4 ms·
Diminishing returns on complexity might just mean that when thing get complex, they get harder to figure out, so a larger percentage of attempts at improvement
by lucas_membrane 4y ago
Diminishing returns on complexity might just mean that when thing get complex, they get harder to figure out, so a larger percentage of attempts at improvement (even attempts at simplification) are likely to fail. Given that complex societies take a long time to rise, the perpetrators thereof may see the long-term upward course as a law of nature, and become a little over-optimistic about the advantages of change.
The most universal law of nature: Periods of exponential growth always end.
- rossdavidh 4y agoI am reminded of software that has entered its "Big Ball of Mud" phase, where it has become impossible to understand, even to debug or simplify, and so it can no longer evolve to meet changing needs, and is eventually replaced with something newer (and, for the moment, simpler).
- lucas_membrane 4y agoI'll agree that complexity is part of the Ball of Mud phenomenon. The worst I've seen was attributable to what used to be called 'coupling', mostly accidental, incidental, or pathological, between different parts of what was said to be a 'system,' mostly for lack of a better word. With all the incomprehensible consequences of any software changes, bug fixes of the buggy code were discouraged by management, because the average number of new bugs caused by each repair was approximately equal to 1 + the number of programmers involved in creating the fix.
- klysm 4y agoI believe the tendency of all software to move in that direction is also relevant
- EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 4y ago>> a larger percentage of attempts at improvement (even attempts at simplification) are likely to fail If we are talking about laws, there is no "fail" - no politician ever will recognize a mistake. Failed laws are never revoked - they are either ignored, unenforced or continue to do harm.