KISS
Abbreviation · Principle · Slang & Abbreviations · Origin: 1960
Definitions
Keep It Simple, Stupid — a design principle stating that most systems work best when they are kept simple rather than made complicated. Attributed to aircraft engineer Kelly Johnson, who challenged his team to design systems a field mechanic could repair.
In plain English: A design rule meaning: simpler is better. Don't over-complicate things when a straightforward approach would work just fine.
Etymology
- 1960
- Kelly Johnson of Lockheed Skunk Works coins KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid), designing aircraft that field mechanics must be able to repair
- 1970s
- Software engineering adopts KISS as a design principle, aligning with Unix philosophy: do one thing and do it well
- 2000s
- KISS becomes a universal rebuttal in code reviews, architecture discussions, and tech debates