Minimize number of methods

Minimize the number of messages in the protocol of a class. --Riel's Heuristic 2.3, Arthur Riel 1996

This heuristic ensures that you can always find the method that you are looking for, and enhances reusability. This is tied to the idea of You ain't gonna need it - don't implement methods until you need them.

An opposing force is Behavioral completeness.

See also

• Riel's heuristics
• Fat interfaces
• Avoid interface bloat
• Avoid interface pollution