KISS
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Programming
| Stands for | Keep it simple, stupid |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
KISS stands for Keep it simple, stupid, a programming abbreviation.
A design principle holding that systems work best when kept simple, so unnecessary complexity should be avoided. In software it argues for straightforward code the next developer can understand over clever, intricate solutions.
Example: KISS: a cron job and a CSV export will do; we don't need a streaming pipeline yet.
Usage notes
Attributed to Kelly Johnson, lead engineer at Lockheed's Skunk Works, around 1960, who wanted aircraft that could be repaired in the field with basic tools. Softer variants include "keep it short and simple" and "keep it simple, silly". It echoes Occam's razor and the maxim to make things as simple as possible, but no simpler.
Related abbreviations
More programming abbreviations
- J2EE – Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition
- JDK – Java Development Kit
- JIT – Just-in-time
- JRE – Java Runtime Environment
- JSON – JavaScript Object Notation
- JVM – Java Virtual Machine
- l10n – Localization
- LGTM – Looks good to me
- LIFO – Last in, first out
- LINQ – Language Integrated Query
- Lisp – List processing
- LLVM – LLVM (originally Low Level Virtual Machine)