Writing Functions That Are Easy To Read

I used to think adding more comments made me a better developer. Every time something got complicated… I’d type out 3–4 lines of explanation. It felt safe. Like I was doing the right thing. But over time, I realized something... If your code is too confusing to read, it’s not the comments that need fixing... it’s the code itself. Here’s what I started doing instead: ✅ I broke long methods into smaller ones. ✅ I gave variables names that made sense. ✅ I wrote logic that spoke for itself. And guess what? My code got cleaner. My team stopped asking “what does this do?”. Reviews were smoother and faster. 👉 Clear code is better than clever code. 👉 Readable logic wins over long explanations. Anyone can write complex code. But writing simple code that works? That takes real skill. If you're a junior dev reading this, focus on clarity. It’s not about how many lines you write. It’s about how easy it is for someone else to read them. What’s one code habit you had to unlearn? #softwareengineer #faithwilkinsel

One of the best advice I’ve received from a senior early in my career was to read Clean Code by Robert C. This is one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. It forever changed how I used to code. If I had to summarize the 10 most important principles from the book, they would be: 1. Meaningful Names - Choose clear, descriptive names that reveal the intent of your code. - Names should help others understand the purpose without extra context. - Example: Use `totalCost` instead of `x` for clarity. 2. Small Functions - Keep functions small and focused on a single task. - If a function exceeds 20 lines, consider refactoring. - Example: A `calculateTotal()` function should only handle calculations, not logging. 3. DRY Principle (Don’t Repeat Yourself) - Avoid code duplication to reduce maintenance complexity and potential bugs. - Aim for reusability and modularity in your code. - Example: Use a `processUserInput()` function rather than repeating the same logic multiple times. 4. Avoid Comments - Write self-explanatory code to minimize the need for comments. - Outdated comments can mislead, so focus on making the code itself clear. - Example: Refactor a complicated `for` loop into a well-named function rather than explaining it with comments. 5. Error Handling - Separate error handling from business logic to keep code clean. - Handle exceptions gracefully to maintain resilience. - Example: Use a `try-catch` block around critical operations and log errors in a dedicated function. 6. Readable Code - Prioritize readability over cleverness to make the code easy to understand. - Consistent formatting and naming conventions enhance code clarity. - Example: Use clear indentation and consistent variable names like `userName` and `userAge`. 7. Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) - Ensure each class and function has one responsibility or reason to change. - This principle makes the code more modular and easier to test. - Example: A `User` class should only handle user-related data, not database operations. 8. Dependency Injection - Rely on interfaces or abstractions rather than concrete implementations. - This approach decouples components and makes the code more flexible and testable. - Example: Inject a `PaymentProcessor` interface into a `Checkout` class rather than using a specific payment gateway directly. 9. Testing - Write automated tests to validate your code and catch bugs early. - Tests act as a safety net, ensuring code behaves as expected after changes. - Example: Use unit tests to verify that a `calculateDiscount()` function returns the correct value for various input scenarios. 10. Refactoring - Continuously improve your code through refactoring to maintain quality. - Refactoring should be an ongoing process, not a one-time task. - Example: Regularly revisit old code to simplify logic or reduce duplication, like merging similar methods into one.

💡 𝐀 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬! Ever seen a method named ValidateUserName() that also updates the database and do other stuff? 🚩 That’s a recipe for confusing and hard-to-maintain code! We can call a function that calls these two methods and with a more explanatory name, avoiding this mistake makes your code much cleaner and more predictable! ✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝? 🔹 Improves readability, you instantly know what it does 🔹 Easier to test, each function has a single responsibility 🔹 Reduces side effects, no unexpected behaviors 🚀 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: 🔹 Use clear, descriptive names that reflect a single responsibility 🔹 Avoid hidden logic—if a function does more than its name suggests, split it 🔹 Follow SRP (Single Responsibility Principle) to keep functions clean and maintainable Functions should be predictable! If you call a method, you shouldn’t be surprised by what else it does. 💬 Have you ever encountered (or written 😅) a misleading function? Let’s discuss! 👇 ❤️ Like if this was helpful! 🔄 Share to help others write cleaner code! #CleanCode #BestPractices #SoftwareDevelopment #CSharp #DevTips