My Software Principles

Everything
# Focus on simplicity and the ability to change.

Shipping
# Software that isn't being used, whether not yet deployed or no longer in use, is a negative contributor to your goals.
# Users know more about what they want when they have software 'in their hands'.
# Measure success by the willingness of the users/stakeholders to spend time with you explaining what they want.
# Get really good at deploying and monitoring, and do it as much as possible.

Design
# Use building blocks to get where you need to go.
# Wrap building blocks with different access layers to make them useful to more things.
# Don't expose the implementation.
# Group together things that change for the same reason, separate things that don't.

Coding
# Make your code, build, test cycle as short as possible.
# Don't Repeat Yourself.
# Simple is better. Less is more.

Testing
# Unit Test (White Box) the important parts as you are building them.
# Regression Test (Black Box) those parts, and everything else.
# Consider the efficiency of your tests. How useful are they are catching problems? How much do they get in your way?