Code Quote by Steve McConnell
““There is no code so big, twisted, or complex that maintenance can't make it worse.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Code Complete, 2nd Edition, 2004
Large, tangled code becomes even harder to maintain, and maintenance tends to degrade it further.
In simple terms: Complex code gets worse with maintenance.
Keep code simple and well‑structured.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legacy system overhaul
- team code reviews
- bug fixing
- feature addition
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you design code to stay maintainable over time?
- What practices prevent maintenance from degrading a system?
If the code is already poor, maintenance may be limited in impact.