Re: Code Maintainability

[mikeraz]

I also prefer to test predicates at the end of a line: it makes it read more like a conversation. For example:

 if ($DEBUG) { print STDERR "Debug: some value"; }

is pretty clear, but if we re-write that one line, it becomes more of a conversation with the maintainer:

 print STDERR "Debug: some value" if $DEBUG;

Notice how well it flows in English: do this if that is very much what we say to one another all day in the real world. If this that is very much how one expects a computer to talk, not a real person.

Really? I frequently encounter

if( $Going_by_the_grocery_store ) { pickup_milk(); }
   or
if( $in_my_town ) { meet_for_beer(); }

Perhaps a regional difference in speaking patterns.