When in doubt, parenthesize. At the very least it will let…
“When in doubt, parenthesize. At the very least it will let some poor schmuck bounce on the % key in vi.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He jokes that adding parentheses in code can cause unexpected behavior, especially in the vi editor, highlighting the quirks of syntax.
In simple terms: Parentheses can cause bugs, especially in vi.
Be cautious with syntax in code.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- coding
- debugging
- text editing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What syntax pitfalls have you encountered?
- How do you prevent subtle bugs?
Over‑reliance on shortcuts may hide deeper issues.