General Considerations in Using Data ------------------------------------------------------------------------ General Data * Do all variables have the smallest scope possible? * Are references to variables close together? * Do control structures match the corresponding data structures? * Does each variable have one and only one purpose? * Is each variable's meaning explicit, avoiding hidden meanings? * Are all the variables that have been declared, used? Global Data * Are all variables local unless they absolutely need to be global? * Do variable names differentiate between local, module, and global data? * Are all global variables documented? * Is the code free from pseudo-global data, big data structures containing a mishmash of data that's passed to every routine? * Are access routines used instead of global data? * Are access routines and data organized into modules, rather than lumping all global data and access routines together? * Do access routines provide a level of abstraction beyond their underlying data? * Are all related access routines at the same level of abstraction? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © 1996-1998 Construx Software Builders, Inc.