Interfacing

The art of layering

This morning, I started my day with a glass of Milo. Slowly, Milo particles are going down, gravitate to form sedimentation. Layering happen while transition phases. Phases toward stability. I enjoy this phenomenon.

The same case applies to an app/service, it needs transition phases. If we manage these phases properly, we will get a stable app/service. How many phases/processes and their ordering, depend on system needs. No exact amount or exact order here. I believe if in software development, a product or a service is like living creature. It will grow, evolve, or event radically change (read: pivoting).

We may adopt one of the mobile app life-cycle theories as starting point. It may be that is a radical thing. We swim with the stream. Some phases may be running well, some of them need modification/tailoring and others we do not need them at all.

Beside as subject, you need to be observer too. Observe what happens. Examine every particles which are going down. Use your agility and your sensor to capture the moment. Notice when sedimentations are formed. Look the interface between two layers. Do not just observe per layer. Look whole process and found the pattern.

Although details depend on context, I believe there is a pattern. Your art of layering will be refined when you do it for the other product/service. You will be an expert.