Writing a good design document (grantslatton.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the importance of writing good design documents, which are technical reports that outline the implementation strategy of a system. A good design document should convince the reader that the design is optimal given the situation, and the most important person to convince is the author themselves. The article provides tips on how to write a good design document, including organizing the document well, editing for length, and using an appendix for complex calculations. The goal of a design document is to take the reader's mind from their current state to a new state where they believe the design is a good one.

Main themes

• Design documents
• Technical writing
• Communication
• Software development
• Collaboration
• Documentation

What commenters say

• Using numbers and metrics in resumes can be seen as a way to provide specificity, but it can also be abused and is not always meaningful.
• The practice of including numbers and metrics in resumes is a result of the recruiting industry's emphasis on quantifiable achievements.
• Some argue that including numbers and metrics in resumes is not necessary and can even be seen as a negative, as it can come across as insincere or exaggerated.
• The use of numbers and metrics in resumes is not a reliable way to evaluate a candidate's skills and experience, and other factors such as problem-solving abilities and technical skills should be considered.
• Writing design documents is an essential part of software development and can help to clarify thinking and communicate ideas effectively.
• A good design document should be concise, well-organized, and focused on the needs of the customer or end-user.
• The process of writing a design document can be beneficial even if the document is not intended to be read by others, as it can help to solidify the author's understanding of the problem and solution.
• There is a trade-off between providing enough detail in a design document and avoiding unnecessary complexity and bikeshedding.