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  3. Programming peeve of the Day

Programming peeve of the Day

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  • F Forogar

    Obviously it should have been:

    if (!condition)
    {
    // Do something else
    }
    else
    {
    return;
    }

    :cool:

    - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

    Mike HankeyM Offline
    Mike HankeyM Offline
    Mike Hankey
    wrote on last edited by
    #14

    Got it before I did! :)

    The less you need, the more you have. JaxCoder.com

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • C Chris Maunder

      if (condition)
      {
      return;
      }
      else
      {
      // Do something else
      }

      cheers Chris Maunder

      M Offline
      M Offline
      Maximilien
      wrote on last edited by
      #15

      when you refactor some code and are too afraid to remove else clauses.

      I'd rather be phishing!

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • C Chris Maunder

        if (condition)
        {
        return;
        }
        else
        {
        // Do something else
        }

        cheers Chris Maunder

        R Offline
        R Offline
        realJSOP
        wrote on last edited by
        #16

        I like single exit points... That code would drive me nuts too...

        ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
        -----
        You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
        -----
        When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

        C 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • N NotTodayYo

          Chris Maunder wrote:

          Your rewrite is how it should be done.

          Why? It's not as clear as to what the code will do. Plus, returning from inside an if is bad form.

          Greg UtasG Offline
          Greg UtasG Offline
          Greg Utas
          wrote on last edited by
          #17

          What's wrong with returning from inside an if? The rule about only returning at the end of a function leads to convoluted code where a flag is repeatedly used to bypass stuff just to reach the end of the function. Pure dross.

          Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
          The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

          <p><a href="https://github.com/GregUtas/robust-services-core/blob/master/README.md">Robust Services Core</a>
          <em>The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.</em></p>

          N N R 3 Replies Last reply
          0
          • C Chris Maunder

            if (condition)
            {
            return;
            }
            else
            {
            // Do something else
            }

            cheers Chris Maunder

            Sander RosselS Offline
            Sander RosselS Offline
            Sander Rossel
            wrote on last edited by
            #18

            No religion in the lounge! ;p

            Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript

            L 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • P PIEBALDconsult

              Is snot.

              if ( !condition )
              {
              // Do something else
              }

              return ;

              Mike HankeyM Offline
              Mike HankeyM Offline
              Mike Hankey
              wrote on last edited by
              #19

              I believe to be totally proper it should be;

              if ( !condition )
              {
              // Do something else
              return;
              }

              return ;

              The less you need, the more you have. JaxCoder.com

              P B 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

                No religion in the lounge! ;p

                Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript

                L Offline
                L Offline
                Lost User
                wrote on last edited by
                #20

                hehe :thumbsup:

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                  I believe to be totally proper it should be;

                  if ( !condition )
                  {
                  // Do something else
                  return;
                  }

                  return ;

                  The less you need, the more you have. JaxCoder.com

                  P Offline
                  P Offline
                  PIEBALDconsult
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #21

                  If I had a lawn... :mad:

                  Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Greg UtasG Greg Utas

                    What's wrong with returning from inside an if? The rule about only returning at the end of a function leads to convoluted code where a flag is repeatedly used to bypass stuff just to reach the end of the function. Pure dross.

                    Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
                    The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

                    N Offline
                    N Offline
                    NotTodayYo
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #22

                    Greg Utas wrote:

                    The rule about only returning at the end of a function leads to convoluted code

                    As opposed to it not being clear when and where something can be returned.

                    Greg UtasG 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • P PIEBALDconsult

                      If I had a lawn... :mad:

                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                      Mike Hankey
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #23

                      We have a saying here in the south; Hold my beer[^].

                      The less you need, the more you have. JaxCoder.com

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • L Lost User

                        I would never do it the same, but I can understand it as a hint and that is ok. Of course

                        if (condition) return;
                        // Do otherwhise

                        would be more appropriate On the other hand: Is it really worth to discuss such little things?

                        C Offline
                        C Offline
                        Chris Maunder
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #24

                        You're asking if it's worth having a pointless whinge about something others do that's outside of one's control? What a silly question!

                        cheers Chris Maunder

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R realJSOP

                          I like single exit points... That code would drive me nuts too...

                          ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                          -----
                          You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                          -----
                          When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

                          C Offline
                          C Offline
                          Chris Maunder
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #25

                          Bonus points to JSOP! I actually like having two exit points at most 1st at the very top if your initial sanity checks on input parameters fail. Get that out of the qay early 2nd at the very end of the routine.

                          cheers Chris Maunder

                          N R 2 Replies Last reply
                          0
                          • C Chris Maunder

                            Bonus points to JSOP! I actually like having two exit points at most 1st at the very top if your initial sanity checks on input parameters fail. Get that out of the qay early 2nd at the very end of the routine.

                            cheers Chris Maunder

                            N Offline
                            N Offline
                            Nelek
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #26

                            That's what I like too. If the function is something easy... just one return at the end. If the function is something normal size... what you said. If the function is big... I do a second function to "check all needed stuff" at the beginning and then what you said.

                            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.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • Greg UtasG Greg Utas

                              What's wrong with returning from inside an if? The rule about only returning at the end of a function leads to convoluted code where a flag is repeatedly used to bypass stuff just to reach the end of the function. Pure dross.

                              Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
                              The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

                              N Offline
                              N Offline
                              Nelek
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #27

                              If the return is within an "check initialized stuff" at the beginning... nothing. If there are 3 or more returns... it might get so confusing / convoluted as having only one at the end.

                              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.

                              Greg UtasG 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Greg UtasG Greg Utas

                                What's wrong with returning from inside an if? The rule about only returning at the end of a function leads to convoluted code where a flag is repeatedly used to bypass stuff just to reach the end of the function. Pure dross.

                                Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
                                The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                Rick York
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #28

                                If you have allocated anything that is not an automatic object that can be risky. I have dealt with a few customers who had explicit code-style prohibitions against multiple return statements. Given the rest of the nonsense we had to deal with from them that was pretty much ignored. I hated those SFBs so much I refuse to buy any of their products ever again. To give a clue, they used to be referred to as a purveyor of expensive ink.

                                "They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

                                Greg UtasG 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • C Chris Maunder

                                  Bonus points to JSOP! I actually like having two exit points at most 1st at the very top if your initial sanity checks on input parameters fail. Get that out of the qay early 2nd at the very end of the routine.

                                  cheers Chris Maunder

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Rick York
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #29

                                  I take a similar approach but I don't limit myself to just one return there. I let each sanity check have its own return statement because I find easier to deal with when debugging. Following the input sanitization I try to not have any returns unless a value is returned and then only at the bottom.

                                  "They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

                                  C 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • N NotTodayYo

                                    Greg Utas wrote:

                                    The rule about only returning at the end of a function leads to convoluted code

                                    As opposed to it not being clear when and where something can be returned.

                                    Greg UtasG Offline
                                    Greg UtasG Offline
                                    Greg Utas
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #30

                                    It's quite clear, right in the return statement. If the only return is at the end of the function, you have to find all the places that can set the returned value, and figure out whether that value survives to the end of the function or gets updated.

                                    Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
                                    The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

                                    <p><a href="https://github.com/GregUtas/robust-services-core/blob/master/README.md">Robust Services Core</a>
                                    <em>The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.</em></p>

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • N Nelek

                                      If the return is within an "check initialized stuff" at the beginning... nothing. If there are 3 or more returns... it might get so confusing / convoluted as having only one at the end.

                                      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.

                                      Greg UtasG Offline
                                      Greg UtasG Offline
                                      Greg Utas
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #31

                                      Sure, but that's just convoluted code. Prolonging the confusion by also having to reach the end of the function is only going to make things worse.

                                      Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
                                      The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

                                      <p><a href="https://github.com/GregUtas/robust-services-core/blob/master/README.md">Robust Services Core</a>
                                      <em>The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.</em></p>

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • R Rick York

                                        If you have allocated anything that is not an automatic object that can be risky. I have dealt with a few customers who had explicit code-style prohibitions against multiple return statements. Given the rest of the nonsense we had to deal with from them that was pretty much ignored. I hated those SFBs so much I refuse to buy any of their products ever again. To give a clue, they used to be referred to as a purveyor of expensive ink.

                                        "They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

                                        Greg UtasG Offline
                                        Greg UtasG Offline
                                        Greg Utas
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #32

                                        Good point about automatic objects. Fortunately, C++ now has unique_ptr, but some languages might not have an equivalent.

                                        Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
                                        The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.

                                        <p><a href="https://github.com/GregUtas/robust-services-core/blob/master/README.md">Robust Services Core</a>
                                        <em>The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.</em></p>

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • R Rick York

                                          I take a similar approach but I don't limit myself to just one return there. I let each sanity check have its own return statement because I find easier to deal with when debugging. Following the input sanitization I try to not have any returns unless a value is returned and then only at the bottom.

                                          "They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

                                          C Offline
                                          C Offline
                                          Chris Maunder
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #33

                                          Rick York wrote:

                                          I let each sanity check have its own return statement

                                          Full disclosure: I do the same if it makes it cumbersome / ugly otherwise. But one test/return section at the top.

                                          cheers Chris Maunder

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