Explore techniques for effectively reading and understanding large codebases in this 52-minute conference talk by Patricia Aas. Learn a methodical approach to navigating thousands of lines of code across hundreds of files, developed over 18 years of programming experience. Discover 10 key techniques, including grepping, button following, input event tracing, test analysis, refactoring, and runtime investigation. Gain insights into creating mental models of complex systems, fostering curiosity about fellow programmers' work, and developing a structured plan for approaching new codebases. Understand the importance of psychological safety and maintaining a learning mindset when tackling unfamiliar code.
Overview
Syllabus
Introduction
Getting the code
Why
The process
The 10 techniques
Grepping
Button
Following input events
Tests
Refactoring
Maine
Main Layout
Runtime Investigation
Reading a Class
Retelling Rubber Duckie
iterative process
psychological safety
learning mode
Taught by
NDC Conferences
