In Few Words

One of the best ways to achieve great results is to aim for simplicity. Even if we can’t visualize the final desired outcome, when we’re working on something complex, successive simplification leads us—iteration after iteration—closer to the optimal result: something that does its job expressed in the most concise way possible.

Okay, I’m not saying anything that any programmer doesn’t already know—this is a basic concept in both mathematics and computer science. But then, why is it so hard to achieve?

The reason I can think of is that, beyond the inherent complexity of the problems we deal with in software development, programming is largely a form of literary prose. We try to describe things that must happen, we do it the best we can, but humans are generally bad at explaining—especially when we don’t fully understand what we want to say. We tend to ramble, stumble, repeat ourselves, fail to connect ideas—and what’s more, we fill our writing with our emotions. Every fear and insecurity gets reflected in the way we express ourselves.

To write, we must organize our thoughts, understand what we want to express, and refine it until the message is clear.

One of the most perfect forms of communication is the aphorism: a short, concise statement that expresses a truth or principle in a punchy and generally accepted way. Its essence is the simplest possible set of words that can transmit an idea as effectively as possible.

In programming, we should seek the aphorism in our code. Instead of writing dense and lengthy prose full of unnecessary embellishments, we should aim for something closer to short verse—just as expressive, but far more efficient.

"Life is short, art long." —Hippocrates

exit(0);