Escaping the Code Maze

Exploring a code base is like navigating a maze with a partial map. While some paths are correctly indicated, some are mislabelled or turn out to be dead ends. Take a childless class not marked as final, for instance – the keyword’s absence is like a sign pointing to a dark tunnel leading nowhere.

How many such paths do we accidentally – or deliberately – leave open? This presentation introduces the Closed-by-Default Principle, a reframing of existing principles focussed on keeping those paths shut, relieving the developer’s cognitive load in the process.

It is also an exploration of PHP’s evolution over time, each version introducing features to keep the maze as navigable as possible. We’ll also see how to leverage static analysis tools to automate the corresponding rules, giving developers the assurance that all paths lead somewhere.

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