Disguised as a friendly shortcut is another coupling smell.

TL;DR: Optional Arguments generate a hidden coupling in the name of smaller code.

Problems

• Coupling

• Unexpected results

• Side effects

• Ripple Effect

• In languages with optional arguments but limited to basic types, we need to set a flag and add an accidental IF (another smell).

Solutions

1. Make arguments explicit.
2. All function calls must have same arity.
3. Use Named Parameters if your language supports them.

Sample Code

Wrong

<?

final class Poll {

    function _construct(array $questions, bool $annonymousAllowed = false, $validationPolicy = 'Normal') {

        if ($validationPolicy == 'Normal') {
          $validationPolicy = new NormalValidationPolicy();
        }
        //...
    }
}

//Valid
new Poll([]);
new Poll([], true);
new Poll([], true , new NormalValidationPolicy());
new Poll([], , new StrictValidationPolicy());

Right

<? 

final class Poll {

    function _construct(array $questions, AnonnyomousStrategy $annonymousStrategy, ValidationPolicy $validationPolicy) {            
        //...
    }
}


//invalid
new Poll([]);
new Poll([], new NoAnonnyomousValidStrategy());
new Poll([], , new StrictValidationPolicy());

//Valid
new Poll([], new NoAnonnyomousValidStrategy(), new StrictValidationPolicy());

Detection

Detection is easy if language supports optional arguments.

Tags

• Optional

• Laziness

Conclusion

Be explicit. Favor readability over shorter (and more coupled) function call.

More info

• Function Arity

• Decoupling a Legacy System

How to Decouple a Legacy System

Maxi Contieri ・ Mar 1 '21 ・ 7 min read

#codenewbie #programming #poo #tutorial

The trouble with programmers is that you can never tell what a programmer is doing until it’s too late.

Seymour Cray

Software Engineering Great Quotes

Maxi Contieri ・ Dec 28 '20 ・ 13 min read

#codenewbie #programming #quotes #software

This article is part of the CodeSmell Series.

How to Find the Stinky parts of your Code

Maxi Contieri ・ May 21 '21 ・ 4 min read

#codenewbie #tutorial #codequality #beginners

Last update: 2021/06/30