The Cost of Complexity: Why Simplicity Wins in Software Development (E.23)

from Free Form AI Hosted by Michael Berk

How to fight complexity creep and build software that stays simple, even as it grows. Every engineer knows the struggle: a simple system slowly buried under complexity. In this episode of Free Form AI, Michael Berk and Ben Wilson break down how complexity creeps into code, dependencies and design. And why simplicity almost always wins. They cover how iteration, testing and mentorship can keep software maintainable. So where Gen AI can (and can’t) help reduce friction? Tune in to Episode 23 for a wide-ranging conversation about: • Complexity shows up in code, dependencies and design decisions • Incremental iteration helps map the solution space more effectively • Testing isn’t just QA, it’s how we preserve maintainability • Gen AI can simplify coding tasks, but it still needs human oversight • Mentorship remains one of the best ways to fight chaos in code If you’ve ever wrestled with “complexity creep,” this one’s for you.

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The Cost of Complexity: Why Simplicity Wins in Software Development (E.23)

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This episode is 43 minutes long.

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This episode was published on October 9, 2025.

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