Three Root Causes: Why we lose to the invisible man

In the text, the author draws parallels between playing tennis and API design, identifying three root causes of failure in both contexts: poor balance, feeling rushed, and losing focus on immediate tasks. In tennis, poor balance limits options and adaptability, while in API design, it manifests as inconsistent patterns and inadequate error handling, leading to crises during unexpected use cases. Feeling rushed on the court disrupts timing and execution, similarly in API development, it results in hasty decisions and technical debt due to deadline pressures. Losing focus on the present in tennis leads to missed shots, while in API design, it causes premature planning for future versions without solidifying the current one. The text suggests that addressing these root causes by building strong foundations, maintaining focus, and avoiding shortcuts can mitigate unforced errors, both in sports and technology development.