Every codebase has duplication hiding in plain sight. The same logic written in slightly different ways. The same pattern copy-pasted across files. It works, until you need to change it.
The D.R.Y. principle (Don’t Repeat Yourself) teaches you to recognize duplication and consolidate it into reusable code. When you understand D.R.Y., you can:
- Spot hidden duplication that others miss
- Consolidate similar logic into single, reusable functions
- Reduce the surface area for bugs
- Make changes in one place instead of hunting across files
Learn when duplication is a problem and how to fix it without over-abstracting.