February 10, 2026

Designing for Readable Code

Treat code readability as a product feature

The fastest codebase is not the one with the shortest files. It is the one where future-you can understand intent in minutes instead of hours.

Name decisions, not mechanics

When a function name captures business intent, everyone makes better changes. Generic names force readers to scan internals before they can reason about side effects.

A code review panel with highlighted sections — Clear naming turns reviews into design discussions instead of archaeology.

Write for scanability

Most engineers scan before they read deeply. Tight sections, predictable structure, and focused helper functions make scanning productive and reduce regressions.

Readability is not cosmetic. It is leverage. Every clear line lowers handoff friction and increases the chance that changes ship safely.