Quality terms
Because working code and good code are not the same thing
Code that works today but cannot be understood, tested, or modified tomorrow is a liability, not an asset. Code quality covers metrics, static analysis, design principles like SOLID and DRY, refactoring techniques, and the habits that separate codebases teams love from ones they dread maintaining. Good quality is not about perfection — it is about making the next change easier than the last.
Code Readability Metrics
Readability can be measured — cyclomatic complexity, cognitive complexity (SonarQube), lines per function, parameter count, and nesting depth are all quantifiable proxies for readability.
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Extract Class Refactoring
Extract Class splits a large class into two — moving a cohesive subset of fields and methods into a new class that the original delegates to.
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IoC Container PHP 7.0+
An Inversion of Control container automatically resolves and injects class dependencies — you declare what a class needs, the container figures out how to create it, eliminating manual dependency wiring.
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Method Chaining Pitfalls & Alternatives
Method chaining (fluent interfaces) improves readability for builders but creates debugging difficulties, encourages temporal coupling, and can hide null returns.
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Reducing Cyclomatic Complexity Techniques
Cyclomatic complexity counts independent code paths — reduce it by early returns, extracting conditions to named functions, using lookup tables, and replacing switch/if chains with polymorphism.
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Refactoring Boolean Flag Parameters
Boolean flags as function parameters obscure intent — replace with enums, separate functions, or named options objects for self-documenting APIs.
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Types of Code Duplication (Clone vs Semantic)
Not all duplication is equal — clone duplication (copy-paste) always warrants extraction, but semantic duplication (similar logic, different context) may be acceptable.
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Abstract Factory Pattern PHP 5.0+
Creates families of related objects ensuring they are used together consistently without mixing implementations.
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Active Record Pattern PHP 5.0+
A design pattern where a database row is wrapped in an object that includes both the data and the persistence logic — the object knows how to save, update, and delete itself.
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Dead Condition PHP 5.0+
A boolean condition that is always true or always false due to logic errors, making the branch either always execute or never execute.
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Fluent Builder Pattern
Returns $this from each setter enabling method chaining — used in query builders, test factories, and configuration objects.
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Gateway Pattern
A class that encapsulates access to an external system or resource — wrapping HTTP APIs, queues, or legacy systems behind a clean interface that the rest of the application uses.
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Global Variable Abuse PHP 5.0+
Using global variables or the global keyword to share state between functions — making code unpredictable, untestable, and impossible to reason about.
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Low Cohesion
A class or module that does many unrelated things — high coupling's counterpart, making code hard to understand, test, and reuse.
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Memento Pattern PHP 5.0+
A behavioural pattern that captures an object's internal state and stores it externally so it can be restored later — enabling undo, snapshots, and versioning without exposing internals.
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Prototype Pattern PHP 5.0+
Creating new objects by cloning a prototype — fast when object creation is expensive and variations are needed.
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Table Module Pattern
One class per database table handling all logic — a pragmatic middle ground between Transaction Script and full Domain Model.
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Transaction Script Pattern
A pattern where each business operation is a single procedure — simple, linear, and appropriate for straightforward workflows without complex domain logic.
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Builder Pattern PHP 5.0+ Constructs complex objects step-by-step using a fluent interface, separating construction from representation.
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Chain of Responsibility Pattern PHP 5.0+ Passes a request along a chain of handlers, each deciding whether to process it or pass it to the next handler.
2mo ago
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