Reading Code Like a Conversation

The first thing I notice isn't logic.

It's tone.

Does this code feel rushed or considered? Defensive or calm? Does it assume I'm paying attention, or that I'll figure it out eventually?

You can tell more than you think before you understand a single function.

Structure Speaks First

Before reading details, I notice how things are grouped.

Files, names, boundaries. Whether responsibilities feel deliberate or accidental.

Good structure doesn't need explaining. It gives you orientation without asking for effort.

Where Friction Lives

Every system has rough edges. That's normal.

What matters is whether those edges are acknowledged.

Comments where complexity is unavoidable. Clear names where behavior isn't obvious. Small signals that the author knew this part might be confusing.

That kind of honesty builds trust.

Writing for Someone Tired

The best code I've read feels empathetic.

It assumes the reader might be tired, unfamiliar, or in a hurry. It doesn't demand full context up front. It gives you handles.

When I see that, I know the author wasn't just solving a problem. They were thinking ahead.

That's usually the difference between code that survives and code that doesn't.