Excusing bad programming is a shooting offence, no matter what the circumstances

Excusing bad programming is a shooting offence, no matter what the circumstances

Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux operating system, is known for his no-nonsense approach to programming. He has a reputation for being blunt and uncompromising when it comes to the quality of code that is submitted to the Linux kernel. In fact, he has been quoted as saying, "Excusing bad programming is a shooting offence, no matter what the circumstances."

This statement reflects Torvalds' belief that there is no excuse for sloppy or careless programming. He believes that developers have a responsibility to write clean, efficient code that is free of bugs and vulnerabilities. In the world of open source software, where collaboration and peer review are key components of the development process, this commitment to quality is essential.

Torvalds' stance on bad programming is not just about maintaining the integrity of the Linux kernel. It is also about fostering a culture of excellence within the programming community. By holding developers accountable for the quality of their code, Torvalds is setting a high standard for others to follow. He believes that by enforcing strict coding standards, he can help to improve the overall quality of software development.

Some may argue that Torvalds' approach is too harsh or unforgiving. They may say that mistakes are inevitable in programming and that developers should be given leeway to learn from their errors. However, Torvalds believes that there is a difference between making an honest mistake and being careless or lazy in one's programming practices. He believes that developers should take pride in their work and strive for excellence in everything they do.