simple minimal

type Design interface {
    IsSimple() bool
    IsMinimal() bool
    // rarely both
}

• minimalism is a pinterest board pretending to be a lifestyle
• simplicity is saying “i just want less crap to deal with”
• it’s simple-complex|simplicity over complexity applied to life
• that’s it - that’s the whole difference
• but we keep confusing them

the hidden mess

• that sleek, empty interface? minimal
• but the complexity hiding beneath? not simple
• (you just pushed the mess somewhere else)
• that rough command line tool? simple
• but those extra flags and options? not minimal
• (because it actually solves real problems)

minimal vs simple

minimal design:  beauty -------> abstraction -----> hidden complexity
(looks clean, feels clean, isn't clean)

simple design:   function -----> directness ------> exposed truth
(looks rough, feels right, actually works)

philosophical differences

• minimalism says “throw everything away and live like a monk”
• simplicity says “keep what makes your life better, burn the rest”
• minimal hides the truth
• simple exposes it
• minimal serves your ego
• simple serves your needs
• minimal removes until it photographs well
• simple removes until it works well

specific examples

• your smartphone is minimal (beautiful mess of complexity under that glass)
• your terminal is simple (ugly, powerful, honest)
• vim is simple (steep learning curve, infinite power)
• vs code is minimal (pretty icons hiding dependency hell)
• unix commands are simple (do one thing, do it well)
• modern apis are minimal (abstract everything, hide the cost)
• monorepo-mindset|monorepo mindset works - it’s simple, not minimal
• everything in one place, no hidden complexity
• kubernetes is neither (and that’s why we’re all tired)

pick your path

• don’t confuse them
• don’t chase both
• pick your truth:
  • hide complexity for beauty
  • expose complexity for clarity
  • but never pretend they’re the same
• both paths work
• neither path is wrong
• just know which game you’re playing
• choose wisely
• build with open-everything|open everything principles
• expose the truth, don’t hide it

minimalism is for show. simplicity is for life.

See also

• ml/blog/simple-complex.md
• ml/blog/monorepo-mindset.md
• ml/blog/open-everything.md