Y is for YAGNI - Python A to Z

Python A-Z is a blog series about Python. Each day, I share insights, ideas and examples for different parts of Python development that match with the letter of the day. Blaugust is an annual blogging festival in August where the goal is to write a blog post every day of the month. While I like writing code to solve my technical problems and fulfill my software needs, I don’t like writing unnecessary code. Writing something because you thought it could be useful is often — unless you learned something from it — wasteful in terms of time and effort and added complexity. YAGNI (You aren’t gonna need it) is a principle that arose from extreme programming methodology. While I have never worked in a project or company that followed any specific methodology to the letter, this one has been fundamental in my understanding of how to build software in a smart way. It hasn’t been without its faults though: one of my jobs ended due to a big clash with management around this idea. The principle…