Extreme Programming Installed

Simple Design

Simplicity is more complicated than you think. But it's well worth it.

We all strive for simple and clear design, don't we? Of course we do. But in XP, we take it to extremes. At every moment in time, we want the system to be as simple as possible. That means that we want no additional functions that aren't used, no structures or algorithms that are more complex than the current need would dictate.

As programmers, we pride ourselves on our ability to predict what "they're gonna need," and we like to put in generality looking forward to that day. Extreme programmers don't do that. The best don't do that, ever. Isn't that risky? Won't it be harder to put in later? Well, no, it isn't risky, and no, it won't be harder to put in later. ...