aeroplane rule

convention "Complexity increases the possibility of failure;

a twin-engine aeroplane has twice as many engine problems as a

single-engine aeroplane."

By analogy, in both software and electronics, the implication

is that simplicity increases robustness and that the right way

to build reliable systems is to put all your eggs in one

basket, after making sure that you've built a really *good*

basket.

While simplicity is a useful design goal, and twin-engine

aeroplanes do have twice as many engine problems, the analogy

is almost entirely bogus. Commercial passenger aircraft are

required to have at least two engines (on different wings or

nacelles) so that the aeroplane can land safely if one engine

fails. As Albert Einstein said, "Everything should be made as

simple as possible, but not simpler".

See also KISS Principle.

(1999-03-22)