One of the great features of Object Pascal is the inclusion of sets in the language.Other languages have added libraries in support of sets, but Pascal remains unique in having always supported them. Sets are often useful in combination with enumerations. Used together, they provide a very readable approach to handling things such as user…
Tag: Design
Strategy for Global Variables
Global variables are generally considered to be bad. This is especially the case where state variables are concerned. However, as my focus has been, and continues to be, on legacy projects, global variables are a reality to be managed. Maintaining a project which has many global variables is a challenge. Depending on the names which…
Keep it Small
Small is good. Small is simple. We should strive to keep things small in our development work. Keep routines short and simple. Use as few local variables as possible. Avoid long parameter lists. Keep scope as narrow as possible. If you find yourself challenged by these things, it suggests the need for practice and thought….
YAGNI: Is it Absolute?
YAGNI – You Ain’t Gonna Need It – is a useful principle in software development and rework. But should it be a hard rule? I will argue that it should be a guide, not a rule. But also, that the context is a major factor in determining which view should apply. The first and obvious…
Thoughtful Design and Coding
Adventures in the act of development Articles here describe my experiences in software design and development. Categories: Data Design Scope Clear Coding Effective Naming Useful Commenting Best practices will influence all articles here.