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Code Quote by Gene Kim

“Ask a programmer to review ten lines of code, he’ll find ten issues. Ask him to do five hundred lines, and he’ll say it looks good.” quote by Gene Kim
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““Ask a programmer to review ten lines of code, he’ll find ten issues. Ask him to do five hundred lines, and he’ll say it looks good.””

Gene Kim

About This Quote

Source Book: The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim, 2013

Reviewing larger codebases often hides flaws, leading to false confidence in quality.

In simple terms: More code, more hidden bugs.

Key Takeaway

Beware overconfidence in large code reviews.

Themes

software quality code review risk management

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

advisory practical

When to use this quote

  • software development
  • team management
  • quality assurance
  • risk assessment

Key Concepts

software engineering cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you ensure thoroughness in big reviews?
  • What tools can help detect hidden bugs?
A Different Perspective

Large codebases can mask issues, not eliminate them.

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