10 Bullets, #8: "ALWAYS BE KNOLLING". By Tom Sachs

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maicro · 2022-05 · Recommendation

[VIDEO] is a good introduction to the idea, but basically, "clean up and organize, with things aligned with the table and each other". Side note, I also recommend the main "Ten Bullets" video by Tom Sachs (of which the link above is for bullet 8, "Always Be Knolling"); it feels a little over-zealous and pretentious at times, but there's something about it that makes me want to go back and watch it every couple years for inspiration...

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Etheryte · 2024-05 · Reference

I don't really agree with this take. Similar to knolling [0], refactoring the code you're working on and that around it should be a natural part of every development flow. If you see a design choice that no longer makes sense, restructure. If code is unused, remove. Etc, we have plenty of powerful tools at our disposal in modern times and always cleaning things up as you go is the only way you will ever keep a code base maintainable. There will never be some magical future where you have time to clean up and refactor those thorny bits, the time is now. Similar to gardening, if you're pruning roses and you see a weed taking root, just pull it out, it's right there. You won't get all the weeds this way and sure, it would be nice to have more time to deal with them, but surely it will help a little. [0] [VIDEO]

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mk_stjames · 2023-06 · Reference

This reminds me of the process of 'Knolling', popularized by artist Tom Sachs. By definition it is just the act of arranging objects, tools, materials etc into spaced, parallel or perpendicular alignment on a table. Tom calls this out as an organizational technique, summed up by 'Always be Knolling' [0] - constantly scan your environment for things that are not in use, and if they are not in use put them away. If you are not sure if you need them, group all like objects, and align them all to be square to each other and the workspace. It's not like being aligned makes tools and materials really that much better organized, but it's the act of doing this that gets things put away and keeps clutter down and workspaces efficiently utilized. It's similar in part to steps in the Toyota "5S" system. [1] [0] [VIDEO] [1] [LINK]

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