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systems without understanding the embedded knowledge. They remove the fence and spend months rebuilding it piece by piece as they rediscover why it was there in the first place.
Example: A workaround that looks clunky is removed, only to discover months later it was handling a critical edge case that now breaks in production.
Common Misunderstanding: "Chesterton's Fence means never change anything old."
The Truth: Chesterton's Fence means earn the right to change something by understanding it first.
You don't have to agree with every decision that came before you. You just have to know:
By Guy Reamssystems without understanding the embedded knowledge. They remove the fence and spend months rebuilding it piece by piece as they rediscover why it was there in the first place.
Example: A workaround that looks clunky is removed, only to discover months later it was handling a critical edge case that now breaks in production.
Common Misunderstanding: "Chesterton's Fence means never change anything old."
The Truth: Chesterton's Fence means earn the right to change something by understanding it first.
You don't have to agree with every decision that came before you. You just have to know: