Great ideas come in many flavors and it is important to be able to recognize certain symptoms which in many cases accompany them. As Raymond put it, “Every good work of software starts by scratching a developer's personal itch.” This idea can however be taken beyond the realm of software and applied to any field, it is not an idea that is true about software development alone. A second symptom of a great idea is when this idea is presented to a group of experts on the subject and the idea is not completely refuted but instead criticized and possible modified. Experts will not lose time in an idea which is a dead end or is a “shiny object.” Connected with this idea is the fact that one has to be prepared to receive criticism and filter the good suggestions from the bad. It is also important to never be discouraged when you think you have a good idea and it turns out to be a shiny object. Good ideas take time and sometimes a stroke of luck to find.
Often times I feel like a good idea takes time to develop. It might even start out as a bad or mediocre idea. But given some time and effort, it can flourish and become something much better.
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