Software developer Andrew Yurisich maintains an – ironically – maintainable version of the authoritative guide to unmaintainable code by Roedy Green of Canadian Mind Products.

This expansive, tongue-in-cheek how-to teaches developers to make themselves indispensable through writing code only they can understand.

Aside from the comical value learning by what not to do can be an extremely useful method. By making sure your code follows none of the guidelines put forward in this how-to you’ll already have covered many aspects of writing readable, maintainable code that communicates its intent in a clear and precise manner.

Both other developers and your future self will thank you for putting in the effort to write not just working but comprehensible code.