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Ask HN: When is the last time that you heard this red herring?

2 pointsby docmechanicover 2 years ago
"Good software is self-documenting!"

2 comments

simonblackover 2 years ago
Documentation of software should show <i>WHY</i> the code is what it is, rather than <i>WHAT</i> it is doing.<p>The code itself should show what is happening, but not necessarily why it is happening.<p>If my COBOL taught me anything, it is to always use clear, descriptive variable-names and function-names. Yes it takes more time in typing, but that gets made up in spades in understanding. Especially several months down the track when you&#x27;re maintaining that code.
KeyXioteover 2 years ago
Still draw physical logic maps for c++, may be habitual at this point but commenting&#x2F;documenting has saved me a lot of time by spending fractionally less &quot;extra&quot; time just doing it. Cudos to red herrings and a great Professor in my past. (1)To answer your question directly, more than a decade...