A senior developer's philosophy on writing software for long-term maintainability. Key principles include prioritizing readability over cleverness, treating naming as documentation, writing comments that explain 'why' not 'what', choosing boring but appropriate architecture, respecting the cost of dependencies, investing in documentation and tests, and designing APIs that feel natural. The core mindset shift: write code for your future self who has forgotten all context, not for your present self who understands everything.
Table of contents
Software Ages Like MilkFuture Derek Is a Different DeveloperReadability Is a FeatureClever Code Has an Expiration DateNaming Things Is More Important Than AlgorithmsComments Should Explain WhyArchitecture Should Feel BoringEvery Dependency Is a PromiseDocumentation Is Not OptionalI Design APIs Like ConversationsTechnical Debt Is a LoanTesting Buys ConfidenceThe Best Software EvolvesBuilding Developer Tools Changed My PerspectiveThe Long GameSoftware Is Never Really FinishedMy Philosophy1.7M Impressions32 Comments