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by maltalex 2820 days ago
> I see writing software to be similar to writing music. Music has rules and structure, but leaves room for creativity and allows two or more highly skilled musicians to be able to play music together and improvise.

Bad music carries only the risk of people not liking it. Bad code on the other hand...

1 comments

Usually risks people not using it or playing your game.

Rarely does it kill and in those cases (self driving cars, banking) those application usually has a company behind them.

If the RSS reader you're building has no guarantees of working it has no value to anyone. Not all software needs to try and be bug free but all software should strive to minimize the number of bugs in it.

Static typing helps to minimize bugs (when used correctly) by allowing function contract declarations and reducing the build up of defensive guards over time. I've seen code in dynamically typed languages with lines like `if (!foo is integer) raise;` which basically equate to onerous home-built static typing.

If it has no guarantee and it works it still has value for whoever uses it. If it didn't work it might have less value but still has some value.

Why would guarantee free software have no value. It's like buying a used phone.. no guarantee but it still has value.