Why boolean parameters make code harder to read (and what to use instead)
By
https://allthingssmitty.com/about/
Crackles when you bite it. Shows the baker did the work.
Summary
The article discusses the readability problem of boolean parameters (flags) in function calls, using JavaScript examples like `createUser(user, true, false)`. The author argues that passing raw boolean values makes code hard to read because the reader has to jump to the function definition to understand what each `true`/`false` means. The article advocates for using options objects or named parameters instead, which make the intent of each argument explicit at the call site.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI'm not reading code anymore, I'm decoding it
createUser(user, true, false); What does that mean? Is the user an admin? Are we sending a welcome email, or skipping validation?
Tiny interruption. Still annoying every time.
Every so often I open a PR and see something like this: deployFeature(flag, true, false, true); I run into it more often than I'd like. Not because it's complicated. Just because I have no idea what I'm looking at.
You might also wanna read
Why booleans are overused in programming and what to use instead
The article argues that booleans (true/false values) are overused in programming and should often be replaced with more expressive types lik
Why "Fits on a Floppy" remains a relevant measure of software quality in 2026
The article discusses the "Fits on a Floppy" manifesto, which advocates for small, compact, and comprehensible software in an era dominated
Aperio: A Programming Language Optimized for LLM-Driven Workflows
This article introduces Aperio, a programming language designed specifically for LLM-driven workflows. It argues that languages designed bef
Embed AI Agents Into Software, Don't Treat Them as Coworkers
This article argues that AI agents should not be treated as coworkers or standalone tools, but rather embedded directly into software system
CodeHealth MCP Server: A Local Tool for Improving AI-Generated Code Quality and Reducing Technical Debt
CodeHealth MCP Server is a tool that helps AI coding assistants and agents produce maintainable, production-ready code by providing determin
Building Maintainable Codebases with Semantic Functions
The article discusses the importance of self-documenting code and how structuring code through semantic functions—minimal, focused functions
