Greenspun's Tenth Rule
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
“Any sufficiently complicated C or Fortran program contains an ad hoc, informally-specified, bug-ridden, slow implementation of half of Common Lisp.” -
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
The ultimate form of system evolution. - Extended meaning: When a system (whether software or a rule system) becomes sufficiently complex, designers often have to reinvent a set of “scripting language” or “meta-rules” to patch it, but this newly invented set of rules is usually bad. This warns us: if we do not use a sufficiently flexible underlying architecture from the start, the patches made later for flexibility will be disastrous.
Anchor fast decisions
Greenspan's famous saying: 'Those who think they understand risk before a crisis hits will sooner or later be proven wrong.' It implies that the risks of complex systems cannot be fully captured by models.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/3Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenspun%27s_tenth_ruleverified
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