The Broken Window Theory 🪟
The broken window theory states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder in a community encourage further disorder.
The Analogy
A building with a few broken windows looks abandoned and uncared for. More windows get broken and eventually lead to other vandalism and crimes.
It’s like an invitation for mischief and disorder. This leads to more decay in the neighborhood.
In Software
Don’t leave “broken windows” in your code. Fix defects quickly, before they accumulate and encourage sloppiness.
Implications
- Fix bugs and issues promptly before they multiply
- Refactor messy code so it doesn’t look abandoned
- Keep code clean and orderly to discourage neglect
- Small things like style and naming matter
- Don’t just patch - improve the code incrementally
The Broken Window theory promotes setting and enforcing quality standards to avoid deterioration. Don’t let “broken windows” invite problems in your code.
Sources
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