The gist

Hacker Laws is a GitHub repository created by dwmkerr that serves as a reference for developers. It compiles and explains common laws, theories, principles, and patterns discussed in software engineering and technology. The collection provides a single, organized place for technologists to learn about and reference these foundational concepts, from Brooks's Law to the CAP Theorem, offering concise summaries for each entry.

What it does

Compiles dozens of development-related laws, principles, and patterns.
Explains each concept with a concise summary and its origins.
Provides links to primary sources like Wikipedia or original papers for further reading.
Categorizes entries into Laws, Principles, Fallacies, and other relevant groups.
Offers translations and a downloadable PDF version of the content.

How it works

The content is presented as a single, well-organized README file within a public GitHub repository. Users navigate via a hyperlinked table of contents to read explanations of various software development principles. It is a community-driven project that accepts contributions via pull requests. As a public GitHub repository, it is completely free to access and use.

Best for

This repository is ideal for software developers and engineering managers who need a quick reference or a clear explanation of a well-known industry principle or law.

Watch out for

The repository explicitly states it does not advocate for any specific law, and their application is a matter of debate. The entries are summaries and not exhaustive treatises on the topics.