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Is there a generally accepted definition of the term Wet code? What exactly does it mean? Is it a good thing, or a bad thing?

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Could you use it in a sentence? Usually anything that is "wet" has to do with the human brain. – Ben Brunk Jan 21 '12 at 14:02
@BenBrunk, the "Wet code is a phrase I came across recently" sentence isn't enough? ;) – bzlm Jan 21 '12 at 14:04
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@dotnetdev - that is not a helpful example. Please provide the example or examples that you came across. Links please. – Stephen C Jan 21 '12 at 14:16
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Context, please. Wet code is a phrase I came across recently. is not enough, for Programmers.SE, and the question might be closed soon (don't blame us, blame the SOpedians who migrated here). – Yannis Rizos♦ Jan 21 '12 at 14:19
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The sort of code that would make my panties wet. – Job Jan 21 '12 at 14:25
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3 Answers

up vote 35 down vote accepted

It is probably opposite of a dry (don't repeat yourself) code. So it is a bad thing.

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This is the Write Everything Twice definition, which is just a jestful backronym for the "opposite of DRY". – bzlm Jan 21 '12 at 14:05
The first time I read about WET/DRY was here: thedailywtf.com/Articles/The-WET-Cart.aspx – Informaficker Jan 21 '12 at 18:12
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I've also seen it as We Enjoy Typing. – psr Jan 23 '12 at 17:57
up vote 7 down vote

"Dripping wet code" -- just written, hopefully compiles, possibly passes a unit test or two. Certainly not used in any real-world situation.

He: I just deployed some wet code to the live web site.
She: Oh no!

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Citation needed. Unless you were simply mocking the OP. :) – bzlm Jan 21 '12 at 14:04
not mocking anyone. jargon used in several development shops I've worked in. – Ollie Jones Jan 21 '12 at 14:07
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Interesting. There's zero references to it on Bing, but references the two other definitions discussed in this question are everywhere. – bzlm Jan 21 '12 at 14:10
that makes sense more than being just opposite of DRY – Mona Jan 21 '12 at 14:33
up vote 1 down vote

I would have a look at this blog post.

From what I can understand from this post:

"wet code," interpreted by the brain, and "dry code," interpreted by computers...

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Way to post the first Google hit. I'm sure the OP never thought of that. – Aaronaught Jan 21 '12 at 15:44
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@Aaronaught: OP not using Google appears to be a pretty common practice. – S.Lott Jan 21 '12 at 17:53
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@Aaronaught: S.Lott is right. Most OPs do not do too uch research if their question is only 1 line long :-) – Dynamic Jan 21 '12 at 18:50
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@S.Lott: Yes, but 99% of the people who eventually read this question will have found it using Google. Even if the OP was in fact that lazy, doesn't make 20 seconds worth of Google spew a valuable answer. – Aaronaught Jan 21 '12 at 18:53
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@Aaronaught: "seconds worth of Google spew is a valuable answer" since it's more than the OP could do for themselves. – S.Lott Jan 21 '12 at 20:17
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