Hall of fame

This page is an attempt to make sense of the overwhelming morass of OOD advice by classifying it by how valuable we consider it to be.

Inviolable laws

We the people hold these things to be absolute and inviolable laws of OO design. Anyone breaking these maxims should be publically mocked and made to program in COBOL forevermore.

• Goto considered harmful

Most excellent ideas

Everybody should know about these & try to follow them. Any exceptions need convincing justification.

• Design by contract

Helpful ideas

General knowledge that identifies forces that should normally be taken into consideratuion.

• Design patterns

Controversial ideas

Debatable propositions. Might help in some cases, but not everyone agrees.

• Call super

Wack ideas

These are wrong. Following this advice will make your designs worse.

• If it ain't broke don't fix it