And if the Principal is good, they should stand up and say exactly why the code is bad. If there's a reason to laugh because it is cliche bad, they should say

And if the Principal is good, they should stand up and say exactly why the code is bad. If there's a reason to laugh because it is cliche bad, they should say so. If someone gave me code with if (x = 7) { ... } as part of a C eval. Yeah, you'll get a sarcastic response back because I know it is testing code. What I think people ignore is that personality matters. Especially at the higher levels. If you are a Principal SWE you have to be able to stand up to a CEO and say "No, sir. I think you are wrong. This is why." In a diplomatic way. Or sometimes. Less than diplomatic, depending on the CEO. One manager that hired me was trying to figure me out. So he said (and I think he was honest at the time). "You got the job as long an you aren't an axe murderer." To which I replied deadpan: "I hope I hid the axe well." (To be clear to all reading, I have never killed someone, nevermind with an axe! Hi FBI, NSA, CIA and pals!) Got the job, and we got along great, I operated as his right hand.