You’re Spending Time on the Wrong Thing — Here’s What Really Adds Value

Ever seen code that looks like it was designed to win a beauty pageant rather than solve a problem? Yeah, I’ve been there too. We all love the idea of writing that perfect, elegant snippet that gets us a few high-fives on GitHub. But let’s be honest—if your code doesn’t solve the problem it was meant to, what’s the point?

I’ve fallen into the trap of over-engineering my solutions just to flex a bit. I’d whip out every principle in the book—SOLID, Clean Code, KISS—you name it. But what I’ve learned is that none of that matters if your code isn’t solving the core problem efficiently.

Your time is precious, and you can spend it in many ways:

1. You can make your code look "cool" and professional, but that’s not going to add value to your customers who are actually using your app.
2. Or, you can use that time to solve new problems—or even revisit and solve existing problems in a better way.

Here’s the deal: First and foremost, your code needs to do what it’s supposed to do—solve the problem. After that, worry about performance, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and consistency. And please, for the love of all things binary, don’t overengineer. Keep it simple.

The next time you’re about to dive deep into creating some overly complex, “professional” looking code, ask yourself: am I solving the problem, or just trying to look smart? Trust me, your future self and your team will thank you for prioritizing clarity and functionality over complexity.

Remember, the best code is the kind that quietly gets the job done, without anyone cursing your name in the process. Keep it simple, keep it effective, and most importantly, keep it real.

Happy coding! 💻

Comments

[JohnKagunda]

Keep it simple, keep it effective, and most importantly, keep it real. I like this

Thanks for sharing this 👍

[Darius V]

but isnt things like SOLID meant that it would be simple? Btw I still dont get how to count how many things is class doing after many years of trying to understand.

[JohnKagunda]

am not sure, but from what I understood, he means don't use the principles blindly, use what needs to be used where it needs to be used

and for the other question, I think a class is supposed to do one thing if you get what I mean.