Ruthlessly Helpful

Abstract

The phrase “best practices” is sometimes difficult to accept. “Best practices” is really a concept that has become a part of the software development vocabulary; however, the phrase can be troublesome because not every best practice is clearly a better practice for all situations. In fact, a practice that improves one situation might worsen another situation. For that reason, this book avoids the phrase “best practices” and favors “ruthlessly helpful practices.” That phrase embodies the idea that a ruthlessly helpful practice for you might not be right for others, which is fine. It embodies an attitude of healthy skepticism, situational relevance, and judgment. In this chapter, you learn just what that phrase means, how it relates to selecting practices, and how to apply that attitude to those areas that you feel need improvement.