Clean Code

Clean code is a collection of best practices that help you write code other software developers can understand and maintain.

Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.

– Martin Fowler

Why should we care about clean code?

• Clean code is easier to read.

• Clean code is easier to maintain.

• Clean code is easier to debug.

• Clean code is easier to test.

• Clean code is easier to extend.

• Clean code is easier to reuse.

• Clean code is easier to understand.

• Clean code is easier to document.

• Clean code is easier to review.

• Clean code is easier to refactor.

• Clean code is easier to write.

• Clean code is easier to learn.

• Clean code is easier to teach.

• Clean code is easier to use.

• Clean code is easier to change.

• Clean code is easier to improve.

• Clean code is easier to fix.

• Clean code is easier to optimize.

• Clean code is cheaper to maintain.

• …

Origin of the term “clean code”.

Clean code is a term coined by Robert C. Martin (Uncle Bob) in his book “Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship”. He coined it but the practices he describes were not new. They are just a collection of best practices that have been around for a long time. The term “clean code” is just a way to describe these practices.