Doctor, I Cannot Stop to Code: Anatomy of a Madness

Developers love code. But this passion can lead us sometimes to be blind. Without being careful, we can produce more code than really needed. An additional amount of code that does not necessarily bring any value. But why do we tend to do that at all? To avoid this pitfall, it is necessary to step back, and try to understand the roots of this coding madness. By this way, we will be able to see how it affects not only our daily work, the one of our co-workers, but also our personal life. And eventually, we will identify solutions to produce less code and have more free time.

[Talk given at PyConDE 2016]

Transcript

1. Doctor, I Cannot Stop to Code: Anatomy of a Madness Alexandre Figura
2. Who Am I? Use Python with since 2014. Live in Berlin since June 2016. Work in a Machine Learning team at CeleraOne. Have also experience in Web Development.
3. What is Coding Madness??
4. Coding Madness is an addiction which prevents you to stop programming. “ “
5. Also named Coding Constipation Stackover ow Community Wiki Answer
6. How to recognize it?
7. When written in a hurry, Mad Code is deeply nested by nature
8. def do_something():
9. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny':
10. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events:
11. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available():
12. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available(): try: take_my_bicycle()
13. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available(): try: take_my_bicycle() except BikeNotFound: try: take_neighbor_bicycle()
14. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available(): try: take_my_bicycle() except BikeNotFound: try: take_neighbor_bicycle() except BikeLocked: try: ask_to_neighbor()
15. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available(): try: take_my_bicycle() except BikeNotFound: try: take_neighbor_bicycle() except BikeLocked: try: ask_to_neighbor() except NeighborAbsent: if plan_b is None: log.error("Damned!")
16. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available(): try: take_my_bicycle() except BikeNotFound: try: take_neighbor_bicycle() except BikeLocked: try: ask_to_neighbor() except NeighborAbsent: if plan_b is None: log.error("Damned!") else: try: run(plan_b)
17. def do_something(): if weather == 'sunny': if not planning(today).events: if friend.is_available(): try: take_my_bicycle() except BikeNotFound: try: take_neighbor_bicycle() except BikeLocked: try: ask_to_neighbor() except NeighborAbsent: if plan_b is None: log.error("Damned!") else: try: run(plan_b) except Cursed: go_to_cinema_with(girlfriend)
19. However, for the love of code, Coding Madness can also lead to...
20. O
21. OV
22. OVE
23. OVER
24. OVER-ENGINEERING
26. But let's go back...
27. What is the purpose of our job? A programmer creates something from nothing*. Antoine Lavoisier Rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée, tout se transforme. “ “
28. We ARE creative people!
29. Creative Thinking 1. We get an idea 2. We stretch the idea. 3. The idea continues to grow... 4. And comes Eureka! 5. Then the implementation can start...* * Sometimes, it's better to implement by trying and experiment at step 2.
30. But sometimes, Creative People get crazy...
32. But wait...
33. Let's go back even further...
34. Remember when you started programming? You discovered a new world. You could create absolutely everything... ...without any limit!
35. You were like a baby with super powers!
37. And then came the problems...
38. You became an adult You now have a job. With a boss. And even a project manager! You must follow the vision of anyone else. You have to write tests. Even worse: documentation! And to maintain code of other people...
39. But let's see the positive aspect...
40. You now play with Python...
42. The world of adults is full of Show Stoppers
43. And Show Stoppers are your Best Friends Forever
44. 1. Your time is limited*, so use the right tools * The amount of cash of your boss is limited
45. 2. Be clean, Be OSS
46. 3. Let project managers break your dreams
47. 4. Each line of code you write is a technical debt
48. 5. Avoid to be Addict Talk with people
49. Fortunately, you don't have to apply ANY of these advices!
50. There is a silver bullet...
52. The END @arugifa