The first and most important criteria of high quality code is that it meets user requirements (it's "correct"). The second most important criteria is that it fast enough to meet user needs. It doesn't matter that you might be able to make it go faster . The third most important criteria of excellent code is that it is maintainable. Why, you might be wondering, is maintainabiliity so important? Most of the code we write, especially code that lives in the database, sticks around for a long time. Well past the point when you were familiar with the code you wrote. And likely past the time when you are still working on that same code or project. So the overall cost of development of that code is not just the initial build expense, but also must include the cost of maintaining that code. All too often we are so absorbed in meeting deadlines that we sacrifice clarity and readability to "get the job done." And then we - or others - pay the price later. C...
For the last twenty years, I have managed to transform an obsession with PL/SQL into a paying job. How cool is that?