blog:enterprise_clojure_is_not_a_bad_phrase
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blog:enterprise_clojure_is_not_a_bad_phrase [2017/05/24 22:38] djo [As complexity increases, the data expected in a function's parameters can quickly become non-obvious] |
blog:enterprise_clojure_is_not_a_bad_phrase [2017/05/25 16:16] djo removed |
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| - | Here is the Clojure code I initially wrote to parse this way: | + | Here is the Clojure code I initially wrote to parse this. When I recently revisited this code, I found it more challenging than I expected to deeply understand again. (I'll get into why in a bit.) |
| <code clojure> | <code clojure> | ||
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| At the time I wrote the code, it made perfect sense to me. But I had a need to revisit it recently in order to write/update tests and needed to understand it again. | At the time I wrote the code, it made perfect sense to me. But I had a need to revisit it recently in order to write/update tests and needed to understand it again. | ||
| - | And I found myself staring at the parameter list and code of the <code>merge-strings</code> function, trying to understand what values each parameter could take. I was surprised at how non-obvious it was to me a few short months later. | + | And I found myself staring at the parameter list and code of the ''%%merge-strings%%'' function, trying to understand what values each parameter could take. I was surprised at how non-obvious it was to me a few short months later. |
| To my thinking, this illustrated a common pain point my colleagues have expressed about Clojure, namely... | To my thinking, this illustrated a common pain point my colleagues have expressed about Clojure, namely... | ||
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| ===== As complexity increases, the data expected in a function's parameters can quickly become non-obvious ===== | ===== As complexity increases, the data expected in a function's parameters can quickly become non-obvious ===== | ||
| - | Even though I had written a docstring for the function, notice that because this function is a reducer, and is not API, I had not rigorously described each parameter's possible values and usage within the function. | + | Even though I had written a docstring for the ''%%merge-strings%%'' function, notice that because this function is a reducer, is used as internal implementation detail, and is not API, I had not rigorously described each parameter's possible values and usage within the function. |
| This week, I decided to use the upcoming [[https://clojure.org/guides/spec|Specs]] library from Clojure 1.9 to document each parameter's possible values and see if this helped with the readability and maintainability of this particular example. | This week, I decided to use the upcoming [[https://clojure.org/guides/spec|Specs]] library from Clojure 1.9 to document each parameter's possible values and see if this helped with the readability and maintainability of this particular example. | ||
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| * I felt the experiment was successful. I believe the code I wound up with explains the original author's intentions better than the original code. | * I felt the experiment was successful. I believe the code I wound up with explains the original author's intentions better than the original code. | ||
| * Only time will validate the ''%%=>%%'' macro, and I'm sure it will evolve over time. But I sincerely hope something like it makes it into Specs in the end. | * Only time will validate the ''%%=>%%'' macro, and I'm sure it will evolve over time. But I sincerely hope something like it makes it into Specs in the end. | ||
| - | * More generally, I feel that this code illustrates how even quite straightforward functions can become opaque very quickly, and how providing explicit specifications describing what data a function accepts and provides can significantly enhance communication. | + | * More generally, I feel that this code illustrates how even quite straightforward functions can become opaque very quickly, and how providing explicit specifications describing what data a function accepts/provides can significantly enhance communication. |
| ==== ...and a word from our sponsors ==== | ==== ...and a word from our sponsors ==== | ||
| - | In closing, I'm available for new Clojure gigs right now. If this kind of thinking and expertise is welcome on your Clojure team or on your Clojure project, feel free to email me using the address on the "Contacts" page off my home page. | + | In closing, I'm available for new gigs right now. If this kind of thinking and expertise is welcome on your team or on your project (whatever the language), feel free to email me using the address on the "Contacts" page off my home page. |
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