Programming Principles
What does YAGNI mean?
You Aren’t Gonna Need It)
- Don’t add features or functionality until you actually need them.
-Meaning: Avoid “just in case” code that isn’t required right now — it adds complexity and maintenance cost.
-Don’t write extra methods or classes for future scenarios that might never come.
Push
Purpose: Send (upload) your local commits to a remote repository (like GitHub).
Meaning: Shares your saved changes with others.
Repository
A Git repository is a storage space that holds all your project’s files and the complete history of every change.
Think of it as: A folder that Git tracks.
Contains: Your source code, Commit history, Branches and tags
What does KISS mean?
KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid)
-Don’t overcomplicate code.
-Meaning: Choose the simplest possible solution that works — avoid unnecessary abstractions or clever tricks.
-Example: Prefer clear loops over complex one-liners.
Merge
Purpose: Combine changes from one branch into another.
Meaning: Merges the history of two branches together.
Local repository
Definition: The copy of the repository that lives on your computer.
Purpose: Where you make changes, commit them, and test before sharing.
What does CRUD mean?
CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
-Basic operations for persistent data management.
-Code dealing with data should clearly implement these four core operations and nothing more unless needed.
-Database APIs or REST endpoints often map directly to CRUD actions (POST, GET, PUT, DELETE).
Pull
Purpose: Fetch and merge changes from the remote repository into your local one.
Meaning: Updates your local files to match what’s on GitHub or the shared repo.
Remote repository
Definition: The copy of the repository that lives on a server, usually on platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
Purpose: To share code and collaborate with others.
What is Separation of Concern (SoC)?
-Each part of your program should handle a specific concern.
-Meaning: Divide code into distinct sections/modules, each with a well-defined purpose.
-Keep business logic separate from user interface and database logic.
Commit
Purpose: Save your changes locally (in your own repository).
Meaning: A commit is like a checkpoint or “save point” of your work.
Staging area
Definition: A temporary holding area where you prepare changes before committing them.
Think of it as: A “to-be-committed” list.
What is DRY?
DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself)
-Eliminate duplicate code.
-Meaning: Common logic should live in one place reuse it instead of copying it.
-Example: Extract repeated calculations into a shared utility method.