--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The important point is that the cost of…" description: "\"The important point is that the cost of adding a feature isn't just the time it takes to code it. The cost also includes the addition of an obstacle to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/john-carmack-15030_code_the-important-point-is-that-the-cost-of_2965733.jpg" --- # The important point is that the cost of adding a feature… ![“The important point is that the cost of adding a feature isn't just the time it takes to code it. The cost also includes the addition of an obstacle to future expansion. Sure, any given feature list can be implemented, given enough coding time. But in addition to coming out late, you will usually…” quote by John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/john-carmack-15030_code_the-important-point-is-that-the-cost-of_2965733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/john-carmack-15030_code_the-important-point-is-that-the-cost-of_2965733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a14/john-carmack-15030_code_the-important-point-is-that-the-cost-of_2965733.jpg) > “The important point is that the cost of adding a feature isn't just the time it takes to code it. The cost also includes the addition of an obstacle to future expansion. Sure, any given feature list can be implemented, given enough coding time. But in addition to coming out late, you will usually wind up with a codebase that is so fragile that new ideas that should be dead-simple wind up taking longer and longer to work into the tangled existing web. The trick is to pick the features that don't fight each other.” [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adding features incurs hidden costs beyond coding time, creating future obstacles and fragility in the codebase. **In simple terms:** Features cost more than time, they hinder future growth. Key Takeaway Choose non‑conflicting features. Themes software design technical debt feature planning Mood pragmatic analytical Type advice technical When to use this quote - project planning - software architecture - product development - team coordination Key Concepts modularity architectural integrity trade‑offs Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate long‑term impact of a feature? - What processes prevent feature conflict? A Different Perspective Complex systems may still become tangled despite careful selection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adding Feature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adding-feature-1299541/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Code Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code-cost-1299543/) [Coding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coding/) [Coding Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coding-time-4540747/) [Coming out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-out/) [Computer programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-programming/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Cost Adding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-adding-1299542/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Expansion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expansion/) [Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragile/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [New ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ideas/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Tangled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tangled/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) ## Related quotes > [The cost of adding a feature isn't just the time it takes to code it. 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This is unacceptable to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-frankel/for-me-coding-is-a-form-of-self-expression-the-company-controls-the/) [Justin Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-frankel/) > [“Naskar Constitution of GenAI (Sonnet) At times I'm hard on AI, at times I'm lenient, I have just one law on AI, keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/naskar-constitution-of-genai-sonnet-at-times-i-m-hard-on-ai-at-times/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I believe coding is fundamental to literacy in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/i-believe-coding-is-fundamental-to-literacy-in-the-future/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [ Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about \[the goto statement\]. 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The barriers are self imposed. If you want to set off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/in-the-information-age-the-barriers-to-entry-into-programming-just/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [It's nice to have a game that sells a million copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/it-s-nice-to-have-a-game-that-sells-a-million-copies/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I've said before that I'm a remarkably unsentimental person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-ve-said-before-that-i-m-a-remarkably-unsentimental-person/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Programming in the abstract sense is what I really enjoy. I enjoy lots of different areas of it... 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There have actually been some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-really-think-if-anything-there-is-more-evidence-to-show-that-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I recognize that I possess a very special intellect, but at the same time, I recognize that I'm lacking in a lot of areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-recognize-that-i-possess-a-very-special-intellect-but-at-the-same/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Some cynical people think that every activity must revolve around the mighty dollar, and that anyone saying otherwise is just attempting to delude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/some-cynical-people-think-that-every-activity-must-revolve-around-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The speed of light sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-speed-of-light-sucks/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [You can prematurely optimize maintainability, flexibility, security, and robustness just like you can performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/you-can-prematurely-optimize-maintainability-flexibility-security-and/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past events, and I certainly don't have them ranked in any way. 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And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. 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