Complexity Recognition Review Lens

When invoked with $ARGUMENTS, focus the analysis on the specified file or module. Read the target code first, then apply the checks below.

"Complexity is anything related to the structure of a software system that makes it hard to understand and modify the system." — John Ousterhout, A Philosophy of Software Design

Complexity is relative to the task: the same codebase can feel simple for one operation and painful for another. The writer of the code is often the worst judge of its complexity. If reviewers find it complex, it is. Diagnose it using three symptoms, two root causes, and the fundamental formula.

When to Apply

• When code feels harder to work with than it should be
• When small changes require edits in many places
• When developers frequently introduce bugs in unfamiliar code
• During "should we refactor this?" discussions

Core Principles

The Complexity Formula