Introduction

As software applications become more complex, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overcomplicating our code. However, there are three principles that can help you avoid this trap: KISS, YAGNI, and DRY. These principles are fundamental to software development, and they can be applied to any programming language or platform.

KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid

The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complex. This means that you should strive to keep your code as simple as possible, without sacrificing functionality. The idea is that the more complex your code is, the more likely it is to contain bugs, be difficult to maintain, and take longer to develop.

For example, let’s say you need to calculate the average of a list of numbers. Instead of writing a complex function that uses advanced math, you can keep it simple and use a basic loop:

fun calculateAverage(numbers: List<Double>): Double {
    var sum = 0.0
    for (number in numbers) {
        sum += number
    }
    return sum / numbers.size
}

YAGNI – You Ain’t Gonna Need It

The YAGNI principle states that you should not add functionality until it is actually needed. This means that you should avoid adding code that you think you might need in the future, but that you don’t currently need. The idea is that the more code you add, the more likely it is to contain bugs, be difficult to maintain, and take longer to develop.

For example, let’s say you’re building a customer class, and you think you might need a method to get the customer’s full name. Instead of adding the method right away, you can keep it simple and add it only when you actually need it:

class Customer(val name: String) {
    fun getFullName(): String {
        return "Mr./Ms. $name"
    }
}

DRY – Don’t Repeat Yourself

The DRY principle states that you should not repeat yourself in your code. This means that you should avoid duplicating code, and instead use abstractions or modularization to avoid repetition. The idea is that the more you repeat yourself, the more likely it is to contain bugs, be difficult to maintain, and take longer to develop.

For example, let’s say you need to calculate the area of a rectangle and a square. Instead of writing two separate functions, you can keep it simple and reuse the same function with an additional parameter:

fun calculateAreaOfRectangle(width: Double, height: Double): Double {
    return width * height
}

fun calculateAreaOfSquare(sideLength: Double): Double {
    return calculateAreaOfRectangle(sideLength, sideLength)
}

Conclusion

In conclusion, the KISS, YAGNI, and DRY principles provide a set of guidelines for simplifying your code. By following these principles, you can create code that is easier to understand, easier to maintain, and easier to extend in the long run. While these principles can be challenging to apply at first, they can help you write code that is more robust, more maintainable, and more effective in the long run.