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Re:Ask HN: Working with a monolithic codebase by RivieraKid on Monday January 11, 2016 @12:07PM (#10881627)
The first paragraph is just plain wrong. Code is an asset.

Edit: Nice to have a comment downvoted, even though what I said is true.

Re:Ask HN: Working with a monolithic codebase by mbrameld on Monday January 11, 2016 @01:15PM (#10882035)
You're being downvoted because while you were technically correct you completely missed the point and your comment adds nothing to the discussion. But at least you got the satisfaction of "correcting" somebody, eh?
Re:Ask HN: Working with a monolithic codebase by RivieraKid on Monday January 11, 2016 @01:22PM (#10882085)
I got that he was trying to say something along the lines of "more code = more maintanance"... but code is simply not a liability. (Yeah, I have a natural urge to correct stuff that's incorrect, but that's not an uncommon trait.)
Re:Ask HN: Working with a monolithic codebase by pjc50 on Monday January 11, 2016 @12:38PM (#10881817)
It's kind of like conventional depreciating capital assets like buildings. A building requires maintenance, utilities, taxes, repairs and so on. If your building is too large for your needs, the costs can become a debilitating albatross round the neck of the business. There have been plenty of European aristocracy bankrupted by having a house that was too big.

In programming terms, it's very tempting to say, "this room is untidy, I'm going to build a new one." It's certainly more fun than tidying your room. But this is how you get sprawl and bloat.

Re:Ask HN: Working with a monolithic codebase by RivieraKid on Monday January 11, 2016 @01:13PM (#10882022)
Well, you can simply give up ownership rights on the code. If code was indeed a liablity, it would be profitable to transfer ownership to (for example) me.
Re:Ask HN: Working with a monolithic codebase by Someone on Monday January 11, 2016 @01:23PM (#10882096)
You can give away your castle with a license indicating that nobody can keep you out, too, but that doesn't guarantee that it will be maintained so that you can keep using it, either.