Comment on Ask HN: What do you wish more programmers cared about?parentComments−mikewarot5yLegacy code is crystalized knowledge of a problem domain.Legacy code is Chesteron's fence. It is wise to understand the conditions that caused it to be built before changing it.−Jtsummers5yWhich is why Feathers’ book on the topic spends so much time on testing. Establishing a test suite that allows you to (hopefully) make changes without breaking things, and if you do you find out quickly.
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Legacy code is crystalized knowledge of a problem domain.
Legacy code is Chesteron's fence. It is wise to understand the conditions that caused it to be built before changing it.
Which is why Feathers’ book on the topic spends so much time on testing. Establishing a test suite that allows you to (hopefully) make changes without breaking things, and if you do you find out quickly.