The Pragmatic Craftsman :: Simplicity from complexity : by Stanley Kubasek ::

I’ve heard many definitions, but the one below, by Kirk Knoernschild, seems closest to my heart.

Quality code is code that:

• can adapt to change
• performs well
• is error free
• is as simple as possible
• does what my customer needs

On a related not, here’s what Robert Martin, a software craftsman, has to say how to write quality code: