Why we think about complexity and coupling

Why we think about complexity and coupling

In this mini course you will learn:

  • What we mean by the terms "complex" and "coupled"

  • How changes in one can effect the other

  • Charles Perrow's Normal Accident theory on complexity and coupling

  • How to spot locations of tight coupling and high complexity in technical architecture

Complexity -vs- Coupling

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Intro

  • Why we think about complexity and coupling

Shifting Across the Complex-Coupled Spectrum

  • The simple example
  • A more complicated example
  • Intro to Normal Accidents
  • Supervening

Extras: Perrow's Normal Accidents

  • Extra: Charles Perrow on PBS Open Mind (1985)

Where is Zattos Too Coupled? Or Too Complex?

  • The Services and Monoliths of Zattos
  • Candidate Zones to Rethink

Examining the Ratios

  • Thinking Strategically About Ratios
  • Determining by Capacity
  • Determining by Performance
  • Determining by Scope
  • Determining by Incidents
  • Zattos Incident 1
  • Zattos Incident 2
  • Incidents at Zattos
  • Proposed Zattos Change
  • Case Study: Amazon Inventory Cache

Extras: Other Takes on Coupling and Complexity

  • Yourdon and Constantine's Structured Design
  • Functional distributed systems beyond request/response
  • Stamp Coupling and Bandwidth Costs

Wrapping Up

  • Hot Spots and Hunting Grounds