Earned Complexity Framework: Devs Must Now Prove 'Actual Pain' Before Splurging on Microservices – No More Future-Proofing Hangovers

A new framework called Earned Complexity has been introduced to help software engineering teams manage complexity in their systems. The framework, which synthesizes principles from established engineering literature, aims to prevent the introduction of unnecessary complexity that can lead to degraded system reliability, declining delivery velocity, and organizational burnout. Developed in response to the increasing struggle of software engineering organizations to manage complexity, Earned Complexity provides a disciplined and evidence-based approach to determining when architectural or systemic complexity is warranted. The framework, informed by the work of experts such as Dan McKinley and Bradfield, emphasizes the importance of justifying complexity through measurable pain and paying for it with controls. By adopting Earned Complexity, software teams can align technical decision-making with long-term organizational performance and achieve sustainable excellence without unnecessary risk, as demonstrated by a mid-sized team that improved delivery velocity by refactoring boundaries without architectural escalation.