> [!tldr] Accumulation of little solutions ends up being a problem.
Observation across all domains:
- There's a problem. You solve it by adding something.
- There's a problem. You solve it by adding a 2nd thing.
- There's a problem. You solve it by adding a 3rd thing.
- ...
- There's a problem. All thing things you've added are too much [[Overhead]].
The issue of accumulated addition without subtraction pops up all over the place. [[Minimalism]] is largely about avoiding this trap.[^1] [[Enterprise Architecture]] is largely about this. [[App Rationalization]] is all about this.
> our bias drives us to add band-aid after band-aid, until the only choice is to destroy the whole system and start from scratch.
> -- Steph Argo
**Solutions:**
- [[One In, One Out]] is a [[Minimal Stuff]]-flavored solution to this problem.
- The same technique can be used to defend against calendar accumulation and process accumulation, though.
- [[Make the Decision that Informs all Subsequent Decisions]] can help - e.g. "we use Apple products" can reign in proliferation.
- This is where [[What is a Strategy|strategy]] comes into play. [[Architecture is about Picking the Problems You'll Solve]].
- [[Living with the problem can be the right solution]] - as in, don't solve the little problems to have those solutions accumulate
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# More
## Source
- experience
- Also just found this relevant post - https://stephango.com/remove
[^1]: I just added this to "[[System Traps]]".