Inversion Principle: Thinking backwards in Software Engineering

Let me make an intriguing statement. Imagine you are painting a canvas - It's not always important to know which color should go into the picture, but it is also important to know which color shouldn't go and you start your thought process with it. This is what the Inversion principle is and this principle can be used to design better software.

What is the Inversion Principle?

Let's say you are playing a game. Strategizing the game from the view of what not to do to lose rather than what to do to win the game defines the Inversion principle. If we apply this to Software, it means thinking about the things that could go wrong and avoiding them.

Why is it Cool?

• When we work on negations and avoid the things that we don't want to, it helps us to focus on the little details that make the software better.

• This ensures to building of reliable software. Since we focus on what's important and make sure to handle the problems that might come up.

• It acts as a safety net since we are already filtering unwanted things.

How to Apply the Inversion Principle?

Reliability

Think of ways that can break the software. Figure out the ways to prevent those things from happening and apply them, like handling the errors of increasing the usability of the product. Fix things before they turn into bigger problems.

Scalability

Think about the ways that will break the software with an increasing number of users of resources. Extract those scenarios and include stress testing early on in the process of development. Knowing these scenarios and avoiding them helps to keep things smooth and speedy.

Security

Imagine that you are a knight in the castle and protecting all the invaders. Thinking in the shoes of invaders and developing strategies to protect the castle from them enhances security. In software development, avoiding the things that lead to failure of the system to fall into the trap of hackers enhances security.

Few Tips

Projecting the future

Try to imagine the future and jot down the things that could lead to failure and address them.

Pick from Past

Learn things from the past and avoid those mistakes.

Be Prepared

Write the software as if you are always expecting the unexpected. This will enhance your ability to build robust systems that will quickly heal from failures.

Hammer your system

Keep trying to break your system now and then in an uncontrollable way and learn from the findings. Repeat this process and learn from it. Practice makes things perfect.

Finally

Thinking in terms of the Inversion principle is like having a map highlighted with pitfalls and bummers. Thinking backward is a Superpower for building the software. It will help us to avoid problems before they occur making the software Reliable, Secured, Smarter, and Scalable. Finally, the Inversion principle gives us a superpower that turns us into a superhero with practice who can tackle challenges.

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