Why Clean and Reusable Code Matters

Why clean and reusable code matters – a lesson from a programming class and real life at Dalbe

Today (October 27, 2025), in the Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) with Java class, one of the students asked me something simple, but very important: "How can I take a piece of my code and use it in another project?"
The question seems trivial at first, but it actually touches on one of the biggest challenges in the programming world: code reusability and logical project organization.

We discussed JAR packages together, how they can be created, imported, and used in other projects without rewriting the same functions over and over again. Then we moved on to the SOLID principles, the foundation for any code that stands the test of time.

Why am I telling this story here? Because we see the exact same problems every day at Dalbe when we take over existing projects. Whether it's a custom mobile app or a WordPress site, we face the same thing: the difference between clean code and chaotic code.

Clean code vs. copied code

Clean code is like a tidy house. You know where every object is, everything makes sense, and anyone can walk in and quickly understand what's going on.

Chaotic code, copied from all over the place, is like a warehouse full of randomly thrown things. You can live there, but only you know how. If someone else has to go in, they won't manage.

We've had projects where the code was written correctly, documented, and with logical comments. We could work there immediately, without wasting time. But we've also had projects where everything was copied, making no sense, with pieces of code that hadn't worked for years. Sometimes we'd see the same block of code in five different files.

That's not reusability; that's confusion.

When there are no clear comments, we end up wondering what the programmer meant to do. In Hungarian, there's a beautiful expression: "mire gondolt a költő", meaning "what was the poet thinking?". In programming, we shouldn't have to ask ourselves that.

Comments and standards matter

Good code speaks for itself, but short and clear comments make the difference.

Comments shouldn't explain what the code does, but why.

For example,

// Check if the user has admin access is useful.

// If you reach this point, you're lost is not.

We once had a project where we found a comment saying "The project is garbage and will never work". In another, an ironic message for anyone reading the code. It might seem funny, but when the client pays for that code, that "humor" becomes unprofessionalism.

Dalbe

Code comment on a project taken over on Shopify

At Dalbe, we believe that every programmer is responsible for the code they write. If a client pays, then they must receive code that can be maintained, updated, and handed over.

Why we're talking about this at Dalbe

Because this is exactly what we experience day by day. We receive projects started by other teams. Some are clean and well-thought-out. Others are a maze.

When the code is clean, documented, and follows standards, taking over is easy.
We can analyze, understand, and continue without roadblocks.

When it's not like that, everything becomes more complicated. If the structure is wrong, if the variables aren't clear, if the functions are copied senselessly, we end up in a situation where we have to rebuild large parts of the project.

This isn't good for anyone. Not for the client, not for us. For the client, it means higher costs. For us, it means wasted time and less predictability.

That's why we always say: it's better to write clean code from the start than to pay later to fix it.

About technical debt

In programming, the term technical debt means exactly that: compromises made in a rush, which become debts to be paid later.

When a project no longer receives updates, when packages get old, or when warnings are ignored, that debt grows. At some point, it becomes more expensive to fix than to rewrite.

We've seen this many times. There were projects where we couldn't update anymore without breaking everything. Other times, plugins were abandoned by developers and the client didn't even know.

That's why regular maintenance is mandatory. It's not just an option.

About ChatGPT and other AI tools

Many programmers use ChatGPT to write code. It's not wrong. We use it daily too.
But something important must be understood: ChatGPT is a tool, not a replacement for thinking.

A good professional knows what every line of code does.
If you just copy without understanding, you end up introducing errors without knowing why.

That's the difference between a developer and a "copy-paste user".
AI tools are excellent for inspiration, examples, and quick checks.
But the final result must be verified, adapted, and understood.

A project built on copied code without understanding is a ticking time bomb.

Our experience

At Dalbe, we see these things every day. We take over projects and bring them to a stable form. We do maintenance, clean up the code, and rewrite components when needed.

That's how we got to Bikeathon, a project we've been developing and maintaining for over 3 years. It's a good example of what well-written code means, but even here we are already reaching some technical debt. It can be updated, expanded, and optimized without problems.

That is the difference that discipline in writing code makes.

If you have a project that needs help

At Dalbe, we help companies regain control over their code. If your project has become hard to maintain or you suspect it has performance or security issues, we can do a clear assessment.

Schedule a mini-audit here.

It's free and we talk honestly. We tell you if the project can be saved or if it's better to rewrite it.
The goal is for you to have code that works, long-term, without surprises.