📝 Notes
# 1) Optimize for what *lasts*
* **Goals:** dependability (doesn't break), extensibility (keeps growing), team scalability (son.
* **Practice:** keep modules independent so one person can owitching across teams.
# 2) Map the risk profile and isolate voes** (implementations & breaking versions), **hardware**, **prioat you don't own." Wrap external/platform dependencies behine.
# 3) Build your foundation first (own the base layers)
* **s," multi-user input model—even if today's OS doesn't support it. Keep a tiny **test app** that exercises the wrapper fobackend-agnostic (GL/Vulkan/etc.).
* **Text engine:** design there/return width). Start with a dumb bitmap implementation if youeak callers.
* **UI toolkit:** own your controls; text input is scripting, parsers—everything reusable across many apps.
# 4)eader/API defines everything consumers can do; internals are hidind the same API** and swap it in.
# 5) Choose the right *primia unit. Structure = how units connect.**
* Video editor: **clnts** (past and future) flowing through time.
* Jet fighter: *nce/accuracy/source metadata.
* Keep primitives simple and consistent; the structure (pipes, node graphs, timelines) orchestrateset length; consistent units; built-in **undo**).
* The core is ake almost everything a plugin
* Capabilities (formats, effectshemselves** (inputs/outputs, parameter defaults, UI hints) and r without touching the core or each other.
# 8) Separate "launlatform, loads the core + plugins, and wires up UI.
* Even the *ing parallel development.
* Because the core is headless, you ca).
# 9) Tooling is a first-class deliverable
* **Record/playband **language bindings** (e.g., Python) so teams can test in isocelerates external contributors.
# 10) Keep implementation free* (no "pass-through SQL" in the public API). Your API remains stable while you swap backends or scale from 1→N servers.
* vents both ways until you can cut over safely.
# 11) Distributiitative core**; components **subscribe** to slices of state at n** (voting, failover) behind the *same* external API—no consum
* Distinguish **semantics** (what it *means*) from **structurein.** Fewer options → better, more consistent implementations.entations if 1 will do.
* **Manage constraints** (e.g., all unitt interaction depth:** enough composability without labyrinthineto your world** (you control lifecycle, contracts) rather than y# Worked mappings
**A) Video editor**
1. Base layers (platform+ undo.
3. Plugins = media readers, effects, transitions, genera. Separate CLI renderer using the same core.
**B) Healthcare systorage; enforce invariants and access rules.
3. Multi-language glue**.
5. Many specialized apps & web frontends speak the same core API.
**C) Jet fighter**
1. Primitive = **current world s**subscriptions** for subsystems; different transports OK.
3. Toion.
4. Later upgrade to **redundant cores** behind the same API---
## Quick checklist you can apply tomorrow
1. Write down goariants.
3. Sketch the **core API** (read/write ops, undo, versinterface.
5. Stand up the **test harness** for your platform wraal plugin end-to-end.
7. Split UI into panels; get one panel talking to the core.
8. Ship the first **tool** (logger or recorder. Freeze the API; iterate internals freely.