Patches grow on our code because it's easier to patch than it is to figure out the paradigm-changing code simplification that will encompass all previous functi

Patches grow on our code because it's easier to patch than it is to figure out the paradigm-changing code simplification that will encompass all previous functionality plus the new thing we want to add. That's hard work! I'm elbow-deep in patch remediation right now, and even though I'm not worried about breaking anything (I have good code coverage and a big automated test suite), it's still mentally draining to do it right.