About programming

Elegant code

From Slashdot:

Elegant != Complicated.

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There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it
so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to
make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first
method is far more difficult. --Tony Hoare

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Elegant code:

1. Handles errors gracefully
2. Only reinvents the wheel when there is a measurable benefit in doing so.
3. Has consistent naming conventions.
4. Has comments around ugly code explaining why it is ugly.
5. Compiles (or runs if interpreted) without warnings.

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Elegant code is...

Simple — leveraging the "natural" way to use the programming language

Compact — not cluttered with special cases and boilerplate

Logical — like secondary documentation, acting as a clear description of how to solve a problem

Modular — functions or classes should be clearly grouped as modules

Easy to understand — not full of stupid hacks and "clever" tricks

Reasonably efficient — performing reasonably well, not at the expense of simplicity

Maintainable — any decent programmer could pick up the code without fear and trepidation

Commented — some comments should be present, but not too much

Correct — it should do what it is meant to do, and only this