'Derivability' is a Principle of Design for Complex Tools

This is a post about identifying a personal concept of design that pertains to high-level use-cases for mid-tier technical use-cases.

Derivability minimizes:

• Need for memorization
• The learning curve on skill acquisition
• Arbitrary factors in technical operations
• Costs of operation
• Unnecessary skill-set isolation

Derivibility means that a user can logically derive most usage scenarios of an otherwise complex tool, given a smaller set of operating guidelines.


Small learning curve means easier adoption.


Good derivibility must also facilitate good modularity.

Considerations Around Derivibility:

• definition of a tool
• foreseeable purpose
• absolute limitations
• relative limitations - (to be reduced)
• existence of intrinsic layers
• directionalities in simplicity to complexity
• universality and depth of task presence
• directionalities in task dependencies
• directionalities in skill dependencies
• irreducible complexity by systemically external confines
• any and all forms of irreducible complexity
• any controlling factors of task reducibility