It hurts, when I see someone commit their code without reviewing the diff first.
You don't remember half the changes you've made. That's just how programming goes.
You probably left some commented code in, or extra newlines, or forgot to rename that "temporary" variable. Maybe this isn't really one commit of work so you should split it up first. Issues which are easy to catch skimming the diff, but confusing for anyone else (including your future self).
It's so easy to check.
In programming, diffs matter because they're a base unit of work. Other people (and your future self) will evaluate what you've done based on your diffs, so they should be small and clear. At its best, it's both a tool for debugging and a check on quality.
Unfortunately, most other fields don't even have diffs. I wish I had the same kind of tools as version control, not because I need to be able to break down the work in the same way, but to have a canonical record of what I've done. Reviewing the diff resets your reference frame from "What needs the next fix?" to "Is this overall better or worse?"
If you've gotten sucked into working on one particular part, it can add perspective. If you've been working on a little bit of everything, the sudden contrast can show you what was causing issues.
Fundamentally, it quantifies how much you've actually changed. That's easy to lose track of. We're built for the present moment.
Thankfully, this is an easier property to emulate.
For just about anything digital, saving multiple copies of a file or taking screenshots will suffice for that kind of holistic comparison. Pictures work great for anything physical.
Taking a picture of the room before deep cleaning and being able to view before/after is always satisfying. It also points out the corner I forgot to sweep.
It only takes a second to review.
- Rew
Nightly Notes
I have been told by close friends that my "entire workflow is insane". I forget that I do many things automatically that most people don't do.
Some of those things are good. Not all.
Anyway, writing.
I've been feeling unfocused lately, and I think that's reflected here.
This should be a more specific post. I don't know what it is about it that makes me unsatisfied, but there's something about it that's wrong.
- Rew