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One issue with comments is that an engineer who struggles to write clearly will also struggle to write clear comments. And clear code. But at least the code can
by analog31 2y ago
One issue with comments is that an engineer who struggles to write clearly will also struggle to write clear comments. And clear code. But at least the code can be deciphered by reverse engineering it, stepping through it, or in some cases rewriting it. For me, at least the comments are worth reading before trying to figure out what someone's code does, to get me into the ballpark.
I often add comments to code as I decipher it, then remove them again when I figure things out.
- geraldwhen 2y agoAn engineer who struggles to write clearly is one I would hope not to hire. Programming is first and foremost a problem discovery job, then a writing job, then math and logic. No matter how efficient or eloquent, if you solve the wrong problem, you’re doing no one any good. Solve the right problem efficiently, but in a way no others can understand, and you’ll flounder in a team. You will also never be able to collaborate or make larger work move faster. Correct problem, clear writing, then logic.
- analog31 2y agoI definitely agree, but still, a lot of people are told "you will never use your math or writing after college." It may also be that they perceive themselves to be judged by how much code they can sling, and not the quality of their writing. And in a large enough department, the work that depends on math ends up being given to the one or two "math people." I'm one of those. But I suspect that there's a relationship: If their writing is hard to read, their code will be hard to read.