What is Fred Brooks' concept of conceptual integrity?

Answered in Fred Brooks's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

Conceptual integrity is paramount. It means a system should have a single, coherent design, pursued with rigor. This unified vision, much like the elegant design of a grand arch, ensures that all parts of the system work together harmoniously and logically. Without it, a system can become a disjointed collection of features, difficult to understand, maintain, and extend. It requires a strong architect to defend the design vision.

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