I given for a project, Instructors last semester.
Sounds like number 7 could be reasonably applied to Substack in the near future....
It can applied right now.. I hate most of the new changes :/
I've definitely been using "Cunningham’s law" without realizing it 😂
I'm usually unafraid to post PRs to other people's code with my idea, and they usually correct me in some way telling me how to do it the right way. Funny there's a name for it 😄
Yep I’ve also used it unknowingly 😂
This was very good and super well done. I needed a good read and this was the right day and this was the right article. Perfect.
Wow thanks a lot for the compliment Mike, appreciate it! 🙏
Thanks for the shoutout, Anton. My post about X/Twitter was a semi-humorous over-generalisation. The El0n Mu5k haters fell prey to Cunningham's law, and sky-rocketed the engagement into orbit.
Still, I think there is a point about bloated organizations and their resistance :)
Great article! Very well done. With 20+ years as a software engineer and technology leader, I've seen all of these come to life. 😄
May I repost?
Sure! Feel free to use it :)
Working on Big tech for years, I feel Cunninghams Law works best!! Tried and Tested.
Thanks for consolidating all crucial ones in one list.
Actually, C. Heathcote Parkinson’s Law is quite real and is one of several that arose out of his study after World War 1 of the British Admiralty.