It’s been said that programming is an exercise in managing complexity, and while that’s true, it’s only part of the picture. (Still, it’s a pretty big part!) More to the point, managing complexity applies to much more than software design. A defining characteristic of modern life is its complexity, so learning to manage it might be a Pretty Good Idea!

Thinking about a friend struggling with the complexity of life lead to remembering of one of P.J. Plauger‘s articles about problem modeling from his book, Programming On Purpose. (The book is a collection of his essays from the long-defunct, but most excellent, Computer Language magazine.)

Thinking about Plauger’s ideas again lead to thinking they might be worth sharing. Whether fresh or review, these ideas capture six key basic analytical techniques nicely. If you’ve never really thought about them before, you may find the ideas useful.

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