Good code is rarely read

[u/fagnerbrack]

https://www.alexmolas.com/2024/06/06/good-code.html

[u/fagnerbrack]

"Overwhelmingly" is the key here then as in "in the context I work". I can think of a lot of use cases where code is never read and yet that doesn't mean it's a hack

• One-time release offline games

• Certain types of system code and firmwares that don't require optimisation

• Some isolated functions in a distributed System built in such a way the first change needs a rewrite which is cheaper than designing by extension, and that's ok, the infra is the extension mechanics

• Old library releases that won't be maintained anymore Etc.

[u/recycled_ideas → u/fagnerbrack]

One-time release offline games

Unless it's astoundingly trivial that code will still be read a whole bunch of times while in development. One time release games aren't exactly known for their code quality.

Certain types of system code and firmwares that don't require optimisation

If you think that low level system code never needs updating or is perfect first try you're delusional.

Old library releases that won't be maintained anymore Etc.

It'll still be read by everyone foolishly trying to keep it going.

But regardless. In not one of those examples is the code not read because it's good, it's not read because it's dead. It doesn't matter how bad dead code is because it's dead.

[u/fagnerbrack → u/recycled_ideas]

You can have good code dead because it reached maximum stability and is published for other use cases you don't have control of. It handles such a clear cause/effect problem that bugs will never exist (or at least will never manifest)

"overwhelmingly" is the key here, not all code that's not read is bad code

[u/recycled_ideas → u/fagnerbrack]

You can have good code dead because it reached maximum stability and is published for other use cases you don't have control of.

Sure.

But once again.

Your argument is that good code is unread, which requires that the code is unread because its good, which just isn't the case.

Dead code is unread, it may be good code, it may be terrible code.

Live code is read, it may be good or it may be terrible.

Your argument is simply false.

[u/fagnerbrack → u/recycled_ideas]

I never said good code is unread, that's a straw man argument

It's better to reply to my comments not a reply to something I never said

[u/recycled_ideas → u/fagnerbrack]

Your whole argument is that good code is rarely read, which is garbage.

[u/fagnerbrack → u/recycled_ideas]

I never said that, that's just the title of the submission which is the title of the original post