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Chapter 9 of 10All chapters

Chapter 9 of 10

Taking notes

Externalising the model.

Draw it

Sketch the flow, the data shapes and who calls whom. A rough diagram removes the need to hold six files in your head at once.

  • Rename local variables as you read to record what you worked out.
  • Leave a comment where the code confused you: the next reader will thank you.

Timebox it

If an hour of reading has not produced a model, ask someone. Five minutes of an author's time routinely beats another afternoon of archaeology.