this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2026
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You do that inherently when you are writing the code. Every line you write has already had that focus, because you had to come up with it.
That you should also not trust every line of the compiled assembly after you wrote the code, and check it lime by line, is an extremely stupid argument.
Of course, you should get someone else, with a fresh/unbiased opinion to review your code too, but just the act of figuring out every line you write is in some sense a rewiev, that there is at least a plan or reason why it was written.
AI just randomly generates code without thought or reason, and you have to check everything. Unlike assembly generated from code.
I guess it's good that no one is making that argument then.
that is the argument linus is making... he is comparing a deterministic tool (a compiler that outputs the same assembly every time) to a non-deterministic tool and saying that they are the same type of tool. that require the same level of review, when they do not.
Yes, but that's not the argument Mikina was stating. Linus was never advocating for reading assembly line by line. Linus was using that as a satirical example, not suggesting anyone should actually do that.