“Good code doesn’t need comments.”

“We’ll remove the conversations in this doc and publish a clean version.”

I wonder if this sentiment is driven by a concern that the conversations that shape work are messy and not appropriate for some “final” output.

If so, I submit that those messy details are the work and they are worthy of inclusion in the final product.

Somewhat related to this ideal (the work is messy and the mess is the work) is the art form of kintsugi. The product of that work includes breaks and blemishes. It resonates with me because that work is not perfect; it retains the imperfections of the overall piece.

Crucially, it tells an important story.

Mess is necessary to understanding. Mess is beautiful.