Technology is a world of “more.” More features, more frameworks, more integrations, more complexity. Somewhere along the way, we started mistaking “more” for “better.” But are we actually helping customers or just over-engineering our solutions?

When More Becomes Too Much

We've all been there: a simple request snowballs into a full-blown architecture diagram that could rival NASA. What started as, “Let’s make the checkout flow smoother” turns into six micro-services, an event bus, and a Kubernetes cluster.

We want to future-proof, impress, solve for unclear requirements, or use the shiny new tool we just discovered. But too often, complexity creates friction instead of value:

• Customers see delays instead of improvements.
• Teams spend time maintaining complexity rather than innovating.
• Businesses lose agility because even small changes feel risky.

The Website Analogy

Websites are a perfect example. In our earlier reflections on over-designing websites, we noted how businesses pile on animations, features, and intricate designs that look stunning but slow down the user. The site becomes harder to navigate, harder to update, and harder for customers to use.

The same thing happens in software engineering. A feature that could be elegantly simple gets buried under layers of abstractions. Instead of solving the customer’s problem, we create new ones.

Why We Over-Engineer

1. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Everyone’s using this framework, shouldn’t we?
2. Future-Proofing Paralysis: Designing for problems that may never exist. 
3. Gold-Plating: Polishing or adding features beyond what’s needed.
4. Shiny Tool Syndrome: Because we can, we think we should. 
5. Poor Requirements Clarity: Building everything because customer needs aren’t clear.
6. Fear of Failure: Layering on complexity as insurance against mistakes.

The Customer Lens

Here’s the irony: customers rarely ask for complexity. They ask for clarity, speed, and results. They care that their order goes through, their data is secure, and their experience is seamless.

Adding a new service mesh may look clever on a tech blog, but if it doesn’t improve the customer’s journey, it’s noise. Over-engineering pulls energy away from the very outcomes that matter most.

A Call for Simplicity

Simplicity doesn’t mean laziness. It means being ruthless about what matters:

• Does this feature solve a real customer problem?
• Is this architecture the simplest way to meet that need?
• Will this choice make it easier or harder to maintain over time?

At Ridiculous Engineering, we’ve seen again and again: the simplest solution is often the most resilient. It’s easier to scale something clean than untangle something bloated.

Our Take at Ridiculous Engineering

We’re not anti-innovation. Far from it. But we believe technology should serve customers, not complicate their lives. Over-engineering wastes time, resources, and opportunities.

Our approach is grounded in asking the right questions. What do customers really need? What’s the most straightforward way to deliver that? How do we design for today while leaving room for tomorrow, without drowning in unnecessary complexity?

Because in the end, good engineering isn’t about how much we can build. It’s about how much value we can deliver.

Let’s turn clarity into your competitive edge. Work with us!

 

References/ Read more: 

1. Future Proofing -> YAGNI (you ain't gonna need it
2. PMI — Gold Plating Definition
3. Gartner Hype Cycle 2024
4. Standish Group — CHAOS Report
5. Lean Software Development Principles