1. Handle the code
Development Techniques Seminar
s03e02

2. Outline
Scoping concept
Components and Packages
Modules and Classes
Examples

3. Scoping Concept (i)
Scope is an enclosing context where variables and functions are
associated
Defines the visibility and accessibility of code
If you are not defining your scope properly you risk that somebody
modifies/accesses attributes or methods without your code knowing
about it
Always provide lowest visibility possible to ensure that responsibilities
are correctly assigned

4. Scoping Concept (ii)
By assigning responsibilities, the class or method is responsible for
providing an interface to modify / provide access to attributes &
methods
Allows you to design by contract where given an input you will get an
output. The encapsulated code will execute, as part of the contract, all
pre-conditions, perform the action, all post-conditions and produce the
output in the agreed format

5. Organizing your Code (i)
An individual component is a software package or a module that encapsulates a set of
related functions (or data). It provides an interface so others can interact with it,
specifying the services that can be used.
A client doesn't need to know the inner working of another component (i.e.
encapsulation principle)
In practice, a component maybe formed of an object or collection of objects (i.e.
one or more classes).
The above makes them substitutable so they can easily be replaced by another
one (upgraded version, etc)
They provide reusability so they need to be well tested and thoroughly document
to make the easy to use
Effectively you can glue together several components to provide a functionality

6. Organizing your Code (ii)
A module is just producing a piece of software more scalable and maintainable
by having separated concerns and maximizing functional decoupling from one
module to another.
A class is a base construct used in object oriented programming. It may be
considered as a cohesive package which has an interface and a structure (out of
the scope of this talk).
A package is intended to be an archive format to be installed or be a self-
sufficient module. It typically contains meta-information such as its description,
version, dependencies, and documentation.

8. Scoping Example (i)
class MyClass {
private $amSafe;
protected $amNotThatSafe;
public $ohNoSomebodyHelpMe;
...
}
$a = new MyClass();
Variable can only be
$a->amSafe = 'no way!'; modified if MyClass has
$a->setAmSafe('nice'); authorized it by providing
a setter

9. Scoping Example (ii)
Here you have no control on who and when changes this
$a->ohNoSomebodyHelpMe = 'exposed';
A new developer comes in and creates:
class AmEvil extends MyClass {
public function public setAmNotThatSafe($val) {
...
}
...
}
This setter is now providing unrestricted public access to it:
$amEvil->setAmNotThatSafe('evil')

10. Scoping Example (iii) - in JavaScript
Not scoping in JavaScript is scary
Non-scoped variables became assigned to 'window'
Hoisting principles apply
References to DOM elements within closures will leak
not scoped
Typo variables --> JavaScript will never complain, it will
just create a new global variable in 'window' for you :)
If you get in the habit of declaring variables within a
scope, your IDE will be on your side
NetBeans highlights in green if a variable has not been
declared within your scope.

11. Globals Example
Global variables produce confusing code and they can be
overriden mistakenly
$a = 1;
$b = 1;
function myFunc() {
global $a; Use a singleton class
$a = 2; // or $GLOBALS['a']
$b = 2;
encapsulating variables
} instead
myFunc();
echo $a; // 2
echo $b; // 1

12. Namespace Example
Avoid clashes with existing classes and methods. This is
vital especially when using 3rd party components
Allows structuring the code into components by
packaging them in a hierarchy.
Note that it is also
PHP example: important for the first
element in path to be
namespace TuentiDisplay; the company name.
class showSomething() { ... } This way we eliminate
the risks of clashing
modules
Using it:
echo TuentiDisplayshowSomething();
In this way, it won't clash with another 3rd party:
ThirdPartyDisplayshowSomething();

13. In Summary...
Allows you to write safer and less error prone code
Your code will be more reusable and scalable
Avoid mysterious bugs and variables disappearing just to find out that
something was actually being overwritten.
More structured code makes it easier for new comers to embrace the
code
Classes that have attributes and methods with just the minimum
visibility they need means simpler and easier to understand interfaces

14. Questions?
Prem Gurbani
prem@tuenti.com