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OK, I’m coining a neologism:
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hyperkludge
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A hyperkludge is a design which is not a good solution for much of anything, but is a tolerably bad solution for so many things that it proliferates until network effects help it beat out better designs
———————
hyperkludge
———————
A hyperkludge is a design which is not a good solution for much of anything, but is a tolerably bad solution for so many things that it proliferates until network effects help it beat out better designs
Examples of hyperkludges:
wikis
email
HTML
CSV files
QWERTY
d20 TTRPGs
street addresses
alphabetical lists
hierarchical directories in computer file systems
tree controls for file system hierarchical directories
wikis
HTML
CSV files
QWERTY
d20 TTRPGs
street addresses
alphabetical lists
hierarchical directories in computer file systems
tree controls for file system hierarchical directories
I almost didn’t include QWERTY as an example of a hyperkludge, since it originally was a pretty good solution to a problem which won out for pretty good reasons, but its power to crowd out much more appropriate solutions in contexts like a touchscreen kiosk makes it one
I was hoping that “hyperkludge” would be a useful descriptor but I am embarrassed that I did not register this. Of course.
https://twitter.com/umairh/status/1264270442841464832?s=21">https://twitter.com/umairh/st... https://twitter.com/umairh/status/1264270442841464832">https://twitter.com/umairh/st...
https://twitter.com/umairh/status/1264270442841464832?s=21">https://twitter.com/umairh/st... https://twitter.com/umairh/status/1264270442841464832">https://twitter.com/umairh/st...
I’m hoping that folks will point to other examples of hyperkludges
Facebook is a perfect example of a hyperkludge, as is more generally the Feed
https://twitter.com/jennifer_jj/status/1264274002564075521?s=21">https://twitter.com/jennifer_... https://twitter.com/jennifer_jj/status/1264274002564075521">https://twitter.com/jennifer_...
https://twitter.com/jennifer_jj/status/1264274002564075521?s=21">https://twitter.com/jennifer_... https://twitter.com/jennifer_jj/status/1264274002564075521">https://twitter.com/jennifer_...
Yes!
Unix software architecture is very comparable to QWERTY in being a smart solution to an old problem which turned out to be a hyperkludge just not quite bad enough to dislodge as it became outdated
https://twitter.com/mycoliza/status/1264276872096960513?s=21">https://twitter.com/mycoliza/... https://twitter.com/mycoliza/status/1264276872096960513">https://twitter.com/mycoliza/...
Unix software architecture is very comparable to QWERTY in being a smart solution to an old problem which turned out to be a hyperkludge just not quite bad enough to dislodge as it became outdated
https://twitter.com/mycoliza/status/1264276872096960513?s=21">https://twitter.com/mycoliza/... https://twitter.com/mycoliza/status/1264276872096960513">https://twitter.com/mycoliza/...
A LOT of software standards are hyperkludges
https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278019381907456?s=21">https://twitter.com/burnsboth... https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278019381907456">https://twitter.com/burnsboth...
https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278019381907456?s=21">https://twitter.com/burnsboth... https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278019381907456">https://twitter.com/burnsboth...
I invite people more skilled in MS Excel to weigh in on whether it is bad enough to constitute a hyperkludge
https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278484404363266?s=21">https://twitter.com/burnsboth... https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278484404363266">https://twitter.com/burnsboth...
https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278484404363266?s=21">https://twitter.com/burnsboth... https://twitter.com/burnsbothends/status/1264278484404363266">https://twitter.com/burnsboth...
The more popular the software solution, the more likely that it is hyperkludgy
https://twitter.com/reinh/status/1264280442577928192?s=21">https://twitter.com/reinh/sta... https://twitter.com/ReinH/status/1264280442577928192">https://twitter.com/ReinH/sta...
https://twitter.com/reinh/status/1264280442577928192?s=21">https://twitter.com/reinh/sta... https://twitter.com/ReinH/status/1264280442577928192">https://twitter.com/ReinH/sta...
I think we can find a lot of examples of hyperkludges in public policy
https://twitter.com/looserooster/status/1264280841204588545?s=21">https://twitter.com/looseroos... https://twitter.com/looserooster/status/1264280841204588545">https://twitter.com/looseroos...
https://twitter.com/looserooster/status/1264280841204588545?s=21">https://twitter.com/looseroos... https://twitter.com/looserooster/status/1264280841204588545">https://twitter.com/looseroos...
Yes! Identifying something as a hyperkludge does not necessarily dimiss it. The term is meant to be descriptive.
https://twitter.com/smonkey/status/1264280423623913472?s=21">https://twitter.com/smonkey/s... https://twitter.com/smonkey/status/1264280423623913472">https://twitter.com/smonkey/s...
https://twitter.com/smonkey/status/1264280423623913472?s=21">https://twitter.com/smonkey/s... https://twitter.com/smonkey/status/1264280423623913472">https://twitter.com/smonkey/s...
Very characteristic of hyperkludges that they develop a body of skilled practitioners, support technologies, and cunning workarounds — and a cultural blindspot that it takes all this support to make them “good”
https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264287422180925443?s=21">https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyy... https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264287422180925443">https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyy...
https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264287422180925443?s=21">https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyy... https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264287422180925443">https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyy...
I am embarrassed to have called out HTML as a hyperkludge but not CSS; if anything, CSS is an even better example of the pattern
https://twitter.com/malacandra/status/1264292052885356544?s=21">https://twitter.com/malacandr... https://twitter.com/Malacandra/status/1264292052885356544">https://twitter.com/Malacandr...
https://twitter.com/malacandra/status/1264292052885356544?s=21">https://twitter.com/malacandr... https://twitter.com/Malacandra/status/1264292052885356544">https://twitter.com/Malacandr...
I think programming languages are a good example of how hyperkludginess enables their pervasiveness.
There are languages which are not hyperkludgy, but none of them have spread so far as C++ (or, say, Perl, gods help us all).
https://twitter.com/malacandra/status/1264292145810116608?s=21">https://twitter.com/malacandr... https://twitter.com/Malacandra/status/1264292145810116608">https://twitter.com/Malacandr...
There are languages which are not hyperkludgy, but none of them have spread so far as C++ (or, say, Perl, gods help us all).
https://twitter.com/malacandra/status/1264292145810116608?s=21">https://twitter.com/malacandr... https://twitter.com/Malacandra/status/1264292145810116608">https://twitter.com/Malacandr...
A few respondents have observed that hyperkludges are at least a cousin to the famous maxim Worse Is Better.
I concur. Not all hyperkludges emerge simply from Worse Is Better, but the WIB principle tends to produce hyperkludges.
https://www.gwern.net/docs/www/www.dreamsongs.com/9f49b703dc3bdac3f85b1a7483a55dae8c84fe9c.html">https://www.gwern.net/docs/www/...
I concur. Not all hyperkludges emerge simply from Worse Is Better, but the WIB principle tends to produce hyperkludges.
https://www.gwern.net/docs/www/www.dreamsongs.com/9f49b703dc3bdac3f85b1a7483a55dae8c84fe9c.html">https://www.gwern.net/docs/www/...
I don’t have an informed opinion about whether MIDI constitutes a hyperkludge, but the suggestion surprises me not at all
https://twitter.com/bravojohnson5/status/1264298744557654016?s=21">https://twitter.com/bravojohn... https://twitter.com/bravojohnson5/status/1264298744557654016">https://twitter.com/bravojohn...
https://twitter.com/bravojohnson5/status/1264298744557654016?s=21">https://twitter.com/bravojohn... https://twitter.com/bravojohnson5/status/1264298744557654016">https://twitter.com/bravojohn...
A little thread about concepts that are cousins to hyperkludges:
Worse Is Better, frankenstacks, ....
https://twitter.com/vgr/status/1264299813769670656?s=21">https://twitter.com/vgr/statu... https://twitter.com/vgr/status/1264299813769670656">https://twitter.com/vgr/statu...
Worse Is Better, frankenstacks, ....
https://twitter.com/vgr/status/1264299813769670656?s=21">https://twitter.com/vgr/statu... https://twitter.com/vgr/status/1264299813769670656">https://twitter.com/vgr/statu...
I dare say that almost pervasive Microsoft solution is a hyperkludge
https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301689454170115?s=21">https://twitter.com/whichligh... https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301689454170115">https://twitter.com/whichligh...
https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301689454170115?s=21">https://twitter.com/whichligh... https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301689454170115">https://twitter.com/whichligh...
In order to qualify as a hyperkludge, more elegant solutions need to be available or at least possible (even if they are not well-known).
So tempting as it is, no, democracy is not a hyperkludge ... but the US Constitution CERTAINLY is.
https://twitter.com/wastetime/status/1264301622177325056?s=21">https://twitter.com/wastetime... https://twitter.com/wastetime/status/1264301622177325056">https://twitter.com/wastetime...
So tempting as it is, no, democracy is not a hyperkludge ... but the US Constitution CERTAINLY is.
https://twitter.com/wastetime/status/1264301622177325056?s=21">https://twitter.com/wastetime... https://twitter.com/wastetime/status/1264301622177325056">https://twitter.com/wastetime...
Another proposed example of a hyperkludge where I do not have an informed opinion but I smell the ring of truth
https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301366085922820?s=21">https://twitter.com/whichligh... https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301366085922820">https://twitter.com/whichligh...
https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301366085922820?s=21">https://twitter.com/whichligh... https://twitter.com/whichlights/status/1264301366085922820">https://twitter.com/whichligh...
The marvelous replies I am getting to this make me grateful for Twitter, for once
I have never gotten a good look at a Bloomberg Box but I am extremely unsurprised to see it proposed as an example of a hyperkludge
https://twitter.com/gphipps44/status/1264309109601579008?s=21">https://twitter.com/gphipps44... https://twitter.com/GPhipps44/status/1264309109601579008">https://twitter.com/GPhipps44...
https://twitter.com/gphipps44/status/1264309109601579008?s=21">https://twitter.com/gphipps44... https://twitter.com/GPhipps44/status/1264309109601579008">https://twitter.com/GPhipps44...
One way that you know you are dealing with a hyperkludge
https://twitter.com/pavelasamsonov/status/1264311073039101958?s=21">https://twitter.com/pavelasam... https://twitter.com/PavelASamsonov/status/1264311073039101958">https://twitter.com/PavelASam...
https://twitter.com/pavelasamsonov/status/1264311073039101958?s=21">https://twitter.com/pavelasam... https://twitter.com/PavelASamsonov/status/1264311073039101958">https://twitter.com/PavelASam...
A great example of the hyperkludginess of US public policy
https://twitter.com/pavelasamsonov/status/1264311848163303425?s=21">https://twitter.com/pavelasam... https://twitter.com/PavelASamsonov/status/1264311848163303425">https://twitter.com/PavelASam...
https://twitter.com/pavelasamsonov/status/1264311848163303425?s=21">https://twitter.com/pavelasam... https://twitter.com/PavelASamsonov/status/1264311848163303425">https://twitter.com/PavelASam...
This is a great question.
Unix and the internal combustion engine are examples upthread of the elegance-through-vigorous-effort type. (I would add the whimsical example of the Marvel Universe.)
Decay is the more common case though.
https://twitter.com/mutualarising/status/1264316230774788100?s=21">https://twitter.com/mutualari... https://twitter.com/MutualArising/status/1264316230774788100">https://twitter.com/MutualAri...
Unix and the internal combustion engine are examples upthread of the elegance-through-vigorous-effort type. (I would add the whimsical example of the Marvel Universe.)
Decay is the more common case though.
https://twitter.com/mutualarising/status/1264316230774788100?s=21">https://twitter.com/mutualari... https://twitter.com/MutualArising/status/1264316230774788100">https://twitter.com/MutualAri...
A cheeky but correct example of a hyperkludge
https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264326732947107844?s=21">https://twitter.com/murphmonk... https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264326732947107844">https://twitter.com/murphmonk...
https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264326732947107844?s=21">https://twitter.com/murphmonk... https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264326732947107844">https://twitter.com/murphmonk...
Again, being a hyperkludge does not make a solution simply bad.
Email, for instance, is extremely hyperkludgy, but not simply bad.
https://twitter.com/flemn8r/status/1264329127085162496?s=21">https://twitter.com/flemn8r/s... https://twitter.com/Flemn8r/status/1264329127085162496">https://twitter.com/Flemn8r/s...
Email, for instance, is extremely hyperkludgy, but not simply bad.
https://twitter.com/flemn8r/status/1264329127085162496?s=21">https://twitter.com/flemn8r/s... https://twitter.com/Flemn8r/status/1264329127085162496">https://twitter.com/Flemn8r/s...
Bingo. Hyperkludginess emerges from a solution expanding far beyond its original target into places where it is a bad but ready solution.
https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264331759451283456?s=21">https://twitter.com/murphmonk... https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264331759451283456">https://twitter.com/murphmonk...
https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264331759451283456?s=21">https://twitter.com/murphmonk... https://twitter.com/murphmonkey/status/1264331759451283456">https://twitter.com/murphmonk...
Perfect example of a hyperkludge.
A few years ago I was describing the roots of a problem a client had to a young UX design colleague and wound up ranting my way back to the history of the telegraph to untangle it.
https://twitter.com/djinnius/status/1264335040713854976?s=21">https://twitter.com/djinnius/... https://twitter.com/djinnius/status/1264335040713854976">https://twitter.com/djinnius/...
A few years ago I was describing the roots of a problem a client had to a young UX design colleague and wound up ranting my way back to the history of the telegraph to untangle it.
https://twitter.com/djinnius/status/1264335040713854976?s=21">https://twitter.com/djinnius/... https://twitter.com/djinnius/status/1264335040713854976">https://twitter.com/djinnius/...
The dynamics which create the Lindy effect — things with a life expectancy which dramatically increases the longer they survive — also produce hyperkludges:
network effects, sunk cost, stack dependencies, et cetera
https://twitter.com/gdsimms/status/1264350827390500865?s=21">https://twitter.com/gdsimms/s... https://twitter.com/gdsimms/status/1264350827390500865">https://twitter.com/gdsimms/s...
network effects, sunk cost, stack dependencies, et cetera
https://twitter.com/gdsimms/status/1264350827390500865?s=21">https://twitter.com/gdsimms/s... https://twitter.com/gdsimms/status/1264350827390500865">https://twitter.com/gdsimms/s...
I take the point.
Some folks in replies have objected to calling HTML a hyperkludge, and while I disagree I understand how reasonable people may differ, since much of its hyperkludginess comes not of HTML itself but from its binding to an ecosystem.
https://twitter.com/dominictarr/status/1264356918471999489?s=21">https://twitter.com/dominicta... https://twitter.com/dominictarr/status/1264356918471999489">https://twitter.com/dominicta...
Some folks in replies have objected to calling HTML a hyperkludge, and while I disagree I understand how reasonable people may differ, since much of its hyperkludginess comes not of HTML itself but from its binding to an ecosystem.
https://twitter.com/dominictarr/status/1264356918471999489?s=21">https://twitter.com/dominicta... https://twitter.com/dominictarr/status/1264356918471999489">https://twitter.com/dominicta...
A great example.
I think it is still a little too young to qualify as a fully-developed hyperkludge, but it is poised right on the cusp, with all the right ingredients.
https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264336636168601600?s=21">https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyy... https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264336636168601600">https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyy...
I think it is still a little too young to qualify as a fully-developed hyperkludge, but it is poised right on the cusp, with all the right ingredients.
https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264336636168601600?s=21">https://twitter.com/hueyyyyyy... https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyyyyy/status/1264336636168601600">https://twitter.com/Hueyyyyyy...
It’s science!
https://twitter.com/nicholdav/status/1264365589490999298?s=21">https://twitter.com/nicholdav... https://twitter.com/nicholdav/status/1264365589490999298">https://twitter.com/nicholdav...
https://twitter.com/nicholdav/status/1264365589490999298?s=21">https://twitter.com/nicholdav... https://twitter.com/nicholdav/status/1264365589490999298">https://twitter.com/nicholdav...
One of the best examples yet of a hyperkludge
https://twitter.com/innokate/status/1264384311043686400?s=21">https://twitter.com/innokate/... https://twitter.com/innokate/status/1264384311043686400">https://twitter.com/innokate/...
https://twitter.com/innokate/status/1264384311043686400?s=21">https://twitter.com/innokate/... https://twitter.com/innokate/status/1264384311043686400">https://twitter.com/innokate/...
Fascinating that Google Docs and MS Office can be hyperkludges in a very overlapping space
https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrpi/status/1264384408209051648?s=21">https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrp... https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrpi/status/1264384408209051648">https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrp...
https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrpi/status/1264384408209051648?s=21">https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrp... https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrpi/status/1264384408209051648">https://twitter.com/sbjohnsrp...
Yes, this is an interesting sibling of hyperkludges ... and many of these misapplied things develop into hyperkludges when their original use fades away
https://twitter.com/forgingtowards/status/1264386358690242568?s=21">https://twitter.com/forgingto... https://twitter.com/forgingtowards/status/1264386358690242568">https://twitter.com/forgingto...
https://twitter.com/forgingtowards/status/1264386358690242568?s=21">https://twitter.com/forgingto... https://twitter.com/forgingtowards/status/1264386358690242568">https://twitter.com/forgingto...
Perfect example of accelerating hyperkludginess over time
https://twitter.com/nburn42/status/1264387147831873537?s=21">https://twitter.com/nburn42/s... https://twitter.com/nburn42/status/1264387147831873537">https://twitter.com/nburn42/s...
https://twitter.com/nburn42/status/1264387147831873537?s=21">https://twitter.com/nburn42/s... https://twitter.com/nburn42/status/1264387147831873537">https://twitter.com/nburn42/s...
This little thread sharpens an important point about what distinguishes a hyperkludge:
it is used to do a lot of things which it does badly, but spreads because it can do so many things AT ALL
https://twitter.com/jholbo1/status/1264377498843807745?s=21">https://twitter.com/jholbo1/s... https://twitter.com/jholbo1/status/1264377498843807745">https://twitter.com/jholbo1/s...
it is used to do a lot of things which it does badly, but spreads because it can do so many things AT ALL
https://twitter.com/jholbo1/status/1264377498843807745?s=21">https://twitter.com/jholbo1/s... https://twitter.com/jholbo1/status/1264377498843807745">https://twitter.com/jholbo1/s...
This is a great example of hyperkludginess.
Better voting systems are possible, but First Past The Post CAN be applied to almost every situation, so ....
https://twitter.com/nuttycom/status/1264399228345839616?s=21">https://twitter.com/nuttycom/... https://twitter.com/nuttycom/status/1264399228345839616">https://twitter.com/nuttycom/...
Better voting systems are possible, but First Past The Post CAN be applied to almost every situation, so ....
https://twitter.com/nuttycom/status/1264399228345839616?s=21">https://twitter.com/nuttycom/... https://twitter.com/nuttycom/status/1264399228345839616">https://twitter.com/nuttycom/...
I would at least say that US electrical plugs for AC power qualify as a hyperkludge, and it would not surprise me if this were true of other system elements I don’t know about
https://twitter.com/hishamzerriffi/status/1264582616755273728?s=21">https://twitter.com/hishamzer... https://twitter.com/hishamzerriffi/status/1264582616755273728">https://twitter.com/hishamzer...
https://twitter.com/hishamzerriffi/status/1264582616755273728?s=21">https://twitter.com/hishamzer... https://twitter.com/hishamzerriffi/status/1264582616755273728">https://twitter.com/hishamzer...
Simplicity is a way that hyperkludges often differ from ordinary kludges.
Often the basic mechanics of hyperkludges are simple ... but in a way which pushes complexity out to the application of them in practice.
https://twitter.com/thomascmost/status/1264567950318751747?s=21">https://twitter.com/thomascmo... https://twitter.com/thomascmost/status/1264567950318751747">https://twitter.com/thomascmo...
Often the basic mechanics of hyperkludges are simple ... but in a way which pushes complexity out to the application of them in practice.
https://twitter.com/thomascmost/status/1264567950318751747?s=21">https://twitter.com/thomascmo... https://twitter.com/thomascmost/status/1264567950318751747">https://twitter.com/thomascmo...
A tidy example of a hyperkludge:
We know it is not good, but it solves a lot of problems badly but not too badly, so it is everywhere
https://twitter.com/nat0n/status/1264605929179406338?s=21">https://twitter.com/nat0n/sta... https://twitter.com/nat0n/status/1264605929179406338">https://twitter.com/nat0n/sta...
We know it is not good, but it solves a lot of problems badly but not too badly, so it is everywhere
https://twitter.com/nat0n/status/1264605929179406338?s=21">https://twitter.com/nat0n/sta... https://twitter.com/nat0n/status/1264605929179406338">https://twitter.com/nat0n/sta...
Many hyperkludges are hyperkludgy because they are mostly used for things well outside the original design intent.
https://twitter.com/ykgoon/status/1264486718498979840?s=21">https://twitter.com/ykgoon/st... https://twitter.com/ykgoon/status/1264486718498979840">https://twitter.com/ykgoon/st...
https://twitter.com/ykgoon/status/1264486718498979840?s=21">https://twitter.com/ykgoon/st... https://twitter.com/ykgoon/status/1264486718498979840">https://twitter.com/ykgoon/st...
Feeds are definitely a hyperkludge:
a solution which is prevalent in part because it covers a range of problems, even though it addresses them badly
https://twitter.com/chronotope/status/1270047272940769280?s=21">https://twitter.com/chronotop... https://twitter.com/Chronotope/status/1270047272940769280">https://twitter.com/Chronotop...
a solution which is prevalent in part because it covers a range of problems, even though it addresses them badly
https://twitter.com/chronotope/status/1270047272940769280?s=21">https://twitter.com/chronotop... https://twitter.com/Chronotope/status/1270047272940769280">https://twitter.com/Chronotop...
Great thread about how Dungeons & Dragons is a hyperkludge ... and the deep cultural politics implied by that
https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1276629294043840513?s=21">https://twitter.com/ammourazz... https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1276629294043840513">https://twitter.com/ammourazz...
https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1276629294043840513?s=21">https://twitter.com/ammourazz... https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1276629294043840513">https://twitter.com/ammourazz...
