Yet Another Indirection

YouCanSolveAnyProblemWithAnotherLevelOfIndirection. And not limited to computing either.

DavidWheeler?, the inventor of subroutines and specialist in developing high risk software, said famously that "any computing problem can be solved by adding another layer of abstraction".

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._Wheeler for his views on a list of important computing concepts over the years (till 2001).


The principle is not limited to SoftwareDevelopment. For example, when the going gets tough in ProjectManagement, YetAnotherMeetingWillSolveIt will surface as an acceptable solution.


Seen this on TV on handling of TheTsunami?, US style. When queried by reporters why the federal agencies had not acted promptly, the response was they were ready and waiting for the local authorities to act. A problem redirected is a problem solved.

See PassTheBuckAntipattern.


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