🖥️ Pull Request Mystery

While reviewing a pull request recently, I encountered an interesting scenario:

The pull request seemed pretty routine:

* Code Understandability: The code was easy to follow. Each function and line was logical and clear.
* Thematic Consistency: The code pieces fit together well, maintaining a consistent theme throughout.
* Structured Approach: The structure was well-organized, making it easy to navigate.

Despite these positive aspects, I was unsure if the code would accomplish its intended goal. This uncertainty stemmed not from the code's clarity, but from something else.

🔍 Identifying the Issue – Locality:

The challenge was in the code's locality. The changes made were not widespread - they were limited to a small set of files and function.

However, the outcome of the PR was dependent on parts of the codebase far from the immediate modifications. It was hard to know how that code would be affected by the changes in the PR. As a reviewer, it made it quite hard to do a good job.

A short term solution would be to figure out how the remote code worked and understand the impact of the changes.

However, the better solution would be to refactor the code and either bring those components closer together, or create/document the interface points between those modules to better understand their interactions.

🤔 Reflecting on the Importance of Locality:

This pull request review was more than just a routine task; it was a learning opportunity about the importance of code locality. Good coding practices involve not only writing clear and structured code but also considering how changes can impact the broader system. Focusing on enhancing locality can lead to improvements in both the predictability and maintainability of software.