[turdprincess]

In my experience, codebases never maintain their level of quality. Unless you are taking deliberate action to improve the codebase with every commit, it's actively getting worse like you described above.

The interesting thing is that this isn't a technical problem, it's a human problem. Most folks want to clock in, do their job and clock out, and going the extra mile to improve things isn't worth the effort.

I think its the same human tendency that leaves so much pee on the toilet floor - some humans will clean up their own, but almost none will clean up someone else's.

[ornornor]

> Most folks want to clock in, do their job and clock out, and going the extra mile to improve things isn't worth the effort.

I suspect this is because it’s almost never rewarded. Either because nobody up the chain of command understands and values quality beyond “it’s working and making us money right now so it’s fine” and also because doing things right is tiring. Why should I spend energy on this and not have that energy when I’m off the clock if I’m not going to get more money/recognition/time off for it and I’ll probably get laid off or move on in a couple years anyway.

I don’t think anyone deliberately starts a job or task thinking they’ll do the absolute minimum. People generally want to do their best but the system moderates this desire and that’s the result.

I don’t really have a solution, just pointing it out.

[awill88]

I too like to use the metaphor a codebase is like a public toliet. Gotta clean it or it’s gonna get gross!

[mixedCase]

And that's why you don't let any bullshit in, exercise eternal vigilance and rely on static analysis tools to stem the turd wave in an automatic fashion as much as you can.

The solution is not to accept "it is what it is".