Chronicles #6 — Does a Code Line Exist as an Atom? The Literal Truth

[oleksii-shepel]

No. A line of code is not an atom.
But you could make it one… and that way lies madness.

There’s no built-in atomForThisLineOfCode(). Code is static — it doesn’t change at runtime. Atoms exist for state that changes.

// ❌ Don't do this
const line1 = atom("const count = atom(0)");
const line2 = atom("count.next(1)");

Why You Shouldn’t

1. It’s Pointless Overhead
   Code lines are constants. Atoms come with subscribers, scheduling, and memory cost. Turning every line into an atom is like using a flamethrower to light a candle.

2. Memory & Performance Hell
   One atom per line = thousands of atoms with subscriber lists. Your app becomes a slow, reactive nightmare.

3. Circular Dependency Chaos

   const line42 = derived(() => line43.value + " stuff");
   const line43 = derived(() => line42.value + " more stuff");

   Congratulations, you broke the universe.

When Something Similar Makes Sense

You can track runtime state like current execution point for debugging:

const currentLine = atom(0);

function trackLine(n: number) {
  currentLine.next(n);
}

Or track editor state:

const activeLine = atom(42);
const cursorPos = atom({ line: 42, column: 10 });

But note: you’re tracking position, not the code itself.

The Philosophical Take

A line of code is a recipe step.
An atom is an ingredient that can change and be observed.

You don’t make the recipe reactive. You make the ingredients reactive.🙂
If you catch yourself thinking “I should turn this line of code into an atom,” close your laptop, go outside, and touch grass.

Your CPU, your teammates, and your future self will thank you.

---

P.S. "I created an atom for every line of code in my project. It was supposed to be 'reactive source code.' Every time I typed, the atoms would update. I called it 'React 2: Electric Boogaloo.'

It worked for 3.7 seconds. Then my computer caught fire. The fire was reactive too."