Good design tilts towards simplicity

The Zen of Python is a loose set of guidelines for usage of the Python programming language. Two of its tenets are:

If the implementation is hard to explain, it’s a bad idea.

If the implementation is easy to explain, it may be a good idea.

Notice the asymmetry here. A hard-to-explain implementation is a bad idea, while one that is easier to explain may be a good idea. While a simple implementation design isn’t a sufficient condition, it is most certainly a necessary one.

I’ve often seen programmers, designers and other creators wear complicated implementation as a badge of honour. More often than not, this is merely a sign that they lack the competence (or the will) to further simplify it.

One thought on “Good design tilts towards simplicity

  1. Very true. You have hit the nail on the head without bending it. I fought a losing battle trying to correct this anomaly in Cimtrix

    Like

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