There was a time when rumors began to reach Master Foo
and his students of a prodigiously gifted programmer, a
young man who wandered the length and breadth of the land
performing mighty feats of coding and humiliating all who
dared set their skill against his.
Eventually this prodigy came to visit Master Foo, who
received him politely and offered him tea. The Prodigy
accepted with equal politeness and explained the motive for
his visit.
"I have come to you," he said "seeking a code and design
review of my latest project. For it is of surpassing
complexity, and I do not have peers capable of understanding
it. Only an acknowledged master such as yourself (and here
the Prodigy bowed deeply) can have the discernment
required."
Master Foo bowed politely in return and began examining
the Prodigy's code. After some time he raised his eyes from
the screen. "This code is at first sight very impressive,"
he said. "It is elegant in design, utilizing original
algorithms of great ingenuity, and appears to be implemented
in a craftsmanlike way which minimizes the possibility of
errors."
The Prodigy looked very pleased at this praise, but
Master Foo continued: "However, I detect one significant
flaw."
"Flaw?" the Prodigy said. "What flaw?"
"This code is difficult to read," said Master Foo. "It is
only thinly commented, its invariants are not specified, and
I see no narrative description of its architecture or
internal data structures anywhere. These problems will
seriously impede your cooperation with other programmers."
The Prodigy drew himself up haughtily. "I do not seek the
cooperation of other programmers," he said. "Every time I
thought I had found one who might match me in skill I have
been disappointed. Thus, I work alone."
"But even the hacker who works alone," said Master Foo,
"collaborates with others, and must constantly communicate
clearly to them, lest his work become confused and lost."
"Of what others do you speak?" the Prodigy demanded.
