Chapter 8. Complexity is a Prison
Sometimes, I think, people are worried that if they make their code too simple, then either:
- Somehow they're not demonstrating how intelligent they are, or how valuable they are, to their managers, or
- The project will become so simple to work on that anybody can just steal their job!
It's almost as though if they actually did their job right, then they'd lose it. Now, stated that way, that's obviously a nonsensical viewpoint. But, if you've ever worried about it, here's something to think about:
What if your code is so complex that you'll never be able to leave your job?
What if you made something so complicated that nobody else could understand it? Well, then you personally would be tied to that project forever and ever. If you wanted to work on some other project at your organization, your managers would protest, "But who else will maintain this code?" Whoever was assigned after you to work on your code...
