1. zero one infinity rule
“Allow none of foo, one of
foo, or any number of
foo.” A rule of thumb for software design,
which instructs one to not place random limits on
the number of instances of a given entity (such as: windows in a window
system, letters in an OS's filenames, etc.). Specifically, one should
either disallow the entity entirely, allow exactly one instance (an
“exception”), or allow as many as the user wants —
address space and memory permitting.The logic behind this rule is that there are often situations where
it makes clear sense to allow one of something instead of none. However,
if one decides to go further and allow N (for N > 1), then why not N+1?
And if N+1, then why not N+2, and so on? Once above 1, there's no excuse
not to allow any N; hence, infinity. Many hackers recall in this connection Isaac Asimov's SF novel
The Gods Themselves in which a character announces
that the number 2 is impossible — if you're going to believe in more than
one universe, you might as well believe in an infinite number of
them.
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Definitions of zero one infinity rule
