YAGNI, KISS, DRY or how do not overengineering

Overengineering is a common problem in software development, where engineers create solutions that are more complex than necessary, making the project more difficult to maintain and increasing development time and costs. To avoid overengineering, software engineers should follow three principles: YAGNI, KISS, and DRY.

Three obvious principles

YAGNI (You Aren’t Gonna Need It) : do the needed

The idea is that if a feature isn’t required by the project or the client, it should not be included in the code. Engineers should focus on delivering only the features that are essential to the project and avoid adding complexity that doesn’t contribute to the project’s success.

KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) : do it simple

The idea is to avoid adding complexity to the code by keeping the solution as simple as possible. Engineers should aim for the simplest solution that meets the project’s requirements, rather than adding unnecessary complexity.

DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) : do it once

The idea is that code should not be duplicated throughout the project, as this leads to more work and higher maintenance costs. Instead, engineers should create reusable functions and classes, and aim to keep the codebase as modular as possible.

How can you avoid overengineering your projects and implement these principles effectively?

Focus on requirements

You should prioritize the project’s requirements and ensure that the code meets those requirements. It’s important to understand the scope of the project and work closely with stakeholders to identify essential features.

Use simple solutions

You should always aim for the simplest solution that meets the project’s requirements. They should avoid adding complexity that doesn’t contribute to the project’s success.

Avoid premature optimization

You should avoid optimizing the code prematurely. Instead, you should focus on delivering a working solution and optimize later, only if necessary.

Reuse code

You should create reusable functions and classes and aim to keep the codebase as modular as possible. This reduces development time and maintenance costs, and helps to ensure consistency throughout the project.

Refactor regularly

You should regularly review the code and refactor it as necessary. This ensures that the code remains maintainable and scalable, and reduces the risk of overengineering.

Conclusion

In conclusion, avoiding overengineering in software development is crucial for delivering high-quality, maintainable code. By following the YAGNI, KISS, and DRY principles and focusing on the project’s requirements, engineers can avoid adding unnecessary complexity and deliver a solution that meets the project’s needs.