http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/blampson/33-Hints/WebPage.html, by ButlerLampson.
Some of the hints are described on this Wiki:
- Make actions atomic: http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?search=transaction
- Use procedure arguments: HigherOrderFunction, FunctionalProgramming
- PlanToThrowOneAway
- DivideAndConquer
- EndToEndPrinciple
- DynamicCompilation
- CacheCalculations, MemoizationStrategy
- Don't generalize: YouArentGonnaNeedIt
Hints (using the slogans in the paper) for which I couldn't immediately find an appropriate page:
- Separate normal and worst case
- Do one thing well
- Get it right
- Don't hide power
- Leave it to the client
- Keep basic interfaces stable
- Keep a place to stand
- Keep secrets
- Use a good idea again
- Shed load
- Safety first
- Use hints
- Use brute force
- Compute in background
- Batch processing
- Log updates
Read the paper for the meanings of the slogans; some are not obvious.