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If you have a choice between 500 lines of easy to understand, dumb code or 50 lines of abstract elegance, go with the easy to understand, dumb code.

I call that distinction the difference between an elegant and a clever solution. Clever being what you mention.

If the programmer can't tell the difference when implementing, then go for a simpler version, as you suggest.

- Elegant: Nice, clean, well thought out.

- Clever: Hackish, terse, too hard to understand for whatever benefit it brings.

Ten times as many places for bugs to hide.