Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship

3 minute read

Finally had the time to almost finish this book ;-)

Naming

  • Use descriptive and unambiguous names;
  • Avoid misunderstanding; (e.g. Use accountList for a list of accounts unless it is the real list data type, otherwise accounts or AccountGroup would be better);
  • Use meaningful distinction; (e.g. Usually do not use a or the for variable prefix since it is hard to distinguish what it actually means)
  • Use names that can be pronounced;
  • Use searchable names => easier to adjust during debugging & cr stage;
  • Be consistent;
  • Avoid encodings:
    • do not append prefix/postfix like strings or str, the compiler can distinguish them itself;
  • Replace magic numbers with named constants;

Function

  • small;
  • Do ONE thing;
  • Use descriptive name;
  • Arguments:
    • have fewer arguments => functions & arguments are on different abstract levels;
    • avoid passing Boolean as input;
    • If a function has arguments but no output, it should be an event, otherwise must have return;
  • No side effects;
  • Use exception instead of error;
  • Goal: Eliminate duplicate functions;

Comments

  • NOTE: some comments might be outdated, or just simply wrong;
  • Do not comment on ill-formatted function, re-construct functions instead;
  • Dos:
    • Alert
    • Use // TODO if necessary;
    • ALways try to explain the code;
  • Don’ts:
    • Don’t be redundant.
    • Don’t add obvious noise.
    • Don’t use closing brace comments.
    • Don’t comment out code;

Source code structure

  • Shorter file is easier to understand;
  • Use identation, even when the function only has one-line statement/empty;
  • Declare variables near their usage;
  • Vertically distance:
    • Do not place similar concepts in different folder unless for a very good reason;
    • the control variable in the loop should always be decalred within the statement;
    • Keep functions with similar usage close;
    • The function that is calling should always be placed on top of the called function;
  • Source code should be clear, and well-structured; Its name shows it’s in correct module; At the beginning of the file, it should display the high-level concept & algorithm, then details in following sections;
  • Follow the team rule;
  • Boundaries:
    • Hide third-party APIs;
      • once third-party package changes, easier to change our own codebase;
      • consistant code style, easier to read;
    • Write tests for their-party APIs:
      • Learning test: Faster to understadn its usage;
      • Efficient way to know if the API function changes;

Object & Data Structures

  • Avoid hybrid structures => half object half data;
  • Only do one thing;
  • Do not put public accesser & function with change operations together;
  • If we want to frequently add functions instead of new objects, we should use Procedure oriented programming method => only adds in one place;
  • If we want to frequently add data objects, use OOP => does not change other data code;
  • Hide internal implementation/structures;
  • Prefer non-static methods;
  • Better to implement many functions than passing many arguments into one function to select a behaviour;

Error handeling

  • Use exceptions instead of code;
  • Use unchecked exceptions => does not require try/catch or throw to compile => simplify the codes;
  • Add exception statement => Why this failed? Because the default exception only provides stack trace; If the system has log system, note it;
  • Do not return NULL => If returned, we need to constantly check the NULL value, thus prone to NullPointerException;
  • Do not pass NULL;
  • Define Special Case Pattern;

Tests

  • Keep the testing code clean like the production code; But different standard => Usually production code aims for performance but the testing code does not;
  • aim for higher test coverage;
  • Readability is important;
  • TDD: First create test data, then test the ata, then verify the result;
  • FIRST rule: F(fast), I(Independent), R(Repeatable), S(Self-sufficient), T(Timely);

Code smells

When to change the code? When the code has bad smeels;

Here’s a list:

Comment

  • Unwanted information => e.g. change history;
  • Commented out code; => Just delete it;
  • Comment that is too obvious => comment should have information the code does not offer;
  • Outdated comment;

Environment

  • How many steps to finish the structure => should be seperated into single oprations;
  • How many steps to complete the tests;

Functions

  • Dead function => never called;
  • Over-complicated;
  • Too many arguments;
  • Return arguments;
  • Identification parameters;

Parameters

  • Does not follow standard naming principles;
  • Use all kinds of prefix/postfix;
  • Does not explain what it is used for;

Testing

  • Not enough coverage;
  • No coverage tools;
  • Neglect small tests;
  • Too slow;

General

  1. Rogidity: difficult to change. A small change causes a cascade of subsequent changes;
  2. Fragility: breaks in many places due to a single change;
  3. Immobility: cannot reuse parts of the code in other projects because of involved risks and high effort;
  4. Needless Complexity;
  5. Needless Repetition;
  6. Opacity: hard to understand the code;

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