The Codeless Code: Case 160 The Eye of the Beholder
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A monk of the Laughing Monkey Clan found master Banzen
humming before his whiteboard with an uncharacteristically
happy expression on his face. Intrigued by this, the monk
hid behind a large potted plant to investigate.
As the monk watched, Banzen filled his whiteboard with a
class diagram of hideous complexity. The master then took a
step back to consider his work.
“Beautiful!” said Banzen.
He then erased the entire board.
The master did this several more times. His design grew
increasingly convoluted, yet with each iteration Banzen
would make the same proclamation and then completely destroy
his work, humming happily to himself.
The monk sought out Banzen’s pupil Djishin. “What is your
master doing?” the monk asked.
“Implementing the business rules for a new application,”
said Djishin.
The monk hesitated, then whispered, “His design is
surprisingly ugly.”
Djishin whispered back, “The business rules are surprisingly
ugly.”
The monk threw up his hands. “Then why does he dance about
like a schoolboy in love, and call these things
‘beautiful’?”
Djishin laughed. “Not the design, not the rules. The
challenge.”
