Foundation
The ground the thing stands on. Unfixable in retrospect. Do not improvise.
Unlike most construction stages, a bad foundation cannot be compensated for later. This article exists primarily to reinforce this.
Overview
A foundation is the portion of a structure that transfers loads into the ground. It is also, metaphorically, everything you build on top of. In both senses, the quality of the foundation determines the upper bound on the quality of the finished thing.[1]
The Council of Builds has, on several occasions, cited foundations as the canonical example of "a thing you cannot fix after the fact." This is understood to apply equally to data schemas, initial project setup, and first impressions.
Common Types
- Slab on grade — concrete poured directly on prepared ground. Simple. Cold in winter. Commits you.
- Crawl space — short walls on footings. Accessible. Often regrettable.
- Full basement — tall walls. Useful. Expensive. Possibly damp.
- Pier / pile — for tricky soils. Engineering required. Respect the engineer.
Software Parallels
Burbridge has noted that the software equivalent of a foundation is the initial architecture decisions: data model, module boundaries, and the name of the primary entity (you will live with the name for years). Changes here ripple further than changes anywhere else and compound faster. You cannot "refactor the slab."
See Also
References
- Geotechnical Oral Tradition. "It starts at the bottom."