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RailsConf 2023 - The End of Legacy Code by Daniel Huss
Exploring legacy code with empathy, curiosity, and collaboration to overcome frustration and fear, and create a better working environment and culture.
- We often blame legacy code without understanding the context and evolution of the application.
- Understanding the problem in a nuanced way allows us to approach it with empathy and curiosity.
- Frustration and fear are natural responses to legacy code, but we can overcome them by understanding the context and working together.
- Consider starting with exploration and paying it forward, asking questions like “what does this code do?” and “what’s the purpose of this module?”
- Legacy code often comes from a lack of investment in the codebase, leading to a disinvestment in the code and its maintainability.
- We should focus on treating people with respect and understanding, rather than blaming them for writing legacy code.
- Good code is not just about being perfect, but about being maintainable and understandable.
- Whiteboarding can help teams work together and share knowledge, even with team members who may have different levels of experience.
- We should strive to maintain a culture of growth and learning, where teams can work together to overcome challenges and improve their skills.
- Understanding the people and processes involved in creating the code, rather than just the code itself, is key to maintaining and improving it.
- Legacy code is often the result of a lack of investment in the codebase, rather than a lack of skill or talent.
- Relaxing our expectations and embracing the complexity of legacy code can help us approach it with a more positive attitude.
- We should prioritize knowledge sharing and collaboration, ensuring that everyone on the team has a chance to contribute and learn.
- Ultimately, getting rid of legacy code is not about getting rid of the people who wrote it, but about creating a better working environment and culture.