How to Read Code

In the first full-length episode of this season, we go back to basics as Senior iOS Dev Mani Ramezan takes us through, step by step, how to come up to speed on a large code base. Whether you’re just starting a new role or beginning to contribute to a new open source project, listen along to learn some useful tips.

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Show Notes

Tune in as Mani, Suz, Jenn and Dru start off talking about how to read a code base and venture off into a bevy of advice for newer devs. Listen all the way to the end to learn what Mani thinks human developers, even brand new ones, can do that AI that cannot.

Some highlights:

• Start with a bug, so you have a meaningful goal to guide your exploration.
• Struggling at step one: setting up the build environment? Improve the process, then document for the next dev.
• It’s OK to not know all the things. Start by treating each library as a black box. Wait to learn it until you need to.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Check out Simon B. Støvring’s Swift package to build a dependency graph.
• Learn how to make a pull request.
• Use Xcode’s View debugger to see how a code base fits together.
• GitHub Copilot, now available for Xcode, is currently Mani’s favorite AI coding assistant. Proceed with caution and do not enter proprietary code or user data.
• Come chat with us on Kodeco’s Discord, where Mani’s a moderator! We never answer tech questions with just a link — we’ll always explain!

Look at Jenn’s Debugging Buddy!

Have fun with rubber duck debugging!

Contact Mani and the Hosts

• Mani on LinkedIn
• Mani on GitHub
• Mani on Mastodon
• Suz on X/Twitter
• Jenn on LinkedIn
• Dru on Mastodon
• Email the Podcast Team

Follow Kodeco

• Kodeco on LinkedIn
• Kodeco on X/Twitter
• Kodeco on Facebook

Where to Go From Here?

We hope you enjoyed this episode of our podcast. Be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get notified when the next episode comes out.

Hoping to learn more about a particular aspect of mobile development or life and work as a dev? Please write in and tell us and we’ll do our best to make that happen! Write in too if you yourself would like to be a guest