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I think simplicity is undervalued in the programmer world in general. It takes so much more mind-energy for someone to implement/refactor/add-to/test complex c
by EricDeb 13y ago
I think simplicity is undervalued in the programmer world in general. It takes so much more mind-energy for someone to implement/refactor/add-to/test complex code written by someone else as opposed to simple/verbose code.
- AdrianRossouw 13y agoyeah man. when i subtitled my blog sensible complexity, I didn't realize that it was actually something I cared so deeply about.
- frou_dh 13y ago> I think simplicity is undervalued in the programmer world in general. I imagine every programmer will claim to value simplicity. Trouble is, they're all talking past each other because their working definition is "the way I personally do things".
- AdrianRossouw 13y agomaybe, except that I try to improve how I do things on every iteration. i've been finding that it helps me to think about these things in a more concrete manner, so that i can vocalize to myself what I didn't enjoy in the recent experiences.
- frou_dh 13y agoI found Rich Hickey's dissection of simplicity to be dynamite as usual: http://www.infoq.com/presentations/Simple-Made-Easy http://www.infoq.com/presentations/Simple-Made-Easy
- etherealG 13y agospot on. his way of putting it that simplicity is objective and ease subjective really nails it. most people say simple and mean easy.
- AdrianRossouw 13y agothis was a great watch. thanks for that. It helped me focus a lot of things I have been feeling innately for a while.
- calinet6 13y agoYou're right, simplicity is undervalued. The problem is, simplicity is often not a possibility. The problems we're solving are complex, not simple. Simple solutions to complex problems are to be sought after and cherished, but they are also incredibly difficult and idealistic. Instead, we value pragmatism. We favor structure which simplifies, rather than structure that is simple in itself. We do this because it increases our productivity in solving highly complex problems; problems that simpler foundations would not support or would not assist. Angular simplifies, hands down. It does this by swallowing the complexity into itself, and dealing with it in some rather intelligent ways so you don't have to. This, above all, you need to understand to use it effectively. Some complexity leaks; a great deal of it is contained and managed well. You may love a handsaw and hammer and nails for their simplicity and clarity, and there is merit to that, but they can only build so much so quickly. Angular is not a combination of those simple tools: it is more like a 3D printer, enabling you to build components of things and use them to make final products as fast as you can dream them up. It knows what it is, and so should you. Please excuse the lofty analogy.