The Wrong Abstraction • _duplication is far cheaper than the wrong abstraction_ • Existing code exerts a powerful influence. ...

The Wrong Abstraction • duplication is far cheaper than the wrong abstraction • Existing code exerts a powerful influence. Its very presence argues that it is both correct and necessary. We know that code represents effort expended, and we are very motivated to preserve the value of this effort. And, unfortunately, the sad truth is that the more complicated and incomprehensible the code, i.e. the deeper the investment in creating it, the more we feel pressure to retain it (the "sunk cost fallacy").