The true measure of a software engineer isn't their ability to write clever code. It's their ability to ruthlessly protect the codebase from unnecessary cleverness.
Keras and ARC-AGI creator François Chollet argues software engineers should prevent issues instead of building clever solutions to fix them
Open-source developer Taelin agreed, prioritizing long-term codebase maintainability.
Many users endorsed Chollet's claim that engineers excel by shielding codebases from unnecessary cleverness because simple, minimal code reduces bugs and proves hardest to maintain over years.
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@fchollet yes
The true measure of a software engineer isn't their ability to write clever code. It's their ability to ruthlessly protect the codebase from unnecessary cleverness.
The best solution is not to cause the problem in the first place.
The true measure of a software engineer isn't their ability to write clever code. It's their ability to ruthlessly protect the codebase from unnecessary cleverness.

@fchollet they are neutral, pine needle colored, but i can see the pink backs of their open mouths from my seat. @drmichaellevin

@fchollet the safest line of code is the one that doesn't exist

@fchollet It still amazes me how many spectacularly flawed solutions people can invent for problems that weren't all that complicated to begin with.

@fchollet the best engineers ive worked with have a sixth sense for when someone is about to do something "elegant"
and they just say no

@fchollet "Conceptual Integrity." --Orson Welles

@fchollet As an intern years ago I tried to write a nested menu recursively (I thought it was very clever) and my manager told me "you need a permit to write recursive code." He was obviously correct.

@fchollet @drmichaellevin it's actually quite hilarious, like, is there just the one fat ass sitting there like, PUT THE WORM IN MY MOUTH, or do they take turns?

@fchollet the birds just got so big, they kicked their mom out of the nest. lol.

@fchollet @drmichaellevin @pmarca @leecronin @MollySOShea @AnnaCiaunica the spatial things that have been disembodied by continental drift. we are so lol xenophobic in this area of research.

@fchollet @drmichaellevin @pmarca so maybe a different bond market. @leecronin
it's not going away.
where did your dad, work, michael? what was it repurposed from? lee?

@fchollet @drmichaellevin @pmarca @leecronin @MollySOShea

@fchollet So basically, “no, I’m not a magician, I’m a janitor with a keyboard.”

@fchollet I think this tweet is getting a little too clever if you ask me

@fchollet @TomBukic and having the audacity to insist when cleverness is necessary.

@fchollet I feel like there's a story behind this one! also I totally agree

@fchollet fr protecting codebase from clever hacks is real senior engineer energy lol

@fchollet Even the best software engineer cannot escape the entropy created by others

@fchollet Unnecessary cleverness is expensive because it hides intent from the next 6 people, not the current author. The best engineers optimize for future unreaders, which is a very unsexy superpower.