This document discusses principles for managing complexity in software systems. It recommends applying separation of concern, modularity, and abstraction to break large complex systems into smaller, less complex and more manageable modules. This leads to designs that are easier to understand and maintain. The document also discusses software design processes like functional and object-oriented design, which involve decomposing a system into smaller units and integrating them. Qualities of good software design like loose coupling and strong cohesion are emphasized to improve maintainability.