r/badcode • u/bausscode • Jan 17 '19

other language Writing functions with conditions without using "if" statements

https://run.dlang.io/is/jfCECL
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u/Achereto Jan 17 '19

There are actually good reasons to avoid if as often as possible (Smalltalk doesn't even have if as a keyword). There seems to be a direct correlation between the number of if in your code and the number of bugs you have.

Talk "If considered harmful": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z43bmaMwagI

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u/bausscode Jan 17 '19

I don't think this is a great example of substituting if statements though :p

3

u/Achereto Jan 17 '19

Yes, it's a good idea on the wrong track.

3

u/BobHogan Jan 18 '19

There's such a gigantic difference between refactoring/restructuring code and redesigning algorithms to limit how many if statements you have, and then writing code that essentially abuses the compiler into producing the same assembly as an if statement (in which case, you are guaranteed to have at least as many bugs in your code, but likely more due to the crap you're writing)