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Beginner
Visual Metaphor Introduction
For those new to the framework
Overview
Imagine building software like playing a round of golf. You start far from your goal (the hole), and with each attempt (shot), you get closer. Some terrain is easy (the fairway), some is challenging (the rough). Hyperdimensional Vector Space Golf Scorekeeping tracks your journey through this landscape, helping you understand where you are and how to reach your destination efficiently.
Core Concepts
The Golf Course = Your Solution Space
The entire golf course represents all possible solutions to your problem. Just like a golf course has 18 different holes, your project has different challenges to navigate.
Example: If you're building a website, the 'course' includes all possible designs, features, and code structures you could create.
The Hole = Your Goal
The hole on each green is where you're trying to land. It represents your desired outcome—the working feature, the solved bug, or the completed task.
Example: Your goal might be 'Create a login page that works smoothly and looks professional.'
Each Shot = One Attempt
Every time you try something—write code, test an idea, or refine a feature—that's one shot. Some shots move you closer to the hole, others might land in rough terrain.
Example: Writing a function, testing it, finding a bug, and fixing it are all separate 'shots' toward your goal.
Terrain Types = Clarity Levels
Different areas of the course represent how clear your path is. The fairway is smooth and direct. The rough is uncertain. The green means you're very close to finishing.
Example: Rough = 'I'm not sure what approach to take.' Fairway = 'I have a good direction.' Green = 'Just small tweaks needed.'
Key Metaphors
A par-3 hole is simple (3 expected shots). A par-5 is complex (5 expected shots). Similarly, some tasks are quick wins, others require many iterations.
Choosing a driver (long distance) vs. putter (precision) is like choosing between broad exploration vs. focused refinement when solving problems.
Just as golfers track their score, you track your development journey—how many attempts, which strategies worked, what terrain you encountered.
Practical Applications
Use the metaphor to understand where you are in mastering a new skill. Are you still in the rough (exploring), on the fairway (making progress), or on the green (almost there)?
Before starting work, estimate the 'par'—how many iterations you expect to need. This helps set realistic expectations.
At the end of a session, review your 'scorecard' to see what worked, what didn't, and how you can improve your approach.
Tell your team 'I'm in the rough on this feature' or 'We're on the green, just polishing now' to quickly convey status.
🎯Key Takeaways
- •Software development is a journey through a landscape of possibilities
- •Each attempt (shot) moves you through different terrain types
- •Some paths are clearer (fairway) than others (rough)
- •Tracking your journey helps you improve over time
- •The metaphor makes complex progress easier to visualize and discuss
Where to Go Next
See the visual metaphor in action with examples
View the ontological mapping between golf and development
Learn how this applies specifically to LLM-assisted coding