Repost: The Illusion of Simplicity

Beitrag von Hussein Nasser

Code with fewer lines is not always simple code. Fewer lines of code often indicate an abstraction. Abstractions are not inherently simple; they create the i…

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I completely agree with his point. Most developers don't delve into the inner workings of systems/languages/frameworks, which ultimately stunts their growth. Always question the 'why' and 'how' behind every implementation and get to the bottom of it!

Code with fewer lines is not always simple code.

Fewer lines of code often indicate an abstraction.

Abstractions are not inherently simple; they create the illusion of simplicity.

They don’t remove complexity—they hide it.

This hidden complexity can cause engineers to lower their guard.

Eventually, abstractions leak this complexity to end users in unexpected ways:

Often in the form of performance issues, latency, or high CPU and memory usage.

Deep down, we know this.

Wrap a large block of code in a function call, and the client code appears simple.
But we know it’s not.

Put that function in a library and ship it.
Now, only you know the true nature of the code.
The developers using it don’t.

Those devs build more software and libraries on top of it, creating further illusions of simplicity.

The same applies to frameworks, client libraries, APIs or even languages.

The best performance comes from fully understanding the intricacies and complexities of a system—
And tuning them to your specific use case.

Abstractions are most powerful when we understand what lies behind them.

Use them, but never let your guard down.
-- Hussein Nasser