> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.internetobject.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.internetobject.org/internet-object/the-zen-of-internet-object.md).

# The Poetic Principles

This poem distils the foundational principles of Internet Object into a few memorable verses. It is an informative companion to the specification: the lines below restate, in artistic form, the design values explained throughout these pages — small size, readability, the separation of data and definitions, the independence of records, and a healthy distrust of unvalidated input.

## Poem

Size holds weight, in bytes confined,\
Small prevails, large left behind.

Simplicity shines over complexity's shroud,\
Readability echoes, accurate and loud.

Reusability births productivity's rise,\
Verbosity's burden efficiency defies.

Data, definitions, separate ways,\
Together they clutter, apart they amaze.

Headers and data, distinctions drawn,\
Confusion dissolves, clarity's dawn.

Errors and statuses, data's divide,\
Their entanglement brings chaos inside.

Two lone records, states unswayed,\
No interference, connections unmade.

Trust not the sender, vigilance displayed,\
Expect the unanticipated, foundations laid.

Surprises, enchanting, yet beware,\
Not all of them good, handle with care.

## The principles behind the verses

The verses echo the format's [objectives](/internet-object/objectives.md):

* **Small over large** — compact payloads; keys live in the schema, not in every record.
* **Readability and simplicity** — plain text that is easy to read and to write by hand.
* **Separation of data and definitions** — the header holds schema and metadata; the data stays clean below it.
* **Record independence** — records do not depend on one another, so one bad record never breaks the rest.
* **Distrust the sender** — validate incoming data and expect the unexpected.

## See Also

* [Objectives](/internet-object/objectives.md) — the design goals stated plainly
* [Abstract](/internet-object/abstract.md) · [Introducing Internet Object](/internet-object/introduction.md)


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