Introduction
Welcome back to StartupHakk! With 25 years of development experience, I’ve learned a lot about what makes great code. At StartupHakk, we transform beginners into full-stack developers in just three months. But there’s something I want to share that goes beyond coding skills: the difference between clever code and clear code.
Many new developers, myself included, get caught up in trying to write the most clever, efficient, or unique code possible. But in reality, the best code is often the simplest. It’s clear, readable, and easy to maintain. In this blog, we’ll dive into why clear code matters more than you think.
The Pitfall of Clever Code
When I first started coding, I was obsessed with solving problems in the most clever way. Platforms like Leetcode made me think that the more compact and tricky my solutions, the better a developer I would be. I saw solutions that looked like one-liners and thought, “How do I get this good?”
This practice, known as “code golfing,” is fun and challenges your brain, but it’s far from ideal for real-world projects. Clever code might impress fellow coders, but in a professional setting, it’s often the worst kind of code you can write. It’s hard to read, harder to maintain, and nearly impossible for others to debug.
In the industry, the ability to write code that is clean, readable, and maintainable is far more valuable than writing something flashy. Yet, when you’re starting out, it’s easy to confuse cleverness with skill. Trust me, I’ve been there.
The Challenge of Writing Clear Code
The first time I realized how important clear code was, I was working on a project with a senior engineer. His code was simple and logical—easy to follow, even though the problem was complex. It was then that I understood: clear code is often the hardest to write.
It’s easy to write something complicated, but achieving clarity is a skill that takes time. I started to see the value of code that was organized, well-commented, and had logical flow. Clear code isn’t just about solving a problem; it’s about making that solution understandable and maintainable over time.
A few years into my career, I had to write a module in C++ for data enrichment. The language itself isn’t known for being the easiest to read, but I learned something important here. I wrote a working program with just two files, and while it worked perfectly, it was a mess. The structure was awful, and the code was practically unreadable. I knew it wouldn’t survive a code review.
The Journey to Clear Code
Realizing that my code was messy, I decided to refactor it. I split the implementation into more than 30 diffs. In the company I was working for, we used stacked diffs, which allowed me to work iteratively and maintain a manageable level of complexity.
Each diff represented a small, logical chunk of work. I made sure to cover basic and edge cases with unit tests in every diff. The key to this process was “code cleaning”—refactoring after every iteration to ensure that the code was as clean as possible.
This process wasn’t quick. It took many iterations and a lot of work, but by the time I was done, the code was clear, maintainable, and ready for a code review. Looking at the final result, I felt proud of the code I had written. It was a far cry from the messy spaghetti code I had started with.
The Perception of Clear Code in Big Tech
After completing the data enrichment module, I sat down with my manager to discuss the results. To my surprise, the feedback wasn’t entirely positive. My manager said, “This code looks too easy, too simple. While I understand how complex the process was, it doesn’t show up in the code itself.”
At first, I was shocked. I had put so much effort into making the code clear and understandable. But it dawned on me that, in the corporate world, clean and simple code can sometimes be perceived as “trivial.” This was especially true in performance reviews, where managers need to demonstrate the complexity of projects for promotions and raises.
This is why many companies, especially in big tech, require extensive documentation. It’s not that the code isn’t good; it’s that clear code doesn’t always convey the depth of work required to create it. This was a hard lesson to learn, but it helped me understand the balance between clarity and complexity.
Final Thoughts on Writing Clear Code
So, how do you write clear code? The key is to write a lot of code—and to follow a style guide. When I started, I didn’t realize how important coding style was. I just wanted to write code that worked. But over time, I learned that consistency and readability were more important than I had imagined.
The best way to get better at writing clear code is to practice and be open to feedback. Early in my career, I would get tons of comments and nitpicks about small style issues, but those comments helped me refine my coding style. It was painful at first, but it paid off in the end.
What I realized is that the best engineers write clear code because they’ve spent time learning how to structure their work logically. They also understand the importance of working with a team, which is why they make their code easy for others to follow.
Conclusion
Writing clear code might not always be the most glamorous part of software development, but it’s undoubtedly the most important. It’s easier to debug, easier to maintain, and easier to collaborate on. If you’re just starting out, focus on writing code that’s clear and simple. Don’t get caught up in trying to impress others with complicated solutions.
Over the years, I’ve learned that great code isn’t necessarily clever. It’s clear, readable, and maintainable. And that’s what truly makes you a great developer. So, write lots of code, learn from your mistakes, and always strive for clarity. You’ll be surprised at how much easier your job becomes—and how much better your code will look.
