Simplicity Wins: Applying Occam’s Razor to Engineering Problems

One common pitfall in engineering is building too much too quickly without validating ideas

Occam’s Razor suggests that the simplest explanation is often the best one. This principle isn’t just for philosophers—it’s a powerful mindset for engineers tackling ambiguous problems. When requirements are vague or incomplete, it’s easy to overcomplicate things. Too often, engineers charge down a path without validating their approach, only to realize—after wasting precious time—that it’s a dead end.

So, how do you avoid taking a sub-optimal detour?

One effective strategy is to break the problem into simple building blocks. Start small, address a piece of the puzzle, and confirm that your solution makes a dent. This iterative approach isn’t just practical—it’s often the only viable option, especially when time is tight or a critical issue demands a quick fix.

Take an example from one of my previous workplaces. The company was hemorrhaging millions of dollars weekly due to fraud and urgently needed a way to detect it and slow attackers down. Waiting for a sophisticated fraud detection engine with a machine learning model wasn’t an option. Instead, the team whipped up a small endpoint with a basic, rule-based system. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked—plugging the leak fast and buying time to later build a robust, full-fledged solution. Starting with a simple, agile, piecemeal fix let them iterate on something that delivered results immediately.

Keep Your MVP Lean

This lesson applies beyond quick fixes. As a founder, if your minimum viable product (MVP) balloons into something overly complex, you risk building a solution no one wants. Without early validation of product-market fit (PMF), you could waste months—or years—chasing a mirage. The key? Craft small, focused MVPs with just enough features to appeal to your end users and test your assumptions. Simplicity keeps you nimble and grounded.

The Power of Simplicity in Design

In conclusion, prioritize simplicity in everything you design. The more components you pile on, the higher the odds of running into trouble down the line—whether it’s bugs, maintenance headaches, or scalability woes. By starting small and validating as you go, you not only save time but also build a stronger foundation for success.