this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2023
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That's intentional. So if one part of the code suffers a random mutation and spontaneously develops a bug, the redundant code can still ensure the proper functioning of the program while the bug gets fixed.
Just take care if you merge two branches that contain the same bug; you might end up with a program without functional redundant code. That's why you should never merge closely related branches.
It's how ~~isoforms~~ functions with different signatures evolve. As long as it isn't harmful it tends to stick around. Then the different code may develop adaptations which fit it into a niche if it is a selective advantage for the ~~organism~~ code base.