Bringing Simplicity-First to the Page: My Upcoming Book

Chris Woodruff
September 27, 2025
Simplicity-First
.NET, ai, architecture, business of software, C#, dotnet, programming
0 Comments

I am excited to share some big news. In the second half of 2026, my new book, titled Software Architecture Made Simple: A ‘Simplicity-First’ Approach to Software in the Age of Complexity, will be released. This book compiles years of blog articles, newsletters, and social media posts, consolidating them into a single, focused source of knowledge. Think of it as the decluttering of my writing life, except instead of cleaning my garage, I am organizing ideas about software.

What’s in the Book?

The book builds on the Simplicity-First philosophy and brings together six key areas:

Software Architecture – laying the structural foundation of simplicity.
Software Construction – focusing on the craft of building with simplicity in code and process.
Business Agility – translating simplicity into adaptive product and organizational strategy.
Technology and Business Philosophy – exploring guiding principles that shape long-term vision.
Business and Technology Ethics – ensuring simplicity aligns with fairness, responsibility, and trust.
Sustainability – connecting simplicity to environmental, economic, and societal longevity.

Each area tackles questions developers, architects, and leaders face every day—like:
“How do I avoid designing for edge cases before I even solve the main problem?”
or
“Why does our architecture diagram look like spaghetti someone threw at the wall… and forgot to clean up?”
(Spoiler: if your diagram looks like dinner, you may not be serving your users very well.)

This project is both serious in its goals and a bit of fun in its delivery. Simplicity does not mean boring. It means building software that works better for people, for organizations, and for the future.

A Sneak Peek at the Book’s Structure

For those who would like to know how the story unfolds, here is a preview of the sections and chapters that comprise Software Architecture Made Simple: A ‘Simplicity-First’ Approach to Software in the Age of Complexity.

Part I – The Problem with Complexity

The Complexity Trap in Modern Software
The Illusion of Future Proofing
The 2 AM Test

Part II – The Simplicity-First Mindset

The Half-Rule of Simplicity
Green Software Starts at the Keyboard
Stop Designing for Edge Cases First

Part III – Practical Simplicity in Architecture

Modular Monoliths over Microservice Sprawl
Scaling Smarter, Not Bigger
Making Legacy Work for You
Simplicity in the Cloud

Part IV – Simplicity in Practice

Teaching Simplicity
Simplicity in Tooling and Workflow
Debugging and Maintenance Made Simple
Simplicity in Team Communication
Simplicity in Decision-Making

Part V – The Green Connection: Simplicity Meets Sustainability

Why Simple Software is Green Software
Measuring the Impact of Simplicity
Designing for Efficiency, Not Waste
Case Studies in Green Simplicity

Part VI – AI Through the Lens of Simplicity

AI as an Amplifier of Simplicity or Complexity
Human in the Loop Architecture
AI-Driven Construction: The Simple Way

Part VII – The Future of Simple

AI, Rust, and the Next Wave of Tools
Craftsmanship over Trends
The Simplicity-First Playbook

What’s Next?

Between now and release, I’ll be sharing sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and maybe even a few bloopers from the writing process (like the time I tried to explain “modular monoliths” to my dog… he wasn’t impressed).

So, buckle up—we’re going to take a journey into a world where simple isn’t dull, it’s brilliant.

Because in software, as in life:
Simplicity scales, complexity crumbles.

Tags: .NET ai architecture business of software C# dotnet programming