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Quoting John Carmack

Simon Willison's Blog / 3/11/2026

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Key Points

  • John Carmack emphasizes that inexperienced developers often overestimate the benefits of designing software architecture with future requirements in mind.
  • According to Carmack, architecting for future applications or needs rarely results in a net positive outcome.
  • This insight encourages developers to focus on current requirements rather than speculative future-proofing in software engineering.
  • The quote reflects a practical approach and philosophy towards software design, often known as 'You Aren't Gonna Need It' (YAGNI).
  • The post is a simple quotation sharing rather than an in-depth analysis or news report.
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11th March 2026

It is hard for less experienced developers to appreciate how rarely architecting for future requirements / applications turns out net-positive.

John Carmack, a tweet in June 2021

Posted 11th March 2026 at 2:47 pm

This is a quotation collected by Simon Willison, posted on 11th March 2026.

software-engineering 62 yagni 7 john-carmack 4