The above is a quote from a song but I was reminded of it when sorting socks.

I found I was making pairs of left socks that I thought were pairs of large socks.

Then I found I was combining regular and large when I thought they were right and left.

“L and “R” have multiple meanings depending on the make/manufacturer of the socks. Who knew?

It not surprising, different things (especially abbreviations) can mean multiple and different things.

How do we avoid the people using the software we make from making mistakes like the ones I made with socks?

What are the lessons?

  • Always clarify abbreviations.
  • Avoid using terms or abbreviations that can easily be mistaken for something else.
  • Verify with people using something that they understand things the way we planned/hoped.