The funny things is, 9 times out of ten, simplifying your code is the best step you can take to optimising it--especially in perl.

Of course, simplicity doesn't stop at the boundaries of the code you write. It crosses deep into all those "handy" modules kicking around.

Dumb interface designs; over-designed, overly layered hierarchies; over reliance upon favoured methodologies, techniques and tools all conribute to complexity, and that usually translates to poor performance.

Abstraction is good; design is everything--but knowing when to stop abstracting & designing is just as important.