- name
- code-quality
- description
- Clean code principles, SOLID, and code review practices
- domain
- software-engineering
- version
- 1.0.0
- tags
- ["clean-code","solid","refactoring","code-review","linting","metrics"]
- triggers
- {"keywords":{"primary":["code quality","clean code","solid","refactor","code review","lint"],"secondary":["dry","kiss","yagni","code smell","technical debt","static analysis"]},"context_boost":["maintainable","readable","best practice","standards"],"context_penalty":["deployment","infrastructure","devops"],"priority":"high"}
# Code Quality
## Overview
Principles and practices for writing maintainable, readable, and reliable code.
---
## Clean Code Principles
### Meaningful Names
```typescript
// โ Cryptic names
const d = new Date();
const u = getU();
const arr = data.filter(x => x.s === 'a');
// โ
Descriptive names
const currentDate = new Date();
const currentUser = getCurrentUser();
const activeUsers = users.filter(user => user.status === 'active');
// โ Hungarian notation (outdated)
const strName = 'John';
const arrItems = [];
const bIsActive = true;
// โ
Let the type system handle types
const name = 'John';
const items: Item[] = [];
const isActive = true;
```
### Functions
```typescript
// โ Does too much
function processUserData(userId: string) {
const user = db.findUser(userId);
const orders = db.findOrders(userId);
const total = orders.reduce((sum, o) => sum + o.amount, 0);
sendEmail(user.email, `Your total: ${total}`);
updateAnalytics(userId, total);
return { user, orders, total };
}
// โ
Single responsibility
function getUser(userId: string): User {
return db.findUser(userId);
}
function getUserOrders(userId: string): Order[] {
return db.findOrders(userId);
}
function calculateTotal(orders: Order[]): number {
return orders.reduce((sum, o) => sum + o.amount, 0);
}
function sendOrderSummary(user: User, total: number): void {
sendEmail(user.email, `Your total: ${total}`);
}
// โ Too many parameters
function createUser(name, email, age, role, department, manager, startDate) {}
// โ
Use object parameter
interface CreateUserParams {
name: string;
email: string;
age?: number;
role: Role;
department: string;
managerId?: string;
startDate: Date;
}
function createUser(params: CreateUserParams): User {}
```
### Comments
```typescript
// โ Redundant comment
// Increment counter by 1
counter++;
// โ Outdated comment (code changed, comment didn't)
// Returns the user's full name
function getUserEmail(user: User) {
return user.email;
}
// โ
Explains WHY, not WHAT
// Use binary search because the list is sorted and can have 100k+ items
const index = binarySearch(sortedItems, target);
// โ
Warns about non-obvious behavior
// IMPORTANT: This function mutates the input array for performance reasons
function quickSort(arr: number[]): number[] {
// ...
}
// โ
TODO with context
// TODO(john): Remove after migration completes - tracking in JIRA-1234
const legacyAdapter = new LegacyAdapter();
```
---
## SOLID Principles
### Single Responsibility Principle
```typescript
// โ Multiple responsibilities
class UserManager {
createUser(data: UserData) { /* DB logic */ }
validateEmail(email: string) { /* Validation logic */ }
sendWelcomeEmail(user: User) { /* Email logic */ }
generateReport(users: User[]) { /* Report logic */ }
}
// โ
Single responsibility each
class UserRepository {
create(data: UserData): User { /* DB logic */ }
findById(id: string): User | null { /* DB logic */ }
}
class UserValidator {
validateEmail(email: string): boolean { /* Validation */ }
validatePassword(password: string): ValidationResult { /* Validation */ }
}
class EmailService {
sendWelcomeEmail(user: User): void { /* Email logic */ }
}
class UserReportGenerator {
generate(users: User[]): Report { /* Report logic */ }
}
```
### Open/Closed Principle
```typescript
// โ Must modify to add new payment methods
class PaymentProcessor {
process(payment: Payment) {
if (payment.type === 'credit') {
// Credit card logic
} else if (payment.type === 'paypal') {
// PayPal logic
} else if (payment.type === 'crypto') {
// Crypto logic - had to modify existing code!
}
}
}
// โ
Open for extension, closed for modification
interface PaymentMethod {
process(amount: number): Promise<PaymentResult>;
}
class CreditCardPayment implements PaymentMethod {
async process(amount: number): Promise<PaymentResult> { /* ... */ }
}
class PayPalPayment implements PaymentMethod {
async process(amount: number): Promise<PaymentResult> { /* ... */ }
}
// New payment method - no modification to existing code
class CryptoPayment implements PaymentMethod {
async process(amount: number): Promise<PaymentResult> { /* ... */ }
}
class PaymentProcessor {
constructor(private method: PaymentMethod) {}
async process(amount: number): Promise<PaymentResult> {
return this.method.process(amount);
}
}
```
### Liskov Substitution Principle
```typescript
// โ Violates LSP - Square breaks Rectangle contract
class Rectangle {
constructor(public width: number, public height: number) {}
setWidth(w: number) { this.width = w; }
setHeight(h: number) { this.height = h; }
getArea() { return this.width * this.height; }
}
class Square extends Rectangle {
setWidth(w: number) {
this.width = w;
this.height = w; // Unexpected side effect!
}
setHeight(h: number) {
this.width = h;
this.height = h; // Unexpected side effect!
}
}
// โ
Proper abstraction
interface Shape {
getArea(): number;
}
class Rectangle implements Shape {
constructor(private width: number, private height: number) {}
getArea() { return this.width * this.height; }
}
class Square implements Shape {
constructor(private side: number) {}
getArea() { return this.side * this.side; }
}
```
### Interface Segregation Principle
```typescript
// โ Fat interface
interface Worker {
work(): void;
eat(): void;
sleep(): void;
attendMeeting(): void;
writeReport(): void;
}
// Robot can't eat or sleep!
class Robot implements Worker {
work() { /* ... */ }
eat() { throw new Error('Robots do not eat'); } // Forced to implement
sleep() { throw new Error('Robots do not sleep'); }
// ...
}
// โ
Segregated interfaces
interface Workable {
work(): void;
}
interface Eatable {
eat(): void;
}
interface Sleepable {
sleep(): void;
}
class Human implements Workable, Eatable, Sleepable {
work() { /* ... */ }
eat() { /* ... */ }
sleep() { /* ... */ }
}
class Robot implements Workable {
work() { /* ... */ }
}
```
### Dependency Inversion Principle
```typescript
// โ High-level depends on low-level
class OrderService {
private db = new MySQLDatabase(); // Concrete dependency
private mailer = new SendGridMailer(); // Concrete dependency
createOrder(data: OrderData) {
const order = this.db.insert('orders', data);
this.mailer.send(data.email, 'Order confirmed');
return order;
}
}
// โ
Depend on abstractions
interface Database {
insert(table: string, data: unknown): unknown;
find(table: string, query: unknown): unknown[];
}
interface Mailer {
send(to: string, message: string): void;
}
class OrderService {
constructor(
private db: Database,
private mailer: Mailer
) {}
createOrder(data: OrderData) {
const order = this.db.insert('orders', data);
this.mailer.send(data.email, 'Order confirmed');
return order;
}
}
// Now we can inject any implementation
const service = new OrderService(
new PostgresDatabase(),
new SESMailer()
);
```
---
## Code Review Best Practices
### What to Look For
```markdown
## Code Review Checklist
### Correctness
- [ ] Logic is correct and handles edge cases
- [ ] Error handling is appropriate
- [ ] No obvious bugs or regressions
### Design
- [ ] Code is at the right abstraction level
- [ ] No unnecessary complexity
- [ ] Follows existing patterns in codebase
### Readability
- [ ] Clear naming and intent
- [ ] Comments explain "why" not "what"
- [ ] Code is self-documenting where possible
### Testing
- [ ] Adequate test coverage
- [ ] Tests are meaningful (not just coverage padding)
- [ ] Edge cases are tested
### Performance
- [ ] No obvious N+1 queries or inefficiencies
- [ ] Appropriate data structures used
- [ ] Caching considered if needed
### Security
- [ ] Input validation present
- [ ] No secrets in code
- [ ] Authentication/authorization correct
```
### Giving Feedback
```markdown
# Good Review Comments
## โ
Specific and actionable
"This loop has O(nยฒ) complexity. Consider using a Map for O(n) lookup."
## โ
Explain the why
"Let's extract this to a separate function - it makes the logic easier
to test and the main function more readable."
## โ
Offer alternatives
"Instead of mutating the array, consider using `filter()` which returns
a new array: `const active = items.filter(i => i.active)`"
## โ
Distinguish severity
- "nit: " - Minor style issue, optional
- "suggestion: " - Good to have, not blocking
- "blocking: " - Must fix before merge
# Avoid
## โ Vague criticism
"This code is confusing"
## โ Personal attacks
"You always make this mistake"
## โ No explanation
"Use a different approach"
```
---
## Code Metrics
### Cyclomatic Complexity
```typescript
// High complexity (10+) - hard to test and maintain
function processOrder(order: Order): Result {
if (order.status === 'pending') { // +1
if (order.paymentMethod === 'card') { // +1
if (order.amount > 1000) { // +1
// ...
} else if (order.amount > 100) { // +1
// ...
} else {
// ...
}
} else if (order.paymentMethod === 'cash') { // +1
// ...
}
} else if (order.status === 'processing') { // +1
// ...
}
// ... more branches
}
// Lower complexity - extract conditions
function processOrder(order: Order): Result {
const processor = getProcessor(order.paymentMethod);
const tier = getPricingTier(order.amount);
return processor.process(order, tier);
}
```
### Metrics to Track
| Metric | Target | Why |
|--------|--------|-----|
| Cyclomatic Complexity | < 10 per function | Testability |
| Function Length | < 50 lines | Readability |
| File Length | < 400 lines | Maintainability |
| Test Coverage | > 80% | Confidence |
| Duplication | < 3% | DRY principle |
---
## Linting & Formatting
### ESLint Configuration
```javascript
// .eslintrc.js
module.exports = {
extends: [
'eslint:recommended',
'plugin:@typescript-eslint/recommended',
],
rules: {
// Prevent bugs
'no-unused-vars': 'error',
'@typescript-eslint/no-floating-promises': 'error',
'@typescript-eslint/no-misused-promises': 'error',
// Code quality
'complexity': ['warn', 10],
'max-lines-per-function': ['warn', 50],
'max-depth': ['warn', 3],
// Consistency
'prefer-const': 'error',
'no-var': 'error',
}
};
```
### Pre-commit Hooks
```json
// package.json
{
"husky": {
"hooks": {
"pre-commit": "lint-staged"
}
},
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