Why Software Should Be Simple Before Perfect

In the world of development, we often chase perfection: we want our code to be elegant, efficient, perfectly structured, and free of redundancies. But we sometimes forget that software is not written for machines — it’s written for the people who use it and for the developers who will maintain it.

The real goal is not to create perfect code, but simple and understandable code that solves a real need.

Simplicity as a Core Value

Tim Peters, in The Zen of Python, wrote:

“Simple is better than complex.”

This principle reflects a philosophy that transcends any language. Simple code makes it easier to read, maintain, and improve. It allows another developer — or even our “future self” six months later — to quickly understand what the code does and why.

Overly complex software can become a barrier, even if it works well. Simplicity, on the other hand, encourages collaboration, evolution, and adaptability.

An Unexpected Example: Facebook and PHP

Rasmus Lerdorf, the creator of PHP, once commented that the early code of Facebook was “horrible.” Yet it served its purpose: it worked, solved a real need, and gave millions of people a social network to connect with.

That imperfect code allowed Facebook to grow, validate its product, and later evolve. The lesson is clear: something simple and functional can have more impact than something perfect but useless.

Simplicity Is Not Neglect

Simplicity must not be confused with mediocrity. Simple code does not mean:

• Skipping best practices.
• Ignoring testing or security.
• Writing “whatever works” just to make it run.

On the contrary: simplicity is discipline. It’s about writing exactly what’s needed to solve a problem, with as much clarity as possible, without unnecessary complexity. It’s also about being aware that, in the future, that code may need to be maintained, scaled, or even replaced.

Documentation as Part of Simplicity

Code alone rarely tells the full story of a project.
For simplicity to truly be effective, it should be accompanied by minimal and essential documentation that works as a guide.

This isn’t about writing long manuals that nobody reads, but rather creating a practical logbook:

• A clear description of the project’s purpose.
• Key features and how to use them.
• Significant changes over time (what, why, and when they were made).

This documentation works like a map: it helps the next person who takes on the project find their way, and it helps us as well when we return months later and need to refresh our memory.

Simple, well-documented software becomes a valuable legacy instead of a puzzle nobody wants to solve.

The Right Moment

Each stage of a project requires a different level of care:

• In an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), the priority is validating the idea. Here, simple and fast often matters more than perfect.
• In a critical production system (e.g., healthcare or banking), simplicity is still essential, but it must be accompanied by rigor, standards, thorough testing, and documentation.

Perfection may never be attainable, but simplicity applied responsibly always is.

Conclusion

Software should be simple before perfect, because its ultimate purpose is to solve human needs, not to fulfill an abstract ideal of technical beauty.

Clear, readable code, accompanied by minimal but useful documentation, is a gift to our users and to those who will work on the project after us.

Perfection can wait; simplicity is what keeps software alive, useful, and human.

Maximiliano Romero
Founder of Codeartec
Software Developer