YAGNI stands for "You Aren't Gonna Need It." It is a principle in software development that suggests you should only implement features when you actually need them, rather than trying to anticipate future requirements.
Key Points of YAGNI
- Avoid Over-Engineering: Don't add functionality or features until they are needed.
- Focus on Current Requirements: Implement only what is necessary to meet the current specifications.
- Simplicity Over Complexity: Keep the codebase simple and avoid unnecessary complexity.
- Refactor When Necessary: If new requirements arise, refactor the code to accommodate them.
- Avoid Premature Optimization: Optimize code only when performance issues are identified.
- Iterative Development: Embrace an iterative approach to development, adding features incrementally.
- Avoid Speculative Development: Don't build features based on speculation or hypothetical future needs.
- Maintainable Code: YAGNI helps keep the codebase maintainable by reducing unnecessary complexity.