Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it.

Summary

This quote suggests that debugging, the process of removing errors or faults in computer code, is more challenging than writing the code itself. It implies that if a programmer writes the code extremely cleverly or complexly, it may surpass their own ability to find and fix errors within it. Therefore, it advises against excessive complexity in code writing, suggesting that simplicity and clarity are more important for ease of debugging.

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