Linus&#x27; Law loses water when you consider using formal specifications, model checking, and -- if you have the budget and time -- <i>proof</i>. These systems and languages have come a long way and are far better than any human at checking your work and telling you where you are making mistakes.<p>Model checking in particular, in my limited experience using it, is effective at this.<p>You can eliminate many (not all... nothing&#x27;s perfect) of these rules of thumb with a little math and analysis[0].<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.ca&#x2F;Programming-1990s-Introduction-Calculation-Programs&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0387973826?ie=UTF8&amp;SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&amp;camp=2025&amp;creative=165953&amp;creativeASIN=0387973826&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;tag=duckduckgo-ffab-20" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.ca&#x2F;Programming-1990s-Introduction-Calcula...</a>