Alibaba Cloud Developer

Apr 11, 2023 · Fundamentals

Why Software Gets Complex and How to Measure & Tame It

This article examines the root causes of software complexity, explains how to quantify it using metrics such as Halstead, cyclomatic and Ousterhout complexity, showcases real code examples, and offers practical strategies—including high cohesion, low coupling, strategic design, documentation, and refactoring—to prevent and reduce complexity in large systems.