Code duplication is far cheaper than the wrong abstraction (2016)
Software Development, Programming Languages, Software Architecture & Design(sandimetz.com)view on HackerNews
abstractionsoftware developmentprogramming languagessoftware architecturedesigncomplexitymaintainabilityduplicationconditionalsparameters.
Author: rafaepta
Date: 6/21/2026
Article Summary:
The article discusses the concept of "wrong abstraction" in software development, where a shared abstraction becomes overly complex and difficult to maintain due to the addition of conditionals and parameters. It argues that in such cases, the fastest way forward is to re-introduce duplication by inlining the abstracted code and removing the conditionals, allowing for a fresh start and improved maintainability.