In his insightful essay, the author discusses the famous quote by Brian Kernighan about the challenges of debugging compared to writing code. While some interpret the quote as a warning against clever code, the author argues that cleverness is a dynamic skill that can be cultivated through practice. The concept of flow is introduced, highlighting the importance of working slightly beyond one’s current level of ability to improve skills. The discussion touches on the balance between cleverness in code and the need for maintainability, emphasizing the value of writing clear, maintainable code while also challenging oneself to improve. Ultimately, the author concludes that tackling problems head-on, even if they require debugging, leads to valuable experience and growth as a programmer.
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