SRE values Simplicity

Simplicity is efficiency.

John Gall:

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system, designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched to make it work. You have to start over, beginning with a simple working system.

Measures of complicity

  • Cylomatic complexity measures the number of paths (in the form of branches and loops) through software source code.
  • Training time for new hires.
  • How much explanation time is required for a comprehensive, high-level overview.
  • How much administrative diversity is enabled through configuration.
  • The diversity between deployed environments.
  • Age of the system, per Hyrum's Law.

Rules of thumb

  1. Deal with complexity upfront (e.g. API design, typing and documentation for forward and backward compatibility).
  2. Consider the full lifecycle of rewrite projects, including developing against a moving target, a full migration plan and additional costs incurred during migration.

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