In what scenario would you choose to use extensive comments in your code?

Using extensive comments in your code is particularly beneficial when documenting complex logic for future clarity. This approach ensures that anyone who reads the code later—be it yourself or another developer—can easily understand the reasoning and the functionality behind intricate sections of the code. Complex logic generally involves non-obvious calculations, conditional statements, or algorithms where the intent and functionality may not be immediately clear from the code itself. By thoroughly commenting on these parts, you provide context that enhances readability and maintainability, making it easier to troubleshoot or modify the code in the future.

In scenarios where the code is long, while comments can still be helpful, length alone doesn’t justify the need for extensive commenting if the logic is not complex. Compiler requirements do not necessitate comments; comments are purely for human readers. Lastly, in short scripts where the logic is simple, extensive comments may be unnecessary, as clearer code can often speak for itself without the need for additional explanations. Hence, the most effective use of extensive comments is in the context of complex logic.