Outline Speedrunning: A 10x Speedup for Building Anything #
Key Takeaways:
- Outline Recursively: Break down a project into smaller and smaller tasks, outlining each step until you reach a manageable level of detail.
- Speedrun Implementation: Fill in the outline items as quickly as possible, focusing on getting the core functionality done.
- Perfecting at the End: Only refine and polish the final product after you have completed the entire structure.
"Do ‘outline speedrunning’: Recursively outline an MVP, speedrun filling it in, and only then go back and perfect."
"Don’t just read this article and move on. Go out and do this for the very next thing you make so you can get in the habit of doing it."
Fundamentals of Building #
- Planning is Key: Outline speedrunning is based on the fundamental principle that effective planning is crucial for efficient execution.
- Master the Basics: Focus on improving your mastery of fundamental skills and techniques as they are the foundation for significant progress.
"Outlining is a fundamental of building. Outline speedrunning may seem basic. That’s because it is. Planning is a fundamental of doing, and outlining is a fundamental of planning."
"Much of becoming really efficient is about getting extremely cracked at the fundamentals (many of which you probably mistakenly dismiss)."
The Loading Bar vs. Outline Speedrunning #
- Loading Bar: Similar to a loading bar, this style involves working through a project linearly from beginning to end, which often leads to procrastination.
- Outline Speedrunning: This method breaks down the project into manageable chunks and emphasizes speed and momentum in the early stages.
"Generally, the best speedups come from improving your algorithms, rather than ramming your head into the task harder."
"This is recursive btw, because fundamentals typically have fundamentals."
Applying Outline Speedrunning Across Different Areas #
Writing:
- Define Topic: Choose the topic for your writing. Brainstorm the general plot if needed.
- Outline Structure: Create a quick outline of the document's main sections.
- Recursive Outlining: Continue outlining each section until you reach a level where each item is small enough not to require further outlining.
- Speedrun Implementation: Fill in the lowest-level sections first, moving up the hierarchy until the entire document is complete.
- Perfection: Once finished, refine the document, add stylistic elements, etc.
Programming:
- Define Purpose: Understand the main goal and functionality of your program.
- Break into Components: Divide the program into parts based on functionality.
- Recursive Decomposition: Continue breaking down components into subcomponents until they are small and manageable.
- Implement Bottom-Up: Start building the lowest-level components first and gradually move upwards to the main program.
"Now writing is easy and quick. My writing (and at the time, grades) improved substantially because I could allocate more time towards quality with a clearer, less stressed mind."
Speedrunning Explained: #
- Speedrunning in this context means completing a task as quickly as possible, with an emphasis on efficiency and momentum. It is based on the concept used in gaming where players attempt to complete a game or level in the shortest time possible.
- Speedrunning Tips:
- Focus on the core functionality.
- Minimize distractions and potential for perfectionism.
- Embrace momentum and enjoy the sensation of making progress quickly.
Additional Information: #
- The article encourages readers to follow the author on X (formerly Twitter) @dnbt777 for more content like this.
- The linked blog post by Ozan Varol (https://ozanvarol.com/hank-weisinger/) discusses the "Hank Weisinger" framework which, along with recursive outlining and the "start immediately and chunk" strategy, can be helpful for breaking down tasks.