The Occam’s Razor of Projects
Last updated: August 22, 2021
Ever since I heard about it on Scrubs back in 2006, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of Occam’s Razor. According to Wikipedia, it’s the problem-solving principle that “entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity”, sometimes inaccurately paraphrased as “the simplest explanation is usually the best one.” Put another way, it’s the theory with the least amount of assumptions is the preferred one.
I often think about Occam’s Razor when considering implementations for new websites or projects. It’s easy to overthink and over-engineer projects, when really we want a minimum viable product (MVP) or proof of concept. So how can Occam’s Razor apply here? I think the principle can be slightly changed to, “the implementation with the fewest starting requirements is the preferred one.”
Building a Small Services Shop
Here are a couple of examples. I recently implemented a small shop for some one off services I offer. I could have gone all out here. Installed WooCommerce, accepted multiple payment gateways, add the automations and email sequences, create a custom theme…the whole nine yards. But it would have have taken me weeks to implement. Instead, I picked a nice looking theme, made each product a post, and used WP Simple Pay to accept payments. Now I have simple payment links to send people. Everything else can be added later.
Creating Memberships
I was also recently on a call where I was asked about implementing an online course and membership. It’s really easy to overthink this (take it from me), so I advised that the person write down the requirements they absolutely need and pick the least amount of tools to get it done. In some cases, that might just be LearnDash. In other instances, a membership plugin might be needed. It all depends on the needs.
The Simplest Path to Implementation
When you set out to build your own projects, it’s easy to get caught up in everything you could do; you might even feel like you need to implement everything. Call it perfectionism, imposter syndrome, or anything you want. But it’s a hurdle to actually launching.
Instead, think about the Occam’s Razor of launching projects: the implementation with the fewest starting requirements is the preferred one.