I know that naming variables is one of the biggest unsolved problems of Computer Science but how would you name a boolean flag to be self explanatory? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by linucs@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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What I mean is: some boolean flags are perfect for the real world phenomenon they are representing e.g. is_light_on makes you understand perfectly that when it is true the light is on and when it is false the light is off.

There are other cases in which if you didn't write the code and you don't read any additional documentation, everything is not clear just by looking at the variable name e.g. is_person_standing, when true it's clear what that means but when false, is the person sitting? Lying? Kneeling?

I'm obviously not talking about cases in which there are more states, boolean would of course not be a good solution in those cases. I'm talking about programs in which there are only two states but it's not obvious, without external knowledge, which ones they are.

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[-] hostops@sh.itjust.works 18 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

One should not use boolean just because variable has only two states.

I believe when you use boolean when enum should be used is called "boolean blindness".

Eg: isFemale instead of enum Sex {MALE;FEMALE} It also gives you an option to simply extend code if requirements change and there are more than two options.

this post was submitted on 15 May 2024

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