🔗 How to write "garbage code" (by Linus Torvalds)

Linus Torvalds recently criticized a Meta engineer for submitting subpar code late in a merge window, calling it "garbage". He emphasized that good code should minimize cognitive load for all readers, including software engineers and LLMs. By reducing unnecessary abstractions and helper functions, developers can maintain clarity and simplicity in their code. This approach aligns with the PRY principle of repeating oneself to enhance comprehension.

The article underscores that task-switching incurs cognitive costs, suggesting sometimes duplication may actually help rather than hinder understanding. It also highlights that being rude about code failures can discourage contributions, advocating for a more supportive and constructive coding environment.