Software Engineering Guidelines

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What is the primary purpose of identifying red flags in code design?

To identify potential design problems that can make the codebase harder to understand, modify, and maintain

What is the primary benefit of using good abstractions in system design?

Good abstractions make systems easier to understand, modify, and maintain.

What is the consequence of a system with high coupling and low cohesion, as a result of poor design?

Change amplification, making systems harder to modify and maintain.

How does the concept of abstraction relate to the 'Shallow Module' red flag?

A shallow module lacks abstraction, providing little abstraction or encapsulation Signup and view all the answers

How does high cognitive load affect system development and maintenance?

It increases the likelihood of bugs and slows down development. Signup and view all the answers

What design principle is violated in the case of 'Information Leakage'?

Separation of concerns Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary issue with an API that exhibits 'Overexposure'?

It forces users to be aware of rarely-used features in order to use common ones, adding unnecessary complexity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a deep module in software design?

A deep module provides a lot of functionality behind a simple, easy-to-understand interface. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main approach to error handling in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

Define errors and special cases out of existence where possible, and aggregate or mask exceptions rather than propagating them. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of a 'Pass-Through Method' on code maintainability?

It adds little value and makes the code harder to maintain Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary principle of information hiding in software design?

The internal details of a component or system are kept hidden from the rest of the system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of good design practices, such as keeping modules focused and using clear naming conventions?

To reduce cognitive load. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary principle for naming conventions in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

Choose precise, descriptive, and consistent names. Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of 'Repetition' in code?

Significant amount of code is repeated verbatim or nearly verbatim in multiple places Signup and view all the answers

Why is premature optimization discouraged in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

Because it can lead to unnecessary complexity and detract from the primary goal of writing clean, readable code. Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of poor design, resulting in high cognitive load and change amplification?

It makes systems harder to modify and maintain. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it a good practice to separate special-case code from general-purpose code?

To make the main flow easier to follow and understand Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of comments in code, and how does 'Comment Repeats Code' violate this purpose?

Comments should add new information, not simply restate what the code already makes clear Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of using abstractions and information hiding in software design?

It helps to minimize change amplification and reduce cognitive load. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of writing comments in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

To describe things not obvious from the code, and to provide context and explanation for the design decisions made. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key principle for designing modules in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

Design modules to be deep, not shallow, and hide complexity behind simple interfaces. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of abstraction in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

Abstraction provides a simplified view of a system or component, capturing essential information while hiding unnecessary details. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of testing in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

Write unit tests consistently to ensure the code is correct and functioning as intended. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the design process in Dossiers' software engineering guidelines?

To make the code obvious, and to optimize for reading, not writing. Signup and view all the answers