I hired a Google Apps Script developer and they delivered unreadable code. What’s going on?

A few days ago I got an update from a Google Apps Script group that I subscribe to. The poster shared a jumble unreadable single-line mess of code with a message that read something similar to:

I hired a Google Apps Script developer and they shared me this. It works, but it is unreadable. What should I do?

Obfuscated Code Google Apps Script
Google Apps Script code that has been intentionally obfuscated. Click to expand!

It looked like the poster’s code has been deliberately obfuscated or obscured to make it difficult for someone to read. The code solves the problem for the client and runs as it should. It’s just near impossible to read or edit without seeing the original source code.

Picket lines were formed in the comments section of the post and salvos ensued. It wasn’t a Reddit-level skirmish, but it was getting there before it ran out of steam.

The post and the ensuing comments did raise some good points of view that are well worth considering as a freelance Google Apps Script developer or as someone who plans to hire a developer.

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