Steve McConnell Quotes

Never worry about theory as long as the machinery does what it's supposed to do.

I'm generally a very pragmatic person: that which works, works.

No matter how smart you are, you're smarter if you take the easy ways when they are available.

I don't care what anything was designed to do, I care about what it can do.

Sometimes technique works better than a whole lot of other things.

Puma was all about function and not at all about design. The founder of the company always believed functionality and performance were the only ingredients that could make Puma successful and design never mattered.

Two points that are very important points to remember and ask: Is it real and does it work?

I think the first things that are relevant are that things should work well; they should function.

Support what works and stop supporting what does not work.

It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.

I'm serviceable. I'm durable. I get the job done.

For me, cooking is practical. That's the core of an engineer. Engineers are very practical designers and creative people. Every single thing I create has to have a purpose.

I'm the opposite of a gearhead. I like simplicity. I use what works, and the only time I change it is when I have to.

A farmer's horse is never lame, never unfit to go. Never throws out curbs, never breaks down before or behind. Like his master he is never showy. He does not paw and prance, and arch his neck, and bid the world admire his beauties...and when he is wanted, he can always do his work.

Usefulness depends on tractability.

I believe in anything that works.

You can do anything you want, as long as it works.

I just think things should work properly.

Things that are complex are not useful, Things that are useful are simple.

You're building a tool, not a piece of art. Don't be blinded by the vision.

I just want things to work properly.

If it is stupid but it works, it isn't stupid. (a Shin'a'in saying)

Engineering is achieving function while avoiding failure.

The difference between utility and utility plus beauty is the difference between telephone wires and the spider web.

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.