This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Maxi Contieri
Don’t Overcomplicate: Keep It Simple
TL;DR: Overdefensive code leads to unnecessary complexity.
Problems
Unnecessary complexity
Confusing logic
Hidden bugs
Harder maintenance
Slower performance
Cluttered Code
Solutions
Simplify checks
Trust your logic
Focus on essentials
Follow the K.I.S.S. principle
Refactor regularly
Context
Overthinking and overdesigning your code can lead to unnecessary complexity.
You might need to defend against every possible scenario, but this approach often produces bloated, confusing code.
Hanlon's Razor suggests that you should not assume malice when simple mistakes or misunderstandings are more likely.
Avoid overly defensive programming and focus on clear, straightforward logic.
You might anticipate future problems that might never happen or try to make your code too flexible.
Simple code is easier to maintain, debug, and understand.
Sample Code
Wrong
function processData(data) {
if (typeof data === 'undefined') {
throw new Error('Data is undefined');
}
if (typeof data !== 'object') {
throw new Error('Data is not an object');
}
if (data === null) {
throw new Error('Data is null');
}
if (Array.isArray(data)) {
throw new Error('Data should not be an array');
}
if (!data.hasOwnProperty('items')) {
return [];
}
if (!Array.isArray(data.items)) {
throw new Error('Items should be an array');
}
if (data.items.length === 0) {
return [];
}
let processedItems = [];
for (let item of data.items) {
if (typeof item === 'undefined') {
continue; // Skip undefined items
}
if (typeof item !== 'object') {
continue; // Skip non-object items
}
if (item === null) {
continue; // Skip null items
}
processedItems.push(processItem(item));
}
return processedItems;
}
Right
function processData(data) {
if (!Array.isArray(data.items)) {
throw new Error('Invalid data');
}
return data.items
.filter(item => typeof item === 'object' && item !== null)
.map(item => processItem(item));
}
Detection
[X] Manual
Complicated code usually has more lines and long methods are a possible hint.
Tags
- Bloaters
Level
[x] Intermediate
AI Generation
AI generators can introduce this smell when they try to account for every possible edge case.
For example, dealing with NULLs is unnecessary if you completely avoid them.
AI Detection
AI tools can help detect overly defensive code by analyzing the logic and suggesting simplifications with proper guidance.
These tools often recommend removing unnecessary checks or combining them for clarity.
Conclusion
Avoid overthinking and overdesigning your code.
Focus on the most likely scenarios and write clear, straightforward logic.
Simplicity leads to better code quality and easier maintenance.
Relations
More Info
Disclaimer
Code Smells are my opinion.
Credits
Photo by Nacho Fernández on Unsplash
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Leonardo da Vinci
This article is part of the CodeSmell Series.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Maxi Contieri
Maxi Contieri | Sciencx (2024-08-17T21:47:59+00:00) Code Smell 264 – Hanlon’s Razor. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2024/08/17/code-smell-264-hanlons-razor/
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