What a Lot of Programmers Don't Realize About the Skill of Reading Code
We don't talk enough about the skill of reading code.
We focus so much on the skill of writing code that it often feels easier to rewrite something from scratch than to read and understand what’s already there.
That’s a risky way of doing software engineering. Any software product that has been successful for several years depends on people who can work with legacy codebases, which in my experience is about 70% reading, finding the relevant sections and adapting them with laser-sharp focus.
If you care about contributing to the long-term success of software products, this topic is for you.
Here is my first video on the topic, in which I share a simple metaphor.
There will be more if there’s enough resonance.