Programming Method

[honoluludesktop]

At best, the way I program typically involves a primary nested loop, and procedural calls. I also use a ton of "flags" to transmit conditions through out the code. All of this is OK until I begin to patch the program to correct bugs, or add enhancements. After a while the code becomes difficult to follow because I have forgotten the function of the flag, the patch, and the documentation begins to be obtuse.

Any advice on organization from those with experience?

[thomthom]

Comment Comment Comment - the alpha and omega for maintaining code.

@honoluludesktop said:

I also use a ton of "flags" to transmit conditions through out the code.

Instance variables?
I used to have a bunch of those as well - but now I try to make more custom classes that takes care of it's own section of the code.

[honoluludesktop]

Custom Classes? Guess I am not there yet. Just beginning to understand that methods are procedures>_< While I conceptually understand parent child, I don't have a clue as to implementing it. Will I live long enough?-)

[Jim]

A concrete example here, but I noticed in your dxf plugin you would benefit from using elsif instead of else if - it would greatly reduce the indenting in a few cases and make the code more read-able.

Each if requires an end, so using elsif you could eliminate quite a few end statements.

if condition
  # do this
elsif condition
  # do that
elsif condition
  # do the other
else 
 #  default action
end

[honoluludesktop]

Jim, Thanks again:-)