# Simple Rules, Complex Systems and Software Development

DevFeed: [Simple Rules, Complex Systems and Software Development](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/simple-rules-complex-systems-and-software-development-30407.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.mdubakov.com/posts/simple-rules-complex-systems-software-development/>)

Published: 2009-03-23T15:41:57Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Blog by Michael Dubakov](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/blog-by-michael-dubakov.md>)

Topics: [Complex Systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/complex-systems.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/systems.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [Agile](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/agile.md>), [Cellular automaton](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cellular-automaton.md>), [Simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/simulation.md>)

Tags: [agile](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/agile.md>), [communication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/communication.md>), [complex-systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/complex-systems.md>), [development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development.md>), [development-process](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development-process.md>), [logic](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/logic.md>), [rules](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/rules.md>), [simulation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/simulation.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/systems.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that simple rules can produce complex behavior, using ant colonies, bird flocks, and Conway's Game of Life as examples. It applies this idea to software development, arguing that simple processes such as Agile and Scrum can support learning, feedback, communication, and cooperation, while excessive process complexity can produce rigid behavior.

## Source excerpt

Many complex systems are based on simple rules. A set of several simple rules leads to complex, intelligent behavior. While a set of complex rules often leads to a dumb and primitive behavior. There are many examples. Ants Colony How ants search for food? They do not have cell phones, cars and mini-markets near the nest. They should have something simpler to communicate. Here is how ants work: Travel randomly in search for food. Take a piece of food and head straight back to the nest. On the way back to the nest lay down an odor trail. Notify nestmates of the discovered food encouraging them to leave the nest. These newly recruited ants will follow the odor trail directly to the food source. In their turn, each ant will reinforce the odor trail until the food is gone. Sounds simple? Take a look at this very nice ants colony model. Drop some food and enjoy the action. Birds Flocks Birds flocks are beautiful. You may think that the movement gets orchestrated by one savvy bird. But this is not the case. A bird glock is guided by three simple principles (every decent bird knows them): Separation: steer to avoid stumbling upon local flockmates. Alignment: steer towards the average heading of local flockmates. Cohesion: steer to move towards the average position of local flockmates. Simple? Yes, it is. Look at the picture on the right. It's just amazing! Game of Life Game of Life was invented in 1970 by John Conway. It is a cellular automaton and simulates the birth, death, etc., of organisms based on certain rules: Each cell with one or no neighbors dies, as if of loneliness. Each cell with four or more neighbors dies, as if of overpopulation. Each cell with two or three neighbors survives. Each empty cell with three neighbors becomes populated. Simple rules. But these rules lead to fantastic diversity of the forms. Different types of the forms have been discovered e.g. still objects, oscillators, gliders, spaceships, etc. It is impossible to predict the state of a syste