Clear Code vs. Clever Code: The Importance of Readability in Software Development

Title:?"Clear Code vs. Clever Code: The Importance of Readability in Software Development"

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Table of Contents

1. Kickoff

2. The Issue with 'Clever Code'

3. The Significance of Code Clarity

4. The Singular Responsibility Doctrine

5. Crafting Clear, Uncomplicated Code with a Singular Task

6. Sidestepping the Attraction to Craft 'Clever Code'

7. Summing Up

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1. Kickoff

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We, as software engineers, have all encountered that moment where we’ve either written or stumbled upon a piece of code so astute and complex that it feels like a masterpiece. This "clever code" often seems like a badge of our competence, a symbol of our profound comprehension of a language or system. Indeed, the temptation to write clever code can be overwhelming at times.

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Clever code is often marked by its brevity, the intricate functions it performs in just a few lines, or its novel use of language constructs to meet its targets. Such code is often striking at first sight. It can feel efficient and compact. And in a world that often cherishes originality and revolution, it can feel like the "proper" method to craft code.

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However, when we take a step back and consider the larger framework of software engineering, a different image emerges. Software is seldom a solo venture. It's a cooperative process, involving many developers, each with differing levels of experience and understanding. This is where the charm of clever code starts to wane.

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In this article, I will delve into the reasons why clever code can cause more problems than it solves, especially in a collaborative setting. I'll explore the value of prioritizing code clarity and simplicity. We'll also underscore the importance of functions and classes accomplishing one thing, and doing it effectively.

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Throughout this discussion, our aim is to offer a fresh perspective on how we craft and perceive code.?I?hope to encourage developers to appreciate code that is easy to comprehend, maintain, and expand - rather than code that simply appears clever or sophisticated.?

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2. The Issue with 'Clever Code'

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As previously mentioned, clever code tends to be characterized by its ingenuity or complexity. It may use language constructs in unusual ways, condense intricate operations into a few lines, or incorporate complex algorithms that are difficult to comprehend at a glance. While this might seem impressive, it presents several substantial problems, especially when we're working in a team or maintaining code over time.

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The main problem with clever code is its inherent complexity. By its very nature, clever code is often challenging to understand unless you're the original author or have a profound understanding of the specific technique or language construct used. This results in code that is, effectively, "write-only" — straightforward for the original author to write, but tough for others to comprehend, modify, or debug.?

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In a setting where multiple developers need to work on the same codebase, this can drastically reduce productivity. When a new developer joins the team, or when the original author moves on, the time spent trying to decipher the clever code can be expensive.?

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Clever code often leads to tightly coupled code. Since it aims to do a lot in a compact form, changing one part may inadvertently impact others. This results in a codebase that's challenging to modify and adapt to new requirements. It also hampers the ability to refactor code — a necessary practice as projects expand and requirements evolve.

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The more complex the code is, the harder it is to test and debug. With clever code's intricate logic and heavy use of language idiosyncrasies, understanding what the code is supposed to do (and hence what might be going wrong) can be a significant challenge. Moreover, the potential for unforeseen side effects is high because changing one aspect of the code can

unexpectedly alter the functionality of other parts.

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Clever code also tends to be less flexible and adaptable to change. If a requirement changes, or a new feature needs to be added, it can often be more challenging to make these modifications in a codebase full of clever code. The code may need to be extensively reworked or even rewritten from scratch, resulting in additional time and cost.

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3. The Significance of Code Clarity

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So, if clever code has these downsides, what should we strive for instead? The answer is simple: clarity. Clear, easy-to-understand code is one of the most valuable assets a development team can have.

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Clear code is easy to read and understand. A developer who is new to the project can read through the code and quickly grasp what each part is doing. This saves a significant amount of time and makes the process of onboarding new developers much smoother.

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Furthermore, clear code is much easier to maintain and extend. Because the functionality of each part of the code is readily apparent, making changes or adding new features is less likely to introduce bugs or unforeseen side effects. It also makes it easier to spot potential problems or areas where the code could be improved or optimized.

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Finally, clear code is easier to test and debug. When a bug is found, it's much quicker to identify the source of the problem and fix it if the code is clear and easy to understand. Additionally, writing tests for clear code is simpler because the expected behavior of each part of the code is well-defined and straightforward to test.

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To illustrate the power of readability, let's consider an example. Suppose we have a piece of smart code like this:

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const processArray = (data) => data.map(x => f(x)).filter(y => y !== null)

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While this one-liner might look elegant, especially for those familiar with JavaScript's array methods, it can be confusing for developers less familiar with these concepts. A more readable version could look like this:?

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function processArray(data) {

??let results = [];

??for(let i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {

????let result = f(data[i]);

????if(result !== null) {

??????results.push(result);

????}

??}

??return results;

}

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Even though the second version is longer, its intent and behavior are much clearer, even to someone who is relatively new to JavaScript.?

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4. The Singular Responsibility Doctrine

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One of the best ways to write clear, easy-to-understand code is to follow the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP). The SRP is a computer programming principle that states that every module, class, or function should have responsibility over a single part of the functionality provided by the software, and that responsibility should be entirely encapsulated by the entity.

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The SRP aims to decouple software components, making them easier to understand, maintain, and test. Each function or class should have one job, and all its services should be narrowly aligned with that responsibility.

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Following the SRP results in code that is modular and easy to understand. Instead of having large, complex functions or classes that do multiple things, you have smaller, simpler pieces that each do one thing. This makes the code much easier to understand, as you can look at each function or class in isolation and understand what it's doing without needing to understand the entire codebase.

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Let's look at an example. Suppose we have a JavaScript function like this:

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function processAndSaveData(data) {

??let processedData = data.map(x => f(x)).filter(y => y !== null);

??saveToDatabase(processedData);

??return processedData;

}

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This function is doing more than one thing: it's processing data and saving it to a database. A more SRP-aligned version could look like this:

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function processData(data) {

??return data.map(x => f(x)).filter(y => y !== null);

}

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function saveData(data) {

??saveToDatabase(data);

}

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With this approach, each function has a clear, single responsibility, which makes the code easier to understand, test, and reuse.?

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5. Crafting Clear, Uncomplicated Code with a Singular Task

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As software developers, we should strive to make our code as clear and straightforward as possible. Here are a few tips to help achieve this goal:

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-Simplify complex logic: Break down complex operations into simpler, smaller ones. This makes the code easier to read and understand.

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- Use meaningful names: Names for variables, functions, and classes should be descriptive and convey the purpose of the entity.

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- Write comments where necessary: While the code itself should be as clear as possible, comments can help explain the 'why' behind the code - why a certain approach was used, why a particular value was chosen, etc.

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- Adhere to the coding conventions and standards: Consistent code is easier to read and understand. Following coding conventions makes your code familiar and predictable to other developers.

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- Use the right data structures and algorithms: Using the right tools for the job not only makes your code more efficient, it also makes it easier to understand.

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Here's an example of how to apply these principles:

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// Less readable, does multiple things

function process(data) {

??const x = data.map(n => n * 2);

??const y = x.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);

??return y / x.length;

}

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// More readable, each function does one thing

function doubleNumbers(data) {

??return data.map(n => n * 2);

}

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function calculateAverage(data) {

??const sum = data.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);

??return sum / data.length;

}

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const data = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

const processedData = doubleNumbers(data);

const average = calculateAverage(processedData);

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In the second version, each function does one thing, and their names clearly indicate their purpose. The code becomes self-documenting, and understanding the flow of data is straightforward.

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6. Sidestepping the Attraction to Craft 'Clever Code'

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As we've seen, the attraction to writing clever code can be strong. But by keeping the goal of clear, easy-to-understand code in mind,

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we can resist the temptation to make our code more clever than it needs to be.?

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Remember, the ultimate goal of writing code is not to show off how smart we are, but to create software that is efficient, reliable, and easy to maintain and extend. By focusing on clarity and simplicity, we can write code that not only achieves these goals, but is also a pleasure to work with for all developers on the team.?

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In the end, the best code is not the cleverest, but the clearest.

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I apologize for the confusion earlier. Let's revise and sum up the points discussed.

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7. Summing Up

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Throughout this discussion, we've defined clear code as the code that is easy to read, understand, and maintain. It prioritizes readability over shortcuts, so any developer can quickly understand what's happening. Key characteristics of clear code include being concise but comprehensive, using meaningful names, following established conventions, and including useful comments where necessary.

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On the other hand, clever code is characterized by tricky or intricate approaches that might not be immediately clear to other developers. While this might showcase a developer's skill or knowledge of obscure language features, it often results in code that's hard to read, understand, and maintain.

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The difference between clever and clear code is not just academic - it has real-world implications. When code is clear, it's easier to maintain, debug, and build upon, which leads to more efficient and flexible software development. Conversely, clever code can become a bottleneck in a project, slowing down development and increasing the risk of errors.

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Even though clever code might sometimes be more efficient in terms of execution speed, it's important to note that modern compilers and interpreters are very effective at optimizing clear code. The potential gains from clever code are often outweighed by the costs of maintaining it.

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So, in the majority of cases, it's advisable to aim for clear, straightforward code that any developer can understand and maintain. This leads to better collaboration, more robust software, and ultimately, a more successful project.

Footnote: This article was written by Bilal ARKAN , who is a Full-Stack Web Developer at Theatech Our company's Full-Stack Web Developer Bilal ARKAN is happy to share the content of this article with you, our esteemed readers.

Content writer Bilal ARKAN - Full-Stack Web Developer