AI code generators excel at producing syntactically correct code that passes tests, but struggle with the maintainability aspect that humans need for review and long-term maintenance. By applying Rich Hickey's 'Simple Made Easy' principles as architectural constraints, teams can force AI to generate more maintainable code. The approach involves five key constraints: immutable data structures, separating data from behavior, explicit error handling, pure functions over methods, and composition over inheritance. These constraints eliminate multiple solution paths, making AI-generated code easier to review through pattern matching rather than complex analysis.
Table of contents
The AI 90/10 Problem: Why Speed Becomes ParalysisSimple vs Easy: The Foundation of AI Friendly ArchitectureThe Five Principles: Hickey's BlueprintMaking Architecture More Constraining: One Way to WinHow Constraints Teach AI Better PatternsResults: Constraints Create FreedomConclusion: Solving the 90/10 ProblemSort: