Special Cases
Most software follows the same basic path. Some domains add constraints that change the design.
Why This Matters
Section titled “Why This Matters”If you treat every system as the same, you can miss the limits that matter in specific environments.
Core Idea
Section titled “Core Idea”Some software has extra rules.
Mobile, embedded, data-heavy, and AI systems often need different decisions because of their operating context.
Comparison
Section titled “Comparison”| General software | Special cases |
|---|---|
| Common constraints | Extra constraints |
| Standard user experience | Domain-specific limits |
| General deployment model | More specific runtime needs |
| Typical data flow | Unique performance or safety concerns |
Worked Example
Section titled “Worked Example”A mobile app may need to work with poor connectivity.
A clinic system on a locked-down device may need stronger operational constraints.
An AI-powered feature may need different oversight than a simple rules-based workflow.
Common Mistakes
Section titled “Common Mistakes”- Assuming one architecture fits every domain.
- Copying patterns from the wrong context.
- Ignoring platform constraints.
- Treating special cases as minor variations.
Checklist
Section titled “Checklist”- What makes this system different?
- Which constraints matter most?
- What should not be copied from the general case?
Small Exercise
Section titled “Small Exercise”Pick one special domain and ask:
- What is unique about it?
- What changes because of that uniqueness?
- What stays the same?
Summary and Next Step
Section titled “Summary and Next Step”Special cases need the same fundamentals, plus domain-specific judgment.
Next, put the whole path together.
- Why Software Exists
- What People Need
- What Success Looks Like
- Safety, Privacy, and Trust
- What Information It Needs
- How Software Should Feel To Use
- How Software Is Put Together
- How We Know It Works
- How Changes Reach Users
- How It Stays Healthy
- How It Changes Over Time
- How Teams Make Decisions
- How Cost And Value Shape Choices
- Special Cases
- Putting It All Together