The true measure of a software engineer isn't their ability to write clever code. It's their ability to ruthlessly protect the codebase from…

Francois Chollet argues that a software engineer's true value lies not in writing complex or clever code, but in their ability to protect the codebase from degradation, technical debt, and poor practices. This perspective emphasizes that effective software engineering prioritizes maintainability, clarity, and long-term code health over individual technical showmanship.

Source: Francois Chollet (X) | 2026-06-25