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I didn't realize anyone likes fixing broken code, debugging, or - from reading HN - what seems like what most professional programmers spend most of their time
by yesenadam 8y ago
I didn't realize anyone likes fixing broken code, debugging, or - from reading HN - what seems like what most professional programmers spend most of their time doing, inheriting a huge broken mess of old software and having to come to understand it and clean it up somewhat. I don't remember reading/hearing anyone say they actually like it.
edit: Nice to hear it!
- ianmcgowan 8y agoI love debugging, but only with access to the code. It gets frustrating to track a problem to some black box library, and then have to stop.
- nkingsy 8y agoDebugging is the best. It feels so good when you stop hitting yourself in the face. Inheriting a huge mess is harder to love, but refactoring payoffs are huge. What I will never do again is inherit a huge buggy mess and a boss that wants you to add 5 features to it by the end of the week.
- taneq 8y agoFinding and diagnosing bugs is annoying. Actually fixing them is super satisfying though. Same with cleaning up old crusty code, figuring out wtf it's meant to be doing is painful but turning it into clear clean well-factored efficient code is satisfying.
- mcv 8y agoI do. I love hunting down bugs and leaving the code better than it was. I've done some memorable refactorings of terrible code. It feels weird to say I like it, but I kinda do.