But yak shaving is fun
This article delves into the developer phenomenon of "yak shaving," the often-relatable experience of getting sidetracked by an escalating chain of tangential tasks when trying to complete a primary goal. It amusingly traces the term's bizarre origin in a Ren & Stimpy cartoon, offering a fresh perspective on this common engineering pitfall. Ultimately, the author argues that despite its productivity risks, yak shaving can be a surprisingly fun and profoundly effective learning experience, sometimes even birthing monumental creations like TeX.
The Lowdown
The article explores "yak shaving," a term describing the process of undertaking a series of seemingly unrelated tasks to achieve a single goal, often leading far afield from the original objective. The author, Simon Park, introduces the concept through his personal experience of building a custom static site generator after finding existing frameworks too restrictive for his blog, illustrating a classic example of this phenomenon.
- The term was coined by Carlin Vieri, a PhD student at the MIT AI Lab, who was inspired by the absurd "Yak Shaving Day" episode of "The Ren & Stimpy Show," where a yak shaves itself to deliver gifts.
- The article provides vivid, humorous examples of yak shaving chains, such as sharpening an axe leading to shaving a yak, or washing a car culminating in stuffing a pillow with yak hair.
- It discusses why engineers frequently engage in building from scratch, often due to a dislike of off-the-shelf solutions, a desire to prove skill, or a client's misunderstanding of existing options.
- While acknowledging the risks of yak shaving—such as losing the original goal, exceeding budgets, and the high likelihood of failure in professional settings—the author posits that "yak shaving is fun."
- This enjoyment stems from the inherent joys of making things, solving complex puzzles, continuous learning, and working with a flexible medium, echoing Frederick P. Brooks Jr.'s observations on programming.
- Donald Knuth's creation of TeX is presented as an extreme success story of yak shaving; to write a book, Knuth developed an entire typesetting system, a programming language, a paradigm, an algorithm, tools, and a typeface over nearly a decade.
- The article highlights that yak shaving can be an exceptionally effective method for learning, forcing a deep dive into foundational knowledge, from Boolean logic to operating systems, making the process worthwhile even if the original goal is never fully met.
In conclusion, while yak shaving can be a dangerous distraction for projects with limited resources, it offers a unique blend of fun, discovery, and profound learning opportunities for those willing to embark on the journey.