Understanding others code can be difficult, frustrating, or just plain tedious. But who wouldn't have to do it? When software isn't working, seems to be a nor

Understanding others code can be difficult, frustrating, or just plain tedious. But who wouldn't have to do it? When software isn't working, seems to be a normal part of figuring out where things are going wrong, which is a normal part of fixing bugs, etc. Of course, it's agonizingly ironic to discover that reviewing one's own code written long ago may be no easier to decipher. It's a humbling experience when it happens, but what would ever teach the lesson more effectively about writing code that can be read by mere humans. I know it makes me think about the variable names I use, the merit of "one-liners", how much white space to leave, and the clarity of explanatory comments, among other things. It's a form of art to know when to be verbose and when not to be. Some programmers may be superior "code artists", but every programmer should be able to write well enough.