Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live
Damian Conway
Damian Conway is a Perl legend — author of dozens of modules and the book “Perl Best Practices.” This quote is often misattributed, but Conway nailed it.
The funny thing? “That guy” is usually you, six months later. You open code you wrote in a hurry and understand nothing. Variable x? Function process()? Comment // TODO: fix later? Past you was the psychopath all along.
The rule works not because angry people read code. It works because clear code is respect. For colleagues, for future you, for the project. Every meaningful variable name, every thoughtful comment — a small act of professional courtesy.
And yes, the psychopath still knows where you live. He stares back at you from the mirror every morning.