Reading code is a skill — and few people practice it

Most of a developer's time is spent reading existing code, yet few treat reading as a skill worth practicing.

# Follow the data flow

Instead of reading top to bottom, trace how data moves through the system to understand the code's real intent.

# Read the history, not just the present

Git blame and commit history often explain the reason behind a strange piece of code, saving you from a wrong 'fix'.

• Read code from great open-source projects
• Ask 'why' behind each decision
• Take notes when exploring a new codebase

Reading code well lets you write code that fits what already exists.