Chapter 2. The Engineer Attitude

The attitude that every engineer should have, in every field of engineering, is:

I can solve this problem the right way.

Whatever the problem is, there's always a right way to solve it. The right way can be known, and it can be implemented. The only valid reason ever to not implement something the right way is lack of resources. However, you should always consider that the right way does exist, you are able to solve the problem the right way, and that given enough resources, you would solve the problem the right way.

The "right way" usually means "the way that accounts for all reasonably possible future occurrences, even unknown and unimaginable occurrences."

A bridge that could stand up to any reasonably possible environmental condition or any reasonably possible amount of traffic without constant maintenance would be built the "right way."

Software code that maintained its simplicity while providing the flexibility...