In the Pragmatic Programmer book [1], to help make the point that if you keep your code clean, it is more likely to stay that way, the authors cite the &quot;broken windows&quot; theory [2].  They mention a case where police observed an abandoned car lying untouched on a dark street for days, but once a window was smashed, vandals destroyed the car within hours [3]. I don&#x27;t know much beyond that, but the theory rings true to me and I try to do my bit to stop it, in code and in real life.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;4099.The_Pragmatic_Programmer" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.goodreads.com&#x2F;book&#x2F;show&#x2F;4099.The_Pragmatic_Progr...</a><p>[2] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Broken_windows_theory" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Broken_windows_theory</a><p>[3] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.artima.com&#x2F;intv&#x2F;fixit2.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.artima.com&#x2F;intv&#x2F;fixit2.html</a>