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Comment by Pamar | Hacker News Reader

Question: usually we create 2D models of sw: powerpoint, visio, a sketch on the whiteboard.

Has anyone tried lego or some other 3D construction set? Did it work? Is there anything particularly suitable to build "architecture"?

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It's a long time, but isn't this the software they build in the novel Microserfs?

If so the idea's been around a long while, so I guess it just doesn't work in real life.

It's a great geek novel anyway.

From what I remember the sw they were working on in the novel was more like a Virtual Reality lego. I.e. something like what they use in Second Life, or possibly Minecraft, but I don't remember it being aimed at modelling sw architecture. Also, by using a 3D sw you would lose the physical manipulation part, which seems to be important, according to the article linked above.

I have a feeling that legos are too "low-res" for sketching out software design. However, I use them sometimes before attempting a more detailed 3D model or illustration, to build a sort of sketch reference. I use this most when thinking about perspective, sight-lines, etc. It helps me avoid getting stuck in the minutia of my digital tools (Sketchup or Illustrator), where I can get distracted trying to make the tool do what I want.

Well if you include Lego technic, Lego is in fact Turing complete[0][1]. This means one could not only do software design, but development on Lego.

[0] http://rubens.ens-lyon.fr/fr/gallery/ [1] http://www.nico71.fr/lego-computer-digicomp/

I have definitely read about a project where they made a physical model to represent/show the complexity of a software system to their clients. IIRC the project involved doing a re-write of an existing system.

Unfortunately, I can't remember exactly where I read this. Perhaps someone else here knows the details? Sorry I can't be more specific.

Moshe Safdie used “All the Lego in Montreal” to design his Habitat complex http://www.dezeen.com/2014/12/19/moshe-safdie-movie-intervie....

I was wondering about the same. I'm also ok with being amongst the first to try.

I wonder if I should try a "Ask HN:" post and hope to get more answers about this.

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