“Clean codes” is among the most commonly used phrases in the field of software development, and one of the few that is not agreed on.

Everyone is looking for it. Everyone says they can write it. Yet, what qualifies as clean code appears to alter based on the team, the project as well as the language used and also the current moment.

Clean code isn’t a set location. It’s a movable goal.

The Myth of Universally Clean Code

It’s a nice thought to know that clean code is the same set of rules:

• Short-term functions

• Names for descriptive variables

• No duplication

• Clear abstractions

These guidelines are good, but they’re not a complete guideline.

Code that is “clean” for one setting could be confusing or hazardous in a different. An elegantly abstracted solution may be the perfect solution for a big team, but it’s not appropriate for a smaller, brief-lived project.

Clean code isn’t in the vacuum of. It is a part of context.

Clean Code Changes With Scale

A project that is a solo effort or a production system with several contributors have completely different requirements.

Small projects:

• Simplicity is often superior to abstraction.

• Duplication is a possibility

• It is important to speed iteration.

In large systems:

• Consistency is crucial.

• Abstractions guard against chaos

• Names and structures affect the onboarding process.

The same code could go to “clean” into “problematic” when an organization grows. It doesn’t mean that the code was written in error, but it means the context has changed.

Readability Is About the Reader, Not the Author

A common error is to equate the cleanness of code and code which is beautiful to type.

However, clean Code is one that’s simple to understand in the future–often by another person.

That “someone other than” could be:

• A teammate

• A possible future hire

• Or, you, six months from today

Sometimes, the most clean code is also the most obvious one, but not necessarily the most sophisticated. Explicity beats intelligence much more frequently than we would like to admit.

Frameworks Shift the Definition of Clean

Frameworks greatly influence the look of “clean” appears like.

A pattern that is recognizable within one framework might be deemed unclean in another. Hooks decorators, middleware and conventions all define what is acceptable and expected.

As frameworks change as do the notion of cleanliness. Code written a couple of years ago may still function flawlessly, but may be “unclean” in the context of today’s standards.

It’s not a failure. It’s the result of software ageing.

Clean Code vs. Stable Code

There’s an issue between cleaning up code and ensuring it remains stable.

Refactoring can be costly:

• Introduce bugs

• The development of features slows down

• Conflicts arising from merges

Sometimes, the most efficient option is not to change anything in any way.

If code:

• Well-tested

• Assimilation by the team

• Rarely altered

If you are looking to improve aesthetics, it may make sense. Clean code is all about reducing friction and not seeking the perfect.

The Role of Constraints

Budgets, deadlines, old systems, and the team’s experience all influence the way clean code appears in actual practice.

Absolutely “clean” program code which doesn’t ever ship isn’t really clean, it’s incomplete.

Real-world cleanliness is all about the balance of

• Structure enough to stop chaos

• Flexibility to permit change

• There is enough pragmatism to get ahead

Constraints don’t ruin clean code. They help define it.

How I Think About Clean Code Today

I don’t want to write flawless code. I aim for:

• Code that clearly communicates intent

• Code that’s easy to alter without risk

• Code that is compatible with the goals and duration of the project

Clean code, for me is code that can help the team to move forward, not code that demonstrates discipline.

If it decreases cognitive burden then it’s good.
If it makes everyone slow down, it’s not.

Final Thought

“Clean Code” isn’t a set of rules that you can reach for and then lock in for the rest of your life. It is constantly evolving with teams, tools and even time.

The best developers don’t strive for an abstract ideal of cleanliness. They continually adjust their definitions in accordance with the reality.

Clean code isn’t just about being correct.
It’s about being helpful.

The target will move.