Missing documentation

Properly documenting the usage of methods is essential for several reasons, and it contributes significantly to the overall quality and maintainability of a codebase.

Improved Code Readability

Clarity of Purpose: Documentation helps clarify the purpose and functionality of a method. When developers understand what a method is intended to do, it reduces confusion and makes the code easier to read and comprehend. Self-Explanatory Code: Well-documented methods can serve as a form of self-explanatory code, allowing others (or even the original author at a later time) to quickly grasp the method’s intent without needing to dive deeply into the implementation details.

Easier Maintenance

Simplified Updates: When methods are well-documented, it becomes easier to maintain and update the code. Developers can quickly understand how a method interacts with other parts of the codebase, making it simpler to implement changes without introducing bugs. Reduced Onboarding Time: New team members can ramp up more quickly when methods are documented. They can refer to the documentation to understand how to use existing methods and what to expect from them, reducing the time needed for onboarding.

Enhanced Collaboration

Team Communication: Documentation serves as a communication tool among team members. It provides a shared understanding of how methods should be used, which is especially important in collaborative environments where multiple developers work on the same codebase. Consistency in Usage: When methods are documented, it encourages consistent usage across the codebase. Developers are more likely to follow documented guidelines, leading to a more uniform coding style and behavior.

Facilitated Testing

Clear Expectations: Well-documented methods outline the expected inputs, outputs, and behavior, making it easier to write tests. Testers can refer to the documentation to understand what scenarios to cover and what edge cases to consider. Easier Debugging: When issues arise, having clear documentation helps developers quickly identify where things might be going wrong, as they can refer back to the documented behavior of the method.

Better API Design

User Guidance: For public-facing methods or APIs, documentation provides guidance to users on how to effectively use the methods. This includes details on parameters, return values, exceptions, and usage examples. Encouraging Best Practices: Good documentation can promote best practices by providing examples of how to use methods correctly, helping users avoid common pitfalls.

Long-Term Code Quality

Sustained Code Quality: Over time, as codebases evolve, well-documented methods help ensure that the original intent and functionality are preserved. This contributes to the long-term quality and reliability of the code. Facilitating Refactoring: When refactoring code, having documentation allows developers to understand the original design decisions and intended functionality, making it easier to improve the code without losing its essence.

Codemod

The following codemod goes through all the methods in the codebase, it finds functions without a docstring, and generates a docstring for each of them.

functions_without_docstring = 0
# Iterate over all functions in the codebase
for function in codebase.functions:
    # Check if the function has a docstring
    if function.docstring is None:
        # Generate a docstring for the function
        new_docstring = codebase.ai(f"Generate a docstring for the function {function.name} with the following content:
{function.source}", target=function)
        function.set_docstring(new_docstring)
        functions_without_docstring += 1

print(f"Found and fixed {functions_without_docstring} functions without a docstring")