Simple doesn't mean minimal
Many people treat simplicity and minimalism like they're the same thing. They aren't.
Simplicity means ease. It means clarity.
A simple product feels natural to use because it anticipates what you need and removes everything that gets in the way.
Minimalism, on the other hand, can sometimes go too far.
When you remove too much, you start making users work harder.
One button doing five different things? That might be minimal but it’s not simple.
As a software engineer, your job is to build things that feel simple.
That doesn’t always mean fewer features.
It means smarter presentation, predictable behavior, and eliminating friction.
Simplicity becomes harder to maintain as a product grows.
Teams keep adding. The interface becomes crowded. Options multiply.
Eventually, you get complexity.
This is where most big products land: powerful but confusing.
That’s your edge.
Keep your interface simple while others let theirs get bloated, and users will notice.
It’s not about doing less.
It’s about doing what matters, and doing it clearly.
