A common fallacy is to assume authors of incomprehensible code will somehow be able to express themselves lucidly and clearly in comments.
—Kevlin Henney
Comments are a form of code smell that can indicate problems with the code itself. While comments can be useful for providing context, explanations, or warnings, they can also be a sign that the code is not self-explanatory or well-structured. In many cases, comments are used as a crutch to compensate for poorly written code, rather than as a supplement to clarify complex logic or algorithms.
Excessive comments can clutter the codebase, making it harder to read and maintain. Comments that are out of date or incorrect can mislead developers and introduce confusion. In some cases, comments can even contradict the code they are meant to explain, leading to further confusion and errors.
The presence of comments in the codebase can indicate several underlying issues:
Poor Code Quality: Comments are often used to explain or justify poorly written code. Instead of improving the code itself, developers resort to adding comments to explain its behavior or purpose. This can lead to a cycle of poor code quality and excessive comments.
Lack of Clarity: Comments can be a sign that the code is not self-explanatory or well-structured. When developers need to add comments to explain the code, it suggests that the code itself is not clear or readable.
Outdated Information: Comments that are out of date or incorrect can mislead developers and introduce errors. When the code changes but the comments do not, it can create confusion and inconsistencies.
Redundancy: Comments that repeat what the code already expresses can be redundant and add unnecessary noise to the codebase. This redundancy can make the code harder to read and maintain.
Comments#
Comments are a form of code smell that can indicate problems with the code itself. While comments can be useful for providing context, explanations, or warnings, they can also be a sign that the code is not self-explanatory or well-structured. In many cases, comments are used as a crutch to compensate for poorly written code, rather than as a supplement to clarify complex logic or algorithms.
Excessive comments can clutter the codebase, making it harder to read and maintain. Comments that are out of date or incorrect can mislead developers and introduce confusion. In some cases, comments can even contradict the code they are meant to explain, leading to further confusion and errors.
The presence of comments in the codebase can indicate several underlying issues:
Poor Code Quality: Comments are often used to explain or justify poorly written code. Instead of improving the code itself, developers resort to adding comments to explain its behavior or purpose. This can lead to a cycle of poor code quality and excessive comments.
Lack of Clarity: Comments can be a sign that the code is not self-explanatory or well-structured. When developers need to add comments to explain the code, it suggests that the code itself is not clear or readable.
Outdated Information: Comments that are out of date or incorrect can mislead developers and introduce errors. When the code changes but the comments do not, it can create confusion and inconsistencies.
Redundancy: Comments that repeat what the code already expresses can be redundant and add unnecessary noise to the codebase. This redundancy can make the code harder to read and maintain.
Solution#
Extract Method (see also Functions are Friends).
Rename Method (see also Uncommunicative Names).