Chapter 12. Design

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Our life is frittered away by detail . . . Simplify, simplify.

”Henry David Thoreau

Design is not a phase of a project that gives way to a building phase. Design and creation are one and the same. XP stresses this interconnectedness and reduces the number of design documents to those that actually help developers develop.

The ultimate goal of development is a successful Web site that will enhance a customer's corporate image, attract users, and allow easy and satisfying navigation. We have found that Web site design requires some closely followed best practices to further this goal:

• Aim for simple, elegant code.

• Use CRC cards for design sessions.

• Use naming conventions to save time.

• Reduce risk by using prototypes .

• Start slowly.

• Don't plan for tomorrow.

• Refactor, refactor, refactor.

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