On Simplicity
Simplicity is easy to talk about and hard to achieve. Every feature request seems reasonable. Every edge case seems worth handling. Before you know it, your simple app has become a complex mess.
The Temptation of More
It’s tempting to add features. Each one seems small. Each one has a champion who really needs it. But complexity compounds:
- More features mean more bugs
- More options mean more decisions for users
- More code means more maintenance
Saying No
The most important word in product development is “no.” Not “not yet” or “maybe later”—just “no.”
This doesn’t mean being inflexible. It means having a clear vision of what you’re building and the discipline to stay focused on it.
What We Cut
For every feature in our apps, there are ten we decided not to build. Some examples:
- Settings that could be smart defaults
- Customization that added complexity without value
- Features that solved problems users didn’t have
The Result
When you remove everything unnecessary, what remains is essential. Users don’t miss the features you didn’t build—they appreciate the clarity of what you did.
Simplicity isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing the right things and doing them well.