Another option to make your system ready for the future is to make it as simple as possible. If it does exactly what it needs to do with no duplication, you'll have the flexibility to add necessary complexity.

Sure, provided that:

1. You write unit tests to make sure that your necessarily complex additions (heh) don't break anything, and
2. Your code is sufficiently decoupled that adding new components doesn't involve (excessive) changes to old.

Both of these requirements are more easily met with simple software than with complex, "try to predict the future" designs. I need to tell myself that about once a week, on a good week. :-) I guess my point is that just making your software simple isn't enough, although it's a big help.

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The hell with paco, vote for Erudil!