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Don't document bad code - rewrite it.

“Don't document bad code - rewrite it.” quote by Brian Kernighan
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“Don't document bad code - rewrite it.”

Brian Kernighan

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Bad code should be replaced, not just documented, because documentation masks problems.

In simple terms: Fix code, don’t just note flaws.

Key Takeaway

Rewrite to improve quality.

Themes

software quality maintenance best practices

Mood

practical critical

Type

advice technical

When to use this quote

  • software development
  • code reviews
  • team collaboration

Key Concepts

technical debt code hygiene

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does rewriting affect project timelines?
  • When is documentation sufficient?
A Different Perspective

Documentation alone cannot eliminate underlying issues.

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