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Refactoring Code Is Like Doing The Dishes

Filed Under Software Process, Thought Stuff

Sponge

Regardless of language and skill set, all developers have to constantly revisit their code and refactor. Although you can look at it optimistically and view it as an opportunity for continuous improvement, many of us also take the pessimistic view that it is a chore.

Unfortunately, either way you look at it refactoring is a necessity for long term cleanliness. It is true that you can procrastinate some amount of this “housekeeping” activity, but in the end you will have to give in and do it. This reminds me of a quote:

Before enlightenment, run water, wash dishes. After enlightenment run water, wash dishes.

Even after we reach the highest level of development consciousness (if there even is such a thing), we will still find ourselves running water and doing dishes.

Never stop learning. Never stop questing. There is no end, just new clean beginnings.

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Comments

6 Responses to “Refactoring Code Is Like Doing The Dishes”

  1. Dew Drop - April 25, 2008 | Alvin Ashcraft's Morning Dew on April 25th, 2008 7:03 am

    […] Refactoring Code Is Like Doing the Dishes (Max Pool) […]

  2. Russell Ball on April 25th, 2008 7:42 am

    So what’s the software equivalent to just using paper plates?

  3. Max Pool on April 25th, 2008 7:45 am

    Good question…do we have that luxury yet?

  4. Handly Cameron on April 25th, 2008 8:26 am

    I like the analogy.

    Refactoring is also like doing the dishes in that it is a lot easier to do while the mess is still fresh. If you wait to do the cleaning, the ‘goo’ has set in and it is harder to do the scrubbing. (Unless you are using paper plates!)

    One more: Leaving a mess around (code or dishes) invites bugs!

  5. What About Thad? on April 26th, 2008 1:11 pm

    If memory serves, I read the before enlightenment/after enlightenment thing in The Tao of Pooh, but I remember the task in the middle as something besides washing dishes. I wonder if it’s from the Tao Te Ching. Anyway, nice application of ancient wisdom.

  6. Benny Thomas on April 28th, 2008 1:24 am

    I hate to wash dishes, but I like to refactor. Strange…

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