On necessary complications

You can only make a thing simpler by subtracting from it the unnecessary complications. Complications are usually easy to identify but then the unnecessary ones are quite hard to tell apart.

The problem is that removing a necessary complication breaks the thing, sometimes it even makes it dangerous so it’s worth drawing up a strategy to reduce the risks.

Make sure you have a good reason to subtract in the first place, but the real challenge often lies in understanding why the thing is the way it is. I’m quite sure there’s a good reason for that too.

Image by CircaSassy