Prioritizing Cognitive Load for Better Outcomes
The article emphasizes that cognitive load, or the mental effort required to understand and modify code, is crucial in software design. It discusses how simplicity, subjective perceptions of what is simple, and practices like minimizing complexity, proper naming, and commenting can reduce cognitive load. The author advocates for balancing rules with judgment, understanding that complexity is inevitable but manageable through experience, good design, and team practices. Ultimately, minimizing cognitive load helps make software more maintainable and adaptable, aligning with principles from John Ousterhout's philosophy.