Conversation

People often disparage ideas as "just reinventing the wheel".

"The wheel" isn't a concrete thing; it's an abstract concept. Actual physical wheels have specific purposes that are usually exclusive.

Sometimes what's available is a wagon wheel, and what you need is a bicycle wheel. Or just a larger wagon wheel. New implementations are being designed all the time.

That's not "reinventing"; that's re-engineering. There's nothing redundant about it.

...or in other words:

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