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Cynical Software

Code Review Velocity — The Need for Speed | by Gunnar Kudrjavets

expect and prepare for failure

In software engineering, "cynical software" is a design philosophy where systems are built to rather than assuming a "happy path" will always occur. This concept was popularized by Michael Nygard in his book, Release It! . cynical software

We see this pattern in every sector of modern computing. Cynical Software Code Review Velocity — The Need

  • Screen 1: "Are you sure? (Hide the 'Confirm' button in grey text)."
  • Screen 2: "Here is a discount you didn't ask for."
  • Screen 3: "Tell us why you are leaving (but we will ignore it)."
  • Screen 4: "We have deleted your account. (Just kidding, we will actually keep your data for 90 days in case you slip up)."

To build cynical software, you need to implement specific patterns that protect your system from "cascading failures." Here are a few essentials: Screen 1: "Are you sure