The One Thing Every Developer Should Know
Tags: javascript, productivity, career, learning
Published: 2023-12-18 22:11:30

## Introduction

Let's get to it: simplicity in coding. Imagine your code—clean, clear, easy to understand. That's simplicity. Whether you're a pro or just starting, simplicity is your companion. 

It turns your code from a puzzle into a straightforward conversation. Stick with me as we explore why simplicity isn't just a good idea; it's the fundamental thing every coder should embrace. Keep it straightforward, and let's enhance your coding journey together.

## Making unsimple code

Let's start with an example:

```js
// THIS CODE IS HORRIBLE
const fs = require('fs');

try {
  // Specify the file path
  const filePath = 'example.txt';

  // Read the file content synchronously
  const fileContent = fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8');

  // Print the content to the console
  console.log('File Content:', fileContent);
} catch (error) {
  // Handle any errors that might occur during file reading
  console.error('Error reading the file:', error.message);
}
```

This code is not simple. It's hard to follow and poorly organized. Where's the DRY (Don't repeat yourself!) and separation of concerns? Here's how a senior developer would code this in a fast moving tech job.

## The true solution

```txt
your-project-root
│
├── src
│   ├── services
│   │   ├── FileReaderService.js
│   │   └── ConsoleOutputService.js
│   │
│   ├── factories
│   │   ├── FileReadingFactory.js
│   │   └── OutputFactory.js
│   │
│   └── index.js
│
└── example.txt
```

This is starting to look better! We can clearly see at a glance of the file system what our program is doing. More importantly, we can see that our concerns are SEPARATE.

### FileReaderService.js

```js
const fs = require('fs');

class FileReaderService {
  constructor(filePath) {
    this.filePath = filePath;
  }

  readFile() {
    try {
      return fs.readFileSync(this.filePath, 'utf8');
    } catch (error) {
      throw new Error(`Error reading the file: ${error.message}`);
    }
  }
}

module.exports = FileReaderService;
```

### ConsoleOutputService.js

```js
class ConsoleOutputService {
  print(content) {
    console.log('File Content:', content);
  }
}

module.exports = ConsoleOutputService;
```

### FileReadingFactory.js

```js
const FileReaderService = require('../services/FileReaderService');

class FileReadingFactory {
  createFileReader(filePath) {
    return new FileReaderService(filePath);
  }
}

module.exports = FileReadingFactory;
```

### OutputFactory.js

```js
const ConsoleOutputService = require('../services/ConsoleOutputService');

class OutputFactory {
  createOutputService() {
    return new ConsoleOutputService();
  }
}

module.exports = OutputFactory;
```

### Making the simple program

Now that our dirty program is separated into smaller, more reusable parts- we can write an elegant solution for our business needs:

```js
const FileReadingFactory = require('./factories/FileReadingFactory');
const OutputFactory = require('./factories/OutputFactory');

try {
  const fileReadingFactory = new FileReadingFactory();
  const outputFactory = new OutputFactory();

  const fileReader = fileReadingFactory.createFileReader('../example.txt');
  const outputService = outputFactory.createOutputService();

  const fileContent = fileReader.readFile();
  outputService.print(fileContent);
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error.message);
}
```


The new,simple version introduces an elegant architecture, leveraging classes, factories, and services, creating a beautiful structure. 

For senior developers aspiring to excel, embracing this level of abstraction promotes scalability, maintainability, and an overall superior coding aesthetic. 

It's not just about code; it's about crafting a masterpiece that elevates the art of development. #CodeElegance #SeniorDevWisdom 🚀✨