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Object-Oriented Design: Why don't you explain this to me like I'm five

Salim Ọlánrewájú Oyinlọlá on August 11, 2023

Introduction In the world of creating software, a strong foundation is key. Before even writing a single line of code, there is a vital ...
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Dimitri Mostrey • Edited

Very interesting analogy. Worth of a copyright. Your article is the copyright.

Three decades ago, I bought a book about JavaScript for beginners (oh yes) The writer, who's name is on the cover on a book 9.500 km away in another continent, had a fascinating story about OOP and it's origins. From this book and my memory:

Urban planning. AKA city development. 15 concepts were developed. The idea suited programmers dealing with increasingly complex paradigms. It became quickly clear that most of them are not suitable for code development. After some years of eliminating unusable standards, only 4 stand. The 4 you are explaining.

It makes sense urban planning and OOP have a common origin. Take Brasilia for example. The capital city of Brazil. Purely planned on paper, not grown historically. As with interactive theater, so is the story of a city to house 5 million people. Designed by engineers instead of programmers. With the same goal: maintainability and adaptability.

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Salim Ọlánrewájú Oyinlọlá

Thank you very much for the kind words. I am glad you found the article and analogies interesting. As much as possible, I try to approach technical writing as a story-telling experience.

Cheers;