Software Abstractions Debate

The cluster centers on discussions about the pros and cons of abstractions in programming, including leaky abstractions, the risks of excessive layers, and the balance between good and bad abstractions.

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7,046
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4330
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

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Keywords

AI JIT IMO AJAX HTTP joelonsoftware.com sandimetz.com wikipedia.org abstraction abstractions layers leaky layer complexity code solve problems make things wrong

Sample Comments

Kuinox Nov 27, 2020 View on HN

There is good abstractions and bad abstractions.

beefsack May 6, 2012 View on HN

Abstraction is not a bad thing.

olliesaunders Feb 9, 2010 View on HN

Somebody once said: the trouble is abstraction can solve all problems except too much abstraction.

halayli Sep 18, 2012 View on HN

Abstraction in general comes at a cost.

teaearlgraycold Dec 29, 2023 View on HN

Rememeber: Having no abstraction is better than the wrong abstraction.

toomuchtodo Apr 8, 2016 View on HN

Not sure why you're being downvoted. Abstraction is for ease of use, not ignorance as to what's occurring under the hood.

namaria May 30, 2023 View on HN

Every abstraction leaks. That's why we need a lot of pruning and a care not to layer too many levels of abstraction.

dsego Nov 2, 2018 View on HN

If there is anything worse than no abstraction, it is a wrong or leaky abstraction.

iampims Aug 24, 2018 View on HN

Relevant: The Law of Leaky Abstractions [1][1] https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2002/11/11/the-law-of-leaky-a...

AlexCoventry May 15, 2018 View on HN

What's an example of a coding problem which would benefit from all that abstraction?