toString() can be implemented on Java types to return a human-readable textual representation useful for debugging, but should it also be used to return a portable string suitable for serialization and persistence?

We all know code should be readable, but what does that really mean in practice? This talk goes beyond basic clean code principles to explore advanced techniques for writing software that tells a story. We’ll dive into cognitive load theory, examine how naming conventions can reveal intent, explore the art of structuring code for human comprehension, and discover how to write comments that actually add value. Through before-and-after examples, you’ll learn to craft code that not only works but communicates its purpose clearly to every developer who encounters it.