Another rule of thumb that creates default-convergence in a codebase.

If you run into a friction point, resolve it.

This is both a great way to come up to speed on a new codebase, but also to improve it in a load-bearing way.

This creates compounding benefits.

The cost to fix the friction point is linear.

But the value of fixing the friction point is all future uses of that thing that now have lower friction.