Propeller Beanie

Members of the C3 team award a lovely FAO Schwartz PropellerBeanie to a developer who digs TooDeepIntoTheBagOfTricks to implement something.

The beanie is a friendly way of saying "isn't that a bit overly complex?" The Beanie doesn't have a look on its face, or a tone of voice. As such, it is a reminder without aggression.

Of course you and I always strive to write the simplest code that makes sense. I've noticed, though, that sometimes I get carried away with my own cleverness. And sometimes I just don't think of as simple a solution as was possible. It's good that my partners have a friendly way to bring me back to earth. The Beanie is just that friendly way.

It is often the case that a PropellerBeanie award should be made when you hear a developer say, "Look, look, look, this is cool."

If no one on your team ever errs on the side of complexity, you don't need a PropellerBeanie. Please send it to us: sometimes we need more than one.

Controversial stuff moved to PropellerBeanieDiatribe

Compare, relatedly, DoTheSimplestThingThatCouldPossiblyWork.

ThwozzThwozzThwozz -- the sound it makes.

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PropellerBeanie = the seventh of the SixThinkingHats. ;->

No... GreenHat is a PropellerBeanie.

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"What is the point of a propeller beanie if it doesn't make you fly?"

"Well at least we got this great box to play with." -- Calvin and Hobbes

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A PropellerBeanie (see http://www.magicmakers.com/retail/Hats/propbean.html) is a kid's hat with a propeller on top. When you run (or the wind blows), the prop turns. Associated in some strange way with being a geek. I don't know why, I think mine is kind of neat...

Because convection current caused by the heat coming off your mighty brain drives the propellor.

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C'mon. What about Beany and Cecil?

"Beany caps were hugely popular starting around 1952 due in large to the popularity of Beany and Cecil, the animated cartoon about Capt'n Huffenpuff and his nephew, Beany Boy. Beanie caps became de rigour with fraternities in college and even Beaver Cleaver wore one. Beanie caps are still immediately recognized and are making a come-back." -- http://www.oldetimecooking.com/Fads/beanie_caps.htm

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Learn more about them at:

• http://www.oldetimecooking.com/Fads/beanie_caps.htm
• http://www.stilyagi.org/cons/howard.html = real history (?) from the early '50s

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CategoryJoke, CategoryAntiPattern (for the "award?")