If you accept the idea that programming is theory building, it's not that difficult to see when source code isn't worthless - when it's not the slow slog of bui

If you accept the idea that programming is theory building, it's not that difficult to see when source code isn't worthless - when it's not the slow slog of building a theory entirely of well known facts, but when it contains leaps of insight. There is also value in knowing which particular theories you're fleshing out vs. ignoring.