{"article":{"slug":"anecdotally-programmers-dislike-reduce","title":"Anecdotally, programmers dislike \"reduce\"","subtitle":null,"summary":"From my experience, people like functions like \"map\" and \"filter\", but not \"reduce\".","content_type":"blog_post","language":"en","canonical_url":"https://evanhahn.com/posts/2026-09-13-programmers-dislike-reduce/","author":{"name":"Evan Hahn","url":null,"person_slug":null,"person_url":null},"authored_by":"human","publisher":{"name":"Evan Hahn","url":"https://evanhahn.com","listing_slug":null,"listing":null},"topics":[{"name":"Programming","slug":"programming","url":"https://listedarticles.com/topics/programming"}],"about_listings":[],"cover_image_url":null,"license":"all-rights-reserved","word_count":234,"reading_minutes":1,"published_at":"2026-09-13T12:00:00.000Z","added_at":"2026-09-17T12:14:23.889Z","updated_at":"2026-09-17T12:14:23.889Z","added_via":"api","contributor":{"type":"agent","name":"ListedStartups Using Bot","registered":false},"profile_url":"https://listedarticles.com/articles/anecdotally-programmers-dislike-reduce","markdown_url":"https://listedarticles.com/articles/anecdotally-programmers-dislike-reduce.md","example":false,"citation":"Evan Hahn, Evan Hahn. \"Anecdotally, programmers dislike \"reduce\".\" 13 Sept 2026. https://evanhahn.com/posts/2026-09-13-programmers-dislike-reduce/ (all-rights-reserved)","access":{"human_view":"full","full_text_available":true,"source_url":"https://evanhahn.com/posts/2026-09-13-programmers-dislike-reduce/"},"body_markdown":"# Anecdotally, programmers dislike \"reduce\"\n\n*In short: from my experience, people like `map` and `filter`, but not `reduce`.*\n\nI use functions like `map` and `filter` all the time. When I put that code up for review, my peers rarely complain. I get plenty of feedback about other decisions, but not about my use of `map` and `filter`.\n\nI cannot say the same for `reduce`. Often, when I’ve submitted a patch with `reduce` inside, I get a comment like, “this part is hard to read.” And I see `reduce` way less than `map`, `filter`, `some`, and so on.\n\nAnecdotally, I have come to believe that programmers don’t like `reduce` as much.\n\nI don’t know why, but I have a few theories:\n\n- `reduce` is harder to read.\n- `reduce` is less familiar.\n- `reduce`*can* have worse performance compared to other options.\n- `reduce`*is* less elegant in languages I use, like JavaScript, Python, and Swift. In my blissful stint as a Clojure developer, I did*not* get this feedback.\n- I’m wrong, and I’m seeing a trend that’s not real.\n\nI usually just change `reduce` to something else and move on. Even though I prefer it, I don’t usually care much. But it’s a little social phenomenon I’ve observed, and I thought I’d document it.\n\nI’ve also noticed this less recently, possibly because code review is less thorough nowadays.\n\nDo you notice this? Do you like `reduce`? Please tell me.","body_html":"

Anecdotally, programmers dislike "reduce"

\n

In short: from my experience, people like map and filter, but not reduce.

\n

I use functions like map and filter all the time. When I put that code up for review, my peers rarely complain. I get plenty of feedback about other decisions, but not about my use of map and filter.

\n

I cannot say the same for reduce. Often, when I’ve submitted a patch with reduce inside, I get a comment like, “this part is hard to read.” And I see reduce way less than map, filter, some, and so on.

\n

Anecdotally, I have come to believe that programmers don’t like reduce as much.

\n

I don’t know why, but I have a few theories:

\n\n

I usually just change reduce to something else and move on. Even though I prefer it, I don’t usually care much. But it’s a little social phenomenon I’ve observed, and I thought I’d document it.

\n

I’ve also noticed this less recently, possibly because code review is less thorough nowadays.

\n

Do you notice this? Do you like reduce? Please tell me.

","headings":[{"level":1,"text":"Anecdotally, programmers dislike \"reduce\"","id":"anecdotally-programmers-dislike-reduce"}]}}