Maybe I've just been exclusively working on really boring stuff, but there are no examples that particularly come to mind.
There are programs and programmers that impress me, and once in a while I'll come across an interesting algorithm, but I can't really think of any code that is anything more than just code.
It's either too simple to do anything I'm interested in, too full of ugly hacks like most large programs, or deals with math and algorithms way above my understanding, to the point where I probably haven't even tried to read it.
Some of most memorable bits or code for me are the examples for frameworks and libraries, but those are more impressive for the code that isn't there, rather than the code that is.
I love declarative work(Not so much pure functional, but things like CSS and CAD constraints where a solver figures out how to make your intent happen) but again, that's notable for the code that isn't there.
I also really like hardware workarounds. It's so cool to be able to have software that runs fine on bad hardware. It's not that common, but occasionally you can pull it off in a reliable way that really is just as effective as using better hardware. Seeing pure code replace hardware is kind of like a further development of replacing mechanical stuff with solid state chips.
I really just don't care about code itself very much. I don't want to write bad code, but I only care about good code in as much as it will actually benefit the project. Once it's good enough, features or architecture improvements or unit tests or something might be more important, and interesting or clever code might bring the project down.
If I'm reading your code, I'm probably either adding to it and complaining that it doesn't have an API hook already there, or fixing a bug.
If I'm using but not reading your code I'm probably happily assuming it's great, if it's a popular trusted thing.
There are programs and programmers that impress me, and once in a while I'll come across an interesting algorithm, but I can't really think of any code that is anything more than just code.
It's either too simple to do anything I'm interested in, too full of ugly hacks like most large programs, or deals with math and algorithms way above my understanding, to the point where I probably haven't even tried to read it.
Some of most memorable bits or code for me are the examples for frameworks and libraries, but those are more impressive for the code that isn't there, rather than the code that is.
I love declarative work(Not so much pure functional, but things like CSS and CAD constraints where a solver figures out how to make your intent happen) but again, that's notable for the code that isn't there.
I also really like hardware workarounds. It's so cool to be able to have software that runs fine on bad hardware. It's not that common, but occasionally you can pull it off in a reliable way that really is just as effective as using better hardware. Seeing pure code replace hardware is kind of like a further development of replacing mechanical stuff with solid state chips.
I really just don't care about code itself very much. I don't want to write bad code, but I only care about good code in as much as it will actually benefit the project. Once it's good enough, features or architecture improvements or unit tests or something might be more important, and interesting or clever code might bring the project down.
If I'm reading your code, I'm probably either adding to it and complaining that it doesn't have an API hook already there, or fixing a bug.
If I'm using but not reading your code I'm probably happily assuming it's great, if it's a popular trusted thing.