Why You Should Learn to Read Code, Not Just Write It

We all love writing code, right?
It feels good to create something from scratch.
You hit “Run”, and boom — it works. You feel smart.

But let me ask you something simple.
How often do you really read code?

I don’t mean your own code.
I mean someone else’s.
A teammate’s.
A stranger’s.
Code that was written months ago.
Code that wasn’t written the way you would write it.

Yeah, that kind of code.

Writing Code is Only Half the Job

If you're working in a real-world team, chances are you spend more time reading code than writing it.
PRs, bug tickets, legacy modules — you name it.

You might be thinking:
“But why should I care? I just need to get my task done.”

Well… here's the thing.
If you only know how to write code, you're going to hit walls.
A lot.

Reading Code Teaches You More Than Tutorials Ever Will

When you read someone else's code:

• You see different ways of thinking
• You spot clever patterns
• You understand trade-offs
• You learn what not to do

Sometimes, it’s painful.
You’ll frown, squint, maybe even curse.
But you’ll grow.

Reading code trains your brain.
It builds that mental muscle where you can quickly look at a function and say — “Ah, I know what’s going on here.”

It Also Makes You a Better Writer

Strange, right?

But once you’ve read enough confusing code,
You start writing clearer code — without trying.
You comment better.
You structure better.
You start thinking about the next person reading it.

And maybe — just maybe — that next person is you, six months from now.

Try This Next Time

Here’s a little challenge for you:

• Pick a random open source project on GitHub
• Read through a single file, slowly
• Don’t rush to understand everything
• Ask yourself: What’s this doing? Why this way?
• Trace the flow with a pen if needed

Do it once a week.
Just 15 minutes.
It will change how you think about code. I promise.

Final Thoughts

Anyone can write code.
Not everyone can read code well.
But the ones who can?
They grow faster.
They debug better.
They design cleaner systems.

You want to be that person.
Quietly sharp.
Not loud, just solid.

Bonus: here is one repository containing link to others as a starting point for you to explore!

See you in the next one 👋
Until then — read more code.