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1070 points dondraper36 | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.325s | source
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codingwagie ◴[] No.45069135[source]
I think this works in simple domains. After working in big tech for a while, I am still shocked by the required complexity. Even the simplest business problem may take a year to solve, and constantly break due to the astounding number of edge cases and scale.

Anyone proclaiming simplicity just hasnt worked at scale. Even rewrites that have a decade old code base to be inspired from, often fail due to the sheer amount of things to consider.

A classic, Chesterton's Fence:

"There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”"

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1. ehnto ◴[] No.45071971[source]
> Even rewrites that have a decade old code base to be inspired from, often fail due to the sheer amount of things to consider.

The amount of knowledge required to first generate the codebase, that is now missing for the rewrite, is the elephant in the room for rewrites. That's a decade of decision making, business rules changing, knowledge leaving when people depart etc.

Much like your example, if you think all the information is in the codebase then you should go away and start talking to the business stakeholders until you understand the scope of what you don't currently know.