SMRTR ProgrammingJun 5, 2025lobste.rs

The Aristotelian Approach to Writing Good Programs: Logic as the Foundation of Code

SMRTR summary

Ancient Greek philosophy might seem an unlikely source for cutting-edge programming advice, but one developer has found surprising parallels between Aristotle's laws of thought and robust software design.

The approach centers on three key principles: naming variables exactly what they are, ensuring data consistency, and writing code that's logically transparent to other developers.

At its core is a four-block structure for functions: declaration, validation, processing, and response. This method emphasizes proactive error prevention over reactive debugging.

"You're not fixing problems after they occur; you're preventing them from occurring in the first place," the developer explains.

While it may seem more verbose than "move fast and break things" philosophies, adherents claim it leads to easier debugging, clearer code reviews, and ultimately more time spent building features rather than fixing bugs.

In a tech world fixated on the latest trends, this millennia-old wisdom offers a refreshingly timeless approach to writing reliable code.

SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to lobste.rs.

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