Engineering 101

< RFC >

Revisions:
    20190609 start >david +pau
    20190618 add more <pau
    20190707 overview <pau
    20191115 quick overview <d
    20200622 RFC !
    20210227 added some experiences


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* Learn by being there when it's done:
    Ask how to be helpful.

* Don't overcomplicate things (thus never finishing them)

* Not broken? Don't touch it

* Critical stuff needs redundancy!

* Premature optimization is the mother of all fuckups:
    Get to a basic functionality first. Only then, find "improvements".
    If they're not critical, the piece should still have utility even without them.

* Maintain order:
    Pre-prepare the workspace.
    Regularly organize, maintain and improve available spaces: surfaces, boxes (do not let them overfloat!), etc.

* Mind gimmick vs non-gimmick tech:
    Also see 🔗real-hacks !

* Know basics of science and metrology
    (Electric) Volt, Watt
    (Mechanics) Newton, Pascal
    (Physics) Gram, Litre
    (Land) are, acre, hectare, km2
    How many minutes in wakeday ?
    km/h -> m/h -> m/s ?
    cups/spoons/tsp -> g?
    [...] !!!

* Read instructions before use:
    Keep manuals in archives for all 🔗stuff !
    ( Fails: "mixing paint", Kindle in sewater, etc)

* Mark/label all containers (on all sides), bags, etc:
    Make sure they close properly, and do not overfloat.

* Maintain a list of equipment, projects, and their states:
    See 🔗stuff, etc !

* Know the risks you expose yourself to:
    Get the necessary protection !
    * Physical work : use gloves
    * Paint work : breathers
    * Electronics : lead toxicity, soldering iron heat, know how to discharge capacitors
    * Driving : emergency breaking
    * Cooking : fire
    * [...]

* Make a plan of action:
    Find the best time, assistance, location to do it.
    Agree on roles, if there's more people involved.
    Schedule if needed.

* Pre-prepare your tools:
    * anticipate your selection
    * use the right surfaces
    * make them reachable during work
    * have an assistant

* Consider hygiene & don't confuse contexts:
    Don't eat with the hands you are soldering Lead with.
    Don't cut electric wire, leaving sharp tiny pieces, on the couch.

* Have an assistant ready:
    Involve them with learning.
    (Where are things? What are they called? What are your working on? How much time does it usually take?)

* Make the research, ask others questions
    Search for instructions & practical advice from others.
    Maintain experts, who you can easily reach, and will be happy to help.

* For complex & essential projects, consider plans, and also contingencies:
    Draft scenarios of what might happen.
    See for example 🔗season7-A (for Trucko fixing).

* Document !:
    Include unique marks of objects you're working on.
    This needs to be searchable in 2, 5, 10, 50 years.
    ( Examples: Sony surround stuff, The broken DC regulator, etc)
    ( Examples: Deda's projects)

* Consider & respect expertise level of all involved:
    Consider the time they spent doing, or studying what is being done.
    Lead (or follow), suggest (or listen) based on that.
    ( Examples : everybody vs david on setting tents in wind )


_____________ UNSORTED


NEW / UNSORTED

* Just do it:
    dont let ideas saturate your attention
    don't delay a project, trying to find the optimal time/place/ ...
    just try doing it, see how far you go
    but then:
        make sure you can stow it away well

* Return to projects:
    don't let them just sit there
    this will also improve your stowage & documentation
    ... and might make you cancel some that are "sitting there", saturating your attention

* Keep a list of projects:
    even the "smallest ones"
    this will allow you to manage them more effectively
    -----
    also in the future, sharing projects and resources will become more commonplace
    if something is not moving at your workshop, maybe somebody else will be happy to push it forward

* Know when to let go:
    have cancelling equipment, projects, resources
    pre-prepare:
        know how to discard
        have "chaos buckets" pattern
        etc


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