[aero142]

I'll ask a question. Have you seen a correlation between companies that have simpler code bases and are more successful in the long run? Personally, I've never seen it. The most successful companies have horrible code bases that are eventually replaced by well written modular architectures if the become successful. I personally love the idea and value of simple code but I can't say I've seen a lot of evidence for it.

[lifeisstillgood]

that would be markets where the deciding factor is software. I suspect you are thinking of say windows where the quality of codebase was lesser factor than installed base etc

I would suggest that web browsers is a good example - IE market share vs say Mozilla. other examples are Sage vs freeagnet ?

hard to unpick market tactics and strategy from code - but it's hard to deny there is a link intuitively

[stonemetal]

My sense of what is intuitive follows his http://prog21.dadgum.com/87.html

Basically code quality doesn't really matter, product vision is what matters.

[hcarvalhoalves]

That depends on whether this hypothetical codebase is an asset or a sunken cost.

[Kaizyn]

All code no matter how beautiful is a sunken cost.