Do the simplest thing that could possibly work
12 days ago
- #engineering
- #simplicity
- #software-design
- Do the simplest thing that could possibly work when designing software systems.
- Avoid designing for an 'ideal' system; instead, understand the current system deeply and keep solutions simple.
- Great software design often looks underwhelming because it makes complex problems seem easy.
- Examples of great simple designs include Unicorn (web server) and Rails REST API.
- When adding features like rate limiting, consider the simplest solution first (e.g., in-memory tracking before Redis).
- Three objections to simplicity: inflexibility, ambiguity of 'simplest,' and scalability concerns.
- Hacks are not simple; they add complexity. Proper fixes are usually simpler but require deeper understanding.
- Simplicity means fewer moving pieces and less internal connectivity.
- Avoid over-engineering for scale; focus on current needs and adapt as problems arise.
- Predicting future system requirements is hard; designing for current needs is more reliable.