Nobody gets promoted for simplicity (terriblesoftware.org)

Article summary

The article discusses how simplicity in software engineering is often undervalued and unrewarded, while complexity is often favored and promoted. This can lead to over-engineering and unnecessary complexity, which can be detrimental to the project and the company. The author argues that simplicity should be made visible and valued, and that engineers should be rewarded for making conscious decisions to avoid complexity. The article also provides suggestions on how to change the incentive structure to promote simplicity.

Main themes

• Simplicity in software engineering
• Over-engineering
• Incentive structures
• Complexity vs simplicity
• Engineering culture
• Promotion and reward systems

What commenters say

• Simplicity is not valued because it does not provide tangible metrics for promotion and reward.
• Complexity is often favored because it is more impressive and attention-grabbing, even if it is not necessary.
• Some argue that simplicity can be measured and rewarded by focusing on the results of simplicity, such as reduced incidents and costs.
• Others believe that simplicity is not always the best approach and that complexity is sometimes necessary to solve complex problems.
• It is difficult to measure the impact of simplicity because it is hard to quantify the problems that were avoided.
• Some commenters think that the emphasis on simplicity is unrealistic and that complexity is often necessary in real-world applications.
• Others argue that the pursuit of simplicity is important and that it can lead to better software and more efficient development processes.
• The incentive structure of many companies promotes complexity over simplicity, and this needs to be changed to value simplicity and good engineering practices.