Why senior developers never write "clever" code.
Clever code is hard to read.
Hard to debug.
Impossible to maintain.
Your goal isn't to look smart. It's to write simple, boring code that just works.
#Buildinpublic
Clever code is hard to read.
Hard to debug.
Impossible to maintain.
Your goal isn't to look smart. It's to write simple, boring code that just works.
#Buildinpublic
September 4, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Why senior developers never write "clever" code.
Clever code is hard to read.
Hard to debug.
Impossible to maintain.
Your goal isn't to look smart. It's to write simple, boring code that just works.
#Buildinpublic
Clever code is hard to read.
Hard to debug.
Impossible to maintain.
Your goal isn't to look smart. It's to write simple, boring code that just works.
#Buildinpublic
Completely agree with this point:
“Clever engineers write clever code. Exceptional engineers write simple code.”
Back in when people wanted “ninjas”, I said I wanted to be/wanted to work with gardeners. Ninjas come in and leave a bloody mess in the morning. Gardeners patiently cultivate.
“Clever engineers write clever code. Exceptional engineers write simple code.”
Back in when people wanted “ninjas”, I said I wanted to be/wanted to work with gardeners. Ninjas come in and leave a bloody mess in the morning. Gardeners patiently cultivate.
April 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Completely agree with this point:
“Clever engineers write clever code. Exceptional engineers write simple code.”
Back in when people wanted “ninjas”, I said I wanted to be/wanted to work with gardeners. Ninjas come in and leave a bloody mess in the morning. Gardeners patiently cultivate.
“Clever engineers write clever code. Exceptional engineers write simple code.”
Back in when people wanted “ninjas”, I said I wanted to be/wanted to work with gardeners. Ninjas come in and leave a bloody mess in the morning. Gardeners patiently cultivate.
Depends on the area code. Because apparently in the Battle River-Crowfoot area code this is knee-slappingly clever.
December 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Depends on the area code. Because apparently in the Battle River-Crowfoot area code this is knee-slappingly clever.
This.
Good code should make you go "oh...Oh that's CLEVER" Or "Oh shit... that's how that works!"
These responses are genuine and human, and the same sort of 'oh that's how that brush stroke works!' from art.
It's creative writing that DOES COOL THINGS.
Good code should make you go "oh...Oh that's CLEVER" Or "Oh shit... that's how that works!"
These responses are genuine and human, and the same sort of 'oh that's how that brush stroke works!' from art.
It's creative writing that DOES COOL THINGS.
i think one big factor (among many) as to why AI has had such a foothold in coding spaces is because the majority of people dont consider programming to be art
September 24, 2026 at 5:22 PM
This.
Good code should make you go "oh...Oh that's CLEVER" Or "Oh shit... that's how that works!"
These responses are genuine and human, and the same sort of 'oh that's how that brush stroke works!' from art.
It's creative writing that DOES COOL THINGS.
Good code should make you go "oh...Oh that's CLEVER" Or "Oh shit... that's how that works!"
These responses are genuine and human, and the same sort of 'oh that's how that brush stroke works!' from art.
It's creative writing that DOES COOL THINGS.
Here, as ever, “empowering educators” is clever code for administrators dumping another problem on teachers and saying “here, you deal with this.”
We know students, like the rest of the world, are using AI. Teachers need to be equipped to deal w/all the issues AI creates. Our approach starts with maximizing safety & privacy and empowering educators to make educational decisions, so AI tools can benefit not harm www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...
AI has become the norm for students. Teachers are playing catch-up.
At a New York City training session, educators explored how artificial intelligence could support teaching while also discussing their concerns around the technology.
www.nbcnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Here, as ever, “empowering educators” is clever code for administrators dumping another problem on teachers and saying “here, you deal with this.”
If you change your code and it starts working 10 times faster, you started doing something clever.
If you change your code and it runs a hundred times faster, you stopped doing something stupid.
If you change your code and it runs a hundred times faster, you stopped doing something stupid.
January 28, 2025 at 6:36 PM
If you change your code and it starts working 10 times faster, you started doing something clever.
If you change your code and it runs a hundred times faster, you stopped doing something stupid.
If you change your code and it runs a hundred times faster, you stopped doing something stupid.
Prefer clear code over clever code.
Don't mistake terse for concise.
Terse code is short, cryptic, clever, and is often error prone.
Concise code is clear, simple, and easy to understand and change.
Don't mistake terse for concise.
Terse code is short, cryptic, clever, and is often error prone.
Concise code is clear, simple, and easy to understand and change.
February 24, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Prefer clear code over clever code.
Don't mistake terse for concise.
Terse code is short, cryptic, clever, and is often error prone.
Concise code is clear, simple, and easy to understand and change.
Don't mistake terse for concise.
Terse code is short, cryptic, clever, and is often error prone.
Concise code is clear, simple, and easy to understand and change.
"Clever engineers write clever code. Exceptional engineers write simple code."
100% agree with this. There are rare exceptions that call for clever or innovative, but most of the time you think you're being clever you're just leaving a trap for a future you.
endler.dev/2025/best-pr...
100% agree with this. There are rare exceptions that call for clever or innovative, but most of the time you think you're being clever you're just leaving a trap for a future you.
endler.dev/2025/best-pr...
The Best Programmers I Know | Matthias Endler
I have met a lot of developers in my life.
Late…
endler.dev
April 8, 2025 at 1:01 AM
"Clever engineers write clever code. Exceptional engineers write simple code."
100% agree with this. There are rare exceptions that call for clever or innovative, but most of the time you think you're being clever you're just leaving a trap for a future you.
endler.dev/2025/best-pr...
100% agree with this. There are rare exceptions that call for clever or innovative, but most of the time you think you're being clever you're just leaving a trap for a future you.
endler.dev/2025/best-pr...
Write readable code, not clever code.
Both is good. But choose readable over clever, every time, when you have to choose.
#LifeInTheCodeMines
Both is good. But choose readable over clever, every time, when you have to choose.
#LifeInTheCodeMines
April 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Write readable code, not clever code.
Both is good. But choose readable over clever, every time, when you have to choose.
#LifeInTheCodeMines
Both is good. But choose readable over clever, every time, when you have to choose.
#LifeInTheCodeMines
An unordered / non-exhaustive list of things that helped scale Bluesky's infra efficiently:
+ Exiting the cloud (colocation)
+ HAProxy w/many Node backends
+ Go w/clever code
+ ScyllaDB
+ SQLite w/per user databases
+ Redis w/many instances
+ AMD servers w/many cores
+ Purchasing bandwidth directly
+ Exiting the cloud (colocation)
+ HAProxy w/many Node backends
+ Go w/clever code
+ ScyllaDB
+ SQLite w/per user databases
+ Redis w/many instances
+ AMD servers w/many cores
+ Purchasing bandwidth directly
November 11, 2024 at 3:54 AM
An unordered / non-exhaustive list of things that helped scale Bluesky's infra efficiently:
+ Exiting the cloud (colocation)
+ HAProxy w/many Node backends
+ Go w/clever code
+ ScyllaDB
+ SQLite w/per user databases
+ Redis w/many instances
+ AMD servers w/many cores
+ Purchasing bandwidth directly
+ Exiting the cloud (colocation)
+ HAProxy w/many Node backends
+ Go w/clever code
+ ScyllaDB
+ SQLite w/per user databases
+ Redis w/many instances
+ AMD servers w/many cores
+ Purchasing bandwidth directly
this isn't some secret underground resistance with super-clever code words, it's random citizens walking through their snowy front yards in their Bluey pajamas to scream obscenities at the invaders
January 15, 2026 at 12:07 AM
this isn't some secret underground resistance with super-clever code words, it's random citizens walking through their snowy front yards in their Bluey pajamas to scream obscenities at the invaders
How do you explain recursion? This one is pretty fun.
I had Claude Opus 5.5 make: "A video explaining recursion, where every explanation about recursion has a radically different video style, make this self-referential & clever & fast moving." All code, no images.
Nine genre shifts, one prompt...
I had Claude Opus 5.5 make: "A video explaining recursion, where every explanation about recursion has a radically different video style, make this self-referential & clever & fast moving." All code, no images.
Nine genre shifts, one prompt...
September 26, 2026 at 3:30 AM
How do you explain recursion? This one is pretty fun.
I had Claude Opus 5.5 make: "A video explaining recursion, where every explanation about recursion has a radically different video style, make this self-referential & clever & fast moving." All code, no images.
Nine genre shifts, one prompt...
I had Claude Opus 5.5 make: "A video explaining recursion, where every explanation about recursion has a radically different video style, make this self-referential & clever & fast moving." All code, no images.
Nine genre shifts, one prompt...
These are the kind of morons who thought "Let's go, Brandon" was some clever, indecipherable code phrase. Dumb bastards.
February 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM
These are the kind of morons who thought "Let's go, Brandon" was some clever, indecipherable code phrase. Dumb bastards.
There is an old programming adage that says you should never write the most clever code that you can, because you have to be even more clever to debug it. I wonder if there is any llm corollary.
March 5, 2026 at 10:47 PM
There is an old programming adage that says you should never write the most clever code that you can, because you have to be even more clever to debug it. I wonder if there is any llm corollary.
Bigotry isn't the GOP's cheat code to winning at politics, and Dems and centrists shouldn't reflexively assume every bigoted Republican political salvo is clever, dangerous bait we'd be better off ignoring. www.offmessage.net/p/bigotry-is...
Bigotry Isn't The Cheat Code MAGA Thinks It Is
And Democrats shouldn't let Republicans or centrists pollsters convince them otherwise
www.offmessage.net
May 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Bigotry isn't the GOP's cheat code to winning at politics, and Dems and centrists shouldn't reflexively assume every bigoted Republican political salvo is clever, dangerous bait we'd be better off ignoring. www.offmessage.net/p/bigotry-is...
Tired: Writing unsafe code for perf reasons
Wired: Writing unsafe code just so you periodically get kicked in the teeth and humbled when you realize you did a clever thing wrong, to build character
Wired: Writing unsafe code just so you periodically get kicked in the teeth and humbled when you realize you did a clever thing wrong, to build character
June 14, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Tired: Writing unsafe code for perf reasons
Wired: Writing unsafe code just so you periodically get kicked in the teeth and humbled when you realize you did a clever thing wrong, to build character
Wired: Writing unsafe code just so you periodically get kicked in the teeth and humbled when you realize you did a clever thing wrong, to build character
5. Commanding car tamer
6. Clever code breaker
7. Adorable singer/conductor
8. Mischievous event planner
6. Clever code breaker
7. Adorable singer/conductor
8. Mischievous event planner
January 29, 2025 at 2:50 PM
5. Commanding car tamer
6. Clever code breaker
7. Adorable singer/conductor
8. Mischievous event planner
6. Clever code breaker
7. Adorable singer/conductor
8. Mischievous event planner
There’s just already enough concrete proof of it all, we don’t also have to pretend they’re clever and creative with wordplay to Da Vinci Code a hidden confession
September 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
There’s just already enough concrete proof of it all, we don’t also have to pretend they’re clever and creative with wordplay to Da Vinci Code a hidden confession
The best Rails devs don’t write clever code. They write boring code that never breaks.
July 27, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The best Rails devs don’t write clever code. They write boring code that never breaks.
This morning I found myself staring at a piece of code I wrote 6 months ago. At the time it felt clever. Today it felt complicated.
A good reminder that clarity ages better than cleverness.
#buildinpublic #indiedev
A good reminder that clarity ages better than cleverness.
#buildinpublic #indiedev
June 15, 2026 at 9:42 AM
This morning I found myself staring at a piece of code I wrote 6 months ago. At the time it felt clever. Today it felt complicated.
A good reminder that clarity ages better than cleverness.
#buildinpublic #indiedev
A good reminder that clarity ages better than cleverness.
#buildinpublic #indiedev
what if I evade their search filters by using clever code words like unalive instead of kill
December 5, 2024 at 5:47 PM
what if I evade their search filters by using clever code words like unalive instead of kill
If you think you're being clever while writing code, no you aren't...
July 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
If you think you're being clever while writing code, no you aren't...
Code that is 'clever' sucks.
Code that is obvious and easily supportable and reliable is awesome.
Code that is obvious and easily supportable and reliable is awesome.
November 27, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Code that is 'clever' sucks.
Code that is obvious and easily supportable and reliable is awesome.
Code that is obvious and easily supportable and reliable is awesome.
A clever new study "confirms that the country’s tax code is regressive, not progressive, at the very top," @annielowrey.bsky.social reports. American billionaires "pay lower tax rates than many middle-class professionals":
How the Richest People in America Avoid Paying Taxes
A clever new paper puts concrete numbers to the taxes paid by members of the Forbes 400.
bit.ly
August 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A clever new study "confirms that the country’s tax code is regressive, not progressive, at the very top," @annielowrey.bsky.social reports. American billionaires "pay lower tax rates than many middle-class professionals":