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In Sarah Mei's keynote address titled "Livable Code" at RailsConf 2018, she explores the theme of creating maintainable and sustainable codebases that foster collaboration among development teams. Mei emphasizes the need for software architecture to evolve beyond traditional engineering models and to consider the dynamic, creative nature of software development. She outlines several key points throughout her talk:

- **Beyond Engineering**: Mei discusses the limitations of viewing software as mere engineering, drawing from concepts such as Conway's Law, which suggests that the structure of a codebase reflects the communication patterns of its team. She argues that the chaotic state of many codebases often mirrors team dysfunction.
  
- **Two Models**: She presents two interconnected models for software: the codebase and the development team. Both aspects must be addressed to understand and improve the quality of software.

- **Incremental Improvement**: Mei asserts that instead of seeking drastic overhauls, teams should focus on incremental changes, advocating for practices that improve code quality without the need for complete rewrites.
  
- **Livable Code**: Using the analogy of residential spaces, Mei describes the concept of 'livable code' as code that is easy to work within and can be adapted over time to meet the needs of its users. This involves creating a collaborative environment where developers can communicate effectively and manage the clutter in their codebases. 
  
- **Cultural Change**: Mei highlights that meaningful improvements in code quality result from cultural shifts within teams, such as adopting habits that prevent deterioration of the codebase over time, rather than relying solely on tools or processes.
  
- **Holistic Perspective**: Ultimately, Mei concludes that effective software development requires adopting a holistic view that recognizes the interconnectedness of both the code and the people working with it, suggesting that future improvements will emerge from new ways of thinking beyond established frameworks.

In summary, Mei's talk is a call to cultivate a livable code environment where creativity, communication, and continuous improvement are prioritized over rigid engineering paradigms, leading to more maintainable and successful software development practices.

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