DRY vs KISS
DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) and KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) both come up in technology conversations and get confused. Here's the plain-English difference, side by side, so you can use each one with confidence.
The key difference: DRY refers to don't repeat yourself, while KISS refers to keep it simple, stupid — they describe different things even when they show up in the same sentence.
DRY — Don't Repeat Yourself
Principle that every piece of knowledge should have a single, unambiguous representation in a system. DRY done badly creates the wrong abstractions — duplication is cheaper than the wrong coupling.
KISS — Keep It Simple, Stupid
Design principle favoring simplicity over cleverness. KISS is a discipline: most production outages and onboarding pain trace back to something that didn't need to be complicated.
When to use DRY
Reach for "DRY" when the conversation is specifically about don't repeat yourself. Principle that every piece of knowledge should have a single, unambiguous representation in a system. DRY done badly creates the wrong abstractions — duplication is cheaper than the wrong coupling.
When to use KISS
Reach for "KISS" when the conversation is specifically about keep it simple, stupid. Design principle favoring simplicity over cleverness. KISS is a discipline: most production outages and onboarding pain trace back to something that didn't need to be complicated.
FAQs
What is the difference between DRY and KISS?
DRY stands for Don't Repeat Yourself — Principle that every piece of knowledge should have a single, unambiguous representation in a system. DRY done badly creates the wrong abstractions — duplication is cheaper than the wrong coupling. KISS stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid — Design principle favoring simplicity over cleverness. KISS is a discipline: most production outages and onboarding pain trace back to something that didn't need to be complicated.
Are DRY and KISS the same thing?
No. They're often used in the same conversation because they're related, but they describe different concepts. DRY = Don't Repeat Yourself. KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid.
When should I use DRY vs KISS?
Use DRY when you're specifically referring to don't repeat yourself. Use KISS when the topic is keep it simple, stupid.