Keep It Simple, Stupid Overengineering complicates your code. Problems Unnecessary accidental complexity
Premature optimizations
Unnecessary abstractions
Poor Maintainability
Overly detailed designs
Slow iteration cycles
Bijection violation
Performance penalties Solutions Keep it Simple, Stupid
Simplify code paths
Minimize abstractions
Use the MAPPER as guidance to find abstractions
Focus on the core logic
Follow Occam's razor by cutting away non-essential elements
Refactor regularly Context Overengineering happens when you build solutions that are too complex for your problem. This happens when you create unnecessary layers of abstraction, use complex design patterns, or bloat your architecture making your code harder to maintain. When you overcomplicate your design, you risk introducing bugs and making your codebase difficult to navigate. A simple problem like building an API doesn't need the complexity of enterprise-level architecture if the goal is straightforward. Some examples are the overuse of factories, excessive inheritance, or too granular interfaces when a simple approach would suffice. Keeping things simple helps avoid creating code that is difficult to understand and maintain. Sample Code Wrong // Overengineered approach 
// with unnecessary factory and abstract layers
public abstract class PlanetCalculator {
    public abstract double calculateDarkMatter(double mass);
}

public class TransneptunianCalculator extends PlanetCalculator {
    @Override
    public double calculateDarkMatter(double mass) {
        // Complex, unnecessary steps for a simple calculation
        double gravitationalConstant = 6.67430e-11;
        double darkMatter = mass * gravitationalConstant * 0.25; 
        // Hypothetical calculation
        return darkMatter;
    }
}

public class PlanetCalculatorFactory {
    public static PlanetCalculator getCalculator(String type) {
        if ("Transneptunian".equals(type)) {
            return new TransneptunianCalculator();
        }
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown calculator type");
    }
}

// Usage
PlanetCalculator calculator = 
    PlanetCalculatorFactory.getCalculator("Transneptunian");
double darkMatter = calculator.calculateDarkMatter(1000); Right // Simpler approach, without unnecessary factories and abstractions
public class DarkMatterCalculator {
    public double calculateDarkMatter(double mass) {
        return mass * 6.67430e-11 * 0.25; // Hypothetical calculation
    }
}

// Usage
DarkMatterCalculator calculator = new DarkMatterCalculator();
double darkMatter = calculator.calculateDarkMatter(1000); Detection [x]Manual This is a semantic smell. You can detect overengineering by looking for excessive classes, methods, or features that do not contribute directly to solving the problem. If you find yourself adding functionality that seems duplicated, unnecessary, or too complex, you likely have a case of over-engineering. Tags Complexity Level [x]Intermediate AI Generation AI generators often introduce overengineering by suggesting patterns like factories or strategies where simpler solutions would work. These patterns are useful but can lead to unnecessary complexity when applied to small or straightforward problems. AI Detection AI can help detect overengineered code by analyzing its structure and suggesting refactorings to simplify excessive abstractions or unnecessary layers. However, you still need human judgment to determine if the complexity serves a purpose or if you can simplify it. Try Them! Remember: AI Assistants make lots of mistakes. Without Proper Instructions

With Specific Instructions



ChatGPT

ChatGPT



Claude

Claude



Perplexity

Perplexity



Copilot

Copilot



Gemini

Gemini Conclusion Overengineering complicates your codebase and leads to maintenance headaches. Keep your designs simple, focus on solving your specific problem, and avoid unnecessary patterns and abstractions. Related Reading https://hackernoon.com/how-to-find-the-stinky-parts-of-your-code-part-xxxvii?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/code-smell-264-hanlons-razor?embedable=true Disclaimer: Code Smells are my opinion. Simplicity is the soul of efficiency - Austin Freeman https://hackernoon.com/400-thought-provoking-software-engineering-quotes?embedable=true This article is part of the CodeSmell Series on HackerNoon. Keep It Simple, Stupid Overengineering complicates your code. Problems Unnecessary accidental complexity Premature optimizations Unnecessary abstractions Poor Maintainability Overly detailed designs Slow iteration cycles Bijection violation Performance penalties Unnecessary accidental complexity accidental complexity Premature optimizations Unnecessary abstractions Poor Maintainability Overly detailed designs Slow iteration cycles Bijection violation Bijection Performance penalties Solutions Keep it Simple, Stupid Simplify code paths Minimize abstractions Use the MAPPER as guidance to find abstractions Focus on the core logic Follow Occam's razor by cutting away non-essential elements Refactor regularly Keep it Simple, Stupid Simplify code paths Minimize abstractions Use the MAPPER as guidance to find abstractions MAPPER Focus on the core logic Follow Occam's razor by cutting away non-essential elements Refactor regularly Context Overengineering happens when you build solutions that are too complex for your problem. Overengineering happens when you build solutions that are too complex for your problem. This happens when you create unnecessary layers of abstraction, use complex design patterns, or bloat your architecture making your code harder to maintain. When you overcomplicate your design, you risk introducing bugs and making your codebase difficult to navigate. A simple problem like building an API doesn't need the complexity of enterprise-level architecture if the goal is straightforward. Some examples are the overuse of factories, excessive inheritance, or too granular interfaces when a simple approach would suffice. Keeping things simple helps avoid creating code that is difficult to understand and maintain. Sample Code Wrong // Overengineered approach 
// with unnecessary factory and abstract layers
public abstract class PlanetCalculator {
    public abstract double calculateDarkMatter(double mass);
}

public class TransneptunianCalculator extends PlanetCalculator {
    @Override
    public double calculateDarkMatter(double mass) {
        // Complex, unnecessary steps for a simple calculation
        double gravitationalConstant = 6.67430e-11;
        double darkMatter = mass * gravitationalConstant * 0.25; 
        // Hypothetical calculation
        return darkMatter;
    }
}

public class PlanetCalculatorFactory {
    public static PlanetCalculator getCalculator(String type) {
        if ("Transneptunian".equals(type)) {
            return new TransneptunianCalculator();
        }
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown calculator type");
    }
}

// Usage
PlanetCalculator calculator = 
    PlanetCalculatorFactory.getCalculator("Transneptunian");
double darkMatter = calculator.calculateDarkMatter(1000); // Overengineered approach 
// with unnecessary factory and abstract layers
public abstract class PlanetCalculator {
    public abstract double calculateDarkMatter(double mass);
}

public class TransneptunianCalculator extends PlanetCalculator {
    @Override
    public double calculateDarkMatter(double mass) {
        // Complex, unnecessary steps for a simple calculation
        double gravitationalConstant = 6.67430e-11;
        double darkMatter = mass * gravitationalConstant * 0.25; 
        // Hypothetical calculation
        return darkMatter;
    }
}

public class PlanetCalculatorFactory {
    public static PlanetCalculator getCalculator(String type) {
        if ("Transneptunian".equals(type)) {
            return new TransneptunianCalculator();
        }
        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unknown calculator type");
    }
}

// Usage
PlanetCalculator calculator = 
    PlanetCalculatorFactory.getCalculator("Transneptunian");
double darkMatter = calculator.calculateDarkMatter(1000); Right // Simpler approach, without unnecessary factories and abstractions
public class DarkMatterCalculator {
    public double calculateDarkMatter(double mass) {
        return mass * 6.67430e-11 * 0.25; // Hypothetical calculation
    }
}

// Usage
DarkMatterCalculator calculator = new DarkMatterCalculator();
double darkMatter = calculator.calculateDarkMatter(1000); // Simpler approach, without unnecessary factories and abstractions
public class DarkMatterCalculator {
    public double calculateDarkMatter(double mass) {
        return mass * 6.67430e-11 * 0.25; // Hypothetical calculation
    }
}

// Usage
DarkMatterCalculator calculator = new DarkMatterCalculator();
double darkMatter = calculator.calculateDarkMatter(1000); Detection [x]Manual [x] Manual [x] This is a semantic smell. You can detect overengineering by looking for excessive classes, methods, or features that do not contribute directly to solving the problem. If you find yourself adding functionality that seems duplicated, unnecessary, or too complex, you likely have a case of over-engineering. Tags Complexity Complexity Level [x]Intermediate [x] Intermediate [x] AI Generation AI generators often introduce overengineering by suggesting patterns like factories or strategies where simpler solutions would work. These patterns are useful but can lead to unnecessary complexity when applied to small or straightforward problems. AI Detection AI can help detect overengineered code by analyzing its structure and suggesting refactorings to simplify excessive abstractions or unnecessary layers. However, you still need human judgment to determine if the complexity serves a purpose or if you can simplify it. Try Them! Try Them! Remember: AI Assistants make lots of mistakes. Remember: AI Assistants make lots of mistakes. Without Proper Instructions

With Specific Instructions



ChatGPT

ChatGPT



Claude

Claude



Perplexity

Perplexity



Copilot

Copilot



Gemini

Gemini Without Proper Instructions

With Specific Instructions ChatGPT

ChatGPT Claude

Claude Perplexity

Perplexity Copilot

Copilot Gemini

Gemini Without Proper Instructions With Specific Instructions Without Proper Instructions Without Proper Instructions With Specific Instructions With Specific Instructions ChatGPT ChatGPT ChatGPT ChatGPT ChatGPT ChatGPT ChatGPT ChatGPT Claude Claude Claude Claude Claude Claude Claude Claude Perplexity Perplexity Perplexity Perplexity Perplexity Perplexity Perplexity Perplexity Copilot Copilot Copilot Copilot Copilot Copilot Copilot Copilot Gemini Gemini Gemini Gemini Gemini Gemini Gemini Gemini Conclusion Overengineering complicates your codebase and leads to maintenance headaches. Keep your designs simple, focus on solving your specific problem, and avoid unnecessary patterns and abstractions. Related Reading https://hackernoon.com/how-to-find-the-stinky-parts-of-your-code-part-xxxvii?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/how-to-find-the-stinky-parts-of-your-code-part-xxxvii?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/code-smell-264-hanlons-razor?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/code-smell-264-hanlons-razor?embedable=true Disclaimer: Code Smells are my opinion. Disclaimer: Code Smells are my opinion . opinion Simplicity is the soul of efficiency - Austin Freeman Simplicity is the soul of efficiency - Austin Freeman Austin Freeman https://hackernoon.com/400-thought-provoking-software-engineering-quotes?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/400-thought-provoking-software-engineering-quotes?embedable=true This article is part of the CodeSmell Series on HackerNoon. This article is part of the CodeSmell Series on HackerNoon . CodeSmell Series on HackerNoon

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