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A question about naming

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  • J Jorgen Andersson

    If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

    Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

    V Offline
    V Offline
    virang_21
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    [Obsolete("This method is older than Yoda. We have new shiny one with lightsaber")]
    public void OneThousnadYerOldMethod()
    {
    NewShinyOne();
    }

    public void NewShinyOne()
    {

    }

    Zen and the art of software maintenance : rm -rf * Maths is like love : a simple idea but it can get complicated.

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    • J Jorgen Andersson

      If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

      C Offline
      C Offline
      Chris Maunder
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Jörgen Andersson wrote:

      If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

      a. As soon as it's out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, and b. You can find a poor slob to do the code renaming, refactoring, updating of tables, updating of docs, rerouting of any old URLs that point to that name, corrections and redistribution of written material, changes to DNS, server naming, jobs and schedules, Unit tests and test data, and all those coffee cups with the old name on them.

      cheers Chris Maunder

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      • J Jorgen Andersson

        If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

        Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        I don't know about library, but if it's a class, never, you simply shouldn't if it used across several systems. You can extend it by sub-classsing and giving the child class an appropriate name.

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        • J Jorgen Andersson

          If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

          Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

          D Offline
          D Offline
          DaveAuld
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          Anytime, and if a name already in use that is suitable, just append a number to the end. e.g. SomeClass2, 3, 4

          Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

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          • C Chris Maunder

            Jörgen Andersson wrote:

            If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

            a. As soon as it's out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, and b. You can find a poor slob to do the code renaming, refactoring, updating of tables, updating of docs, rerouting of any old URLs that point to that name, corrections and redistribution of written material, changes to DNS, server naming, jobs and schedules, Unit tests and test data, and all those coffee cups with the old name on them.

            cheers Chris Maunder

            J Offline
            J Offline
            Jorgen Andersson
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            That poor slob would be me, and we don't get special coffee cups over here. Can I have a CodeProject one? I promise to not touch your code.

            Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

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            • D DaveAuld

              Anytime, and if a name already in use that is suitable, just append a number to the end. e.g. SomeClass2, 3, 4

              Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

              J Offline
              J Offline
              Jorgen Andersson
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              Hey, it wasn't passwords I were asking about.

              Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

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              • M Mycroft Holmes

                I get this all the time, we get a spec (verbal discussion) I attempt to get a project name/description from the business, start building, name the database, create the projects. And management decides to change the name of the project. It is a judgement call as to the cost of re-factoring (Bill's view) and the long term impact on support. It can be confusing for the support team when the UI naming and the supporting infrastructure does not match.

                Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

                J Offline
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                Jorgen Andersson
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                You described my problem much better than I ever could have. :laugh:

                Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

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                • D DaveAuld

                  Anytime, and if a name already in use that is suitable, just append a number to the end. e.g. SomeClass2, 3, 4

                  Dave Find Me On:Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject

                  A Offline
                  A Offline
                  Agent__007
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  SimpleClass201410101456 would be more elegant, wouldn't it? ;P

                  Your time will come, if you let it be right.

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                  • B BillWoodruff

                    Hi Jorgen, I think to attempt a meaningful response to that issue requires specific knowledge of the actual context, the nature of the application, the number of programmers working on the application, its users, etc. For example: is the application extensible so that third-party developers writing plug-ins for it might somehow be affected by any changes you make ? A fancy way of saying: "I can't generalize" ?

                    « There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad. » Salvador Dali

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    Jorgen Andersson
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    I started writing a much more specific post, but then I thought that I've been in this position before, and will be there again, and so I wrote a more general question in the vain hope there was a general answer to it. Mycroft describes my position very well.

                    Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

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                    • J Jorgen Andersson

                      If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

                      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

                      M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Mark_Wallace
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      Wait until it's in the header of at least twenty other programs.

                      I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

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                      • J Jorgen Andersson

                        That poor slob would be me, and we don't get special coffee cups over here. Can I have a CodeProject one? I promise to not touch your code.

                        Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Mark_Wallace
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        Jörgen Andersson wrote:

                        I promise to not touch fix your code.

                        So close, but you blew it.

                        I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

                        J 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • C Chris Maunder

                          Jörgen Andersson wrote:

                          If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

                          a. As soon as it's out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, and b. You can find a poor slob to do the code renaming, refactoring, updating of tables, updating of docs, rerouting of any old URLs that point to that name, corrections and redistribution of written material, changes to DNS, server naming, jobs and schedules, Unit tests and test data, and all those coffee cups with the old name on them.

                          cheers Chris Maunder

                          N Offline
                          N Offline
                          Nelek
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          Chris Maunder wrote:

                          You can find a poor slob to do the code renaming, refactoring, updating of tables, updating of docs, rerouting of any old URLs that point to that name, corrections and redistribution of written material, changes to DNS, server naming, jobs and schedules, Unit tests and test data, and all those coffee cups with the old name on them to blame when problems caused by the renaming appear

                          FTFY

                          M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

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                          • _ _Damian S_

                            Rename it, but leave a wrapper sitting there that calls the newly renamed function with the old name, in case someone is still using the old name. Remove the old name from documentation. ;-)

                            Quad skating his way through the world since the early 80's... Booger Mobile - My bright green 1964 Ford Falcon - check out the blog here!! | If you feel generous - make a donation to Camp Quality!!

                            N Offline
                            N Offline
                            Nagy Vilmos
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            _Damian S_ wrote:

                            documentation

                            +++ out of cheese error +++ MELON MELON MELON +++ redo from start +++

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                            • J Jorgen Andersson

                              If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

                              Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              SortaCore
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              I'm going with April 1st, or a Friday 13th. Conveniently, 2015 has three of those. If it's C++, go ahead and rename it and let the compiler puke all over everyone. Then accuse them of not following standards if they complain. ... or #define it to a MessageBoxA() call. ;P

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                              • M Mark_Wallace

                                Jörgen Andersson wrote:

                                I promise to not touch fix your code.

                                So close, but you blew it.

                                I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                Jorgen Andersson
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                If I promised that, I'd probably blow it anyway.

                                Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello Any organization is like a tree full of monkeys. The monkeys on top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. The monkeys on the bottom look up and see nothing but assholes.

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • J Jorgen Andersson

                                  If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

                                  Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

                                  T Offline
                                  T Offline
                                  Tomz_KV
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  For functions, create a new one (like "overload") so that the code calling the "old" function does not break.

                                  TOMZ_KV

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                                  • _ _Damian S_

                                    Rename it, but leave a wrapper sitting there that calls the newly renamed function with the old name, in case someone is still using the old name. Remove the old name from documentation. ;-)

                                    Quad skating his way through the world since the early 80's... Booger Mobile - My bright green 1964 Ford Falcon - check out the blog here!! | If you feel generous - make a donation to Camp Quality!!

                                    G Offline
                                    G Offline
                                    gggustafson
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    +1

                                    Gus Gustafson

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • J Jorgen Andersson

                                      If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

                                      Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

                                      RaviBeeR Offline
                                      RaviBeeR Offline
                                      RaviBee
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      That's not one question - it's four. Methods and classes can be renamed safely as long as you continue to support the old names (be sure to deprecate them using [Obsolete]) for n releases per your SLA. Renaming assembly and file names can wreak havoc. Do this only if absolutely necessary. Renaming an app requires sales, marketing and end-user support to get involved and is the most expensive option. Do this only if your bottom line depends on it. /ravi

                                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • J Jorgen Andersson

                                        If your application/library/class/function has developed out of scope and can no longer be considered having the right name, when is it ok to rename it?

                                        Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello[^]

                                        R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        rnbergren
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        gesh people, don't you know. You always start all programs with Project1 and all variables are var1, var2 etc... text boxes txt1 txt2 txt3 etc.. Got to save keystrokes here. Short people short. Seriously though. Worked with a programmer many many years ago that named everything that way. Oh my goodness her code was horrible. Anyway. Rename as soon as possible but try to keep it as general as possible. Hard balancing act to follow. I actually have a reporting project that I wasn't 'allowed' to know the name of when I started coding it. I named it DrillInSpecialReports. Unfortunately it was too general and everyone on the team has put all their special reports in that project and hung them all off each other. It is a beast now. But we know where to look for anything that is a special report.

                                        To err is human to really mess up you need a computer

                                        J B 2 Replies Last reply
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                                        • R rnbergren

                                          gesh people, don't you know. You always start all programs with Project1 and all variables are var1, var2 etc... text boxes txt1 txt2 txt3 etc.. Got to save keystrokes here. Short people short. Seriously though. Worked with a programmer many many years ago that named everything that way. Oh my goodness her code was horrible. Anyway. Rename as soon as possible but try to keep it as general as possible. Hard balancing act to follow. I actually have a reporting project that I wasn't 'allowed' to know the name of when I started coding it. I named it DrillInSpecialReports. Unfortunately it was too general and everyone on the team has put all their special reports in that project and hung them all off each other. It is a beast now. But we know where to look for anything that is a special report.

                                          To err is human to really mess up you need a computer

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          Jorgen Andersson
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          I've also worked with one of those people, he also didn't know there existed such a thing as repeaters. So we had a report with 72 (SeventyTwo) fields named Label1 through Label72.

                                          Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello Any organization is like a tree full of monkeys. The monkeys on top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. The monkeys on the bottom look up and see nothing but assholes.

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