Why software ends up complex · Alex Gaynor

The easiest thing always seems to be to add another feature. But each feature you add interacts with other features, often increasing complexity exponentially, not linearly.

Our bias is to always add more. More rules, more procedures, more code, more features, more stuff. Interdependencies proliferate, and gradually strangle us. Systems want to grow and grow, but without pruning, they collapse. Slowly, then spectacularly.

When a piece of trash drifts across the beach, it is our duty to pick it up so the next person can ... See more