H.4  Streamlining Code with Local Routines

How SheerPower Local Routines Make Code Easier to Manage

SheerPower’s local routines are designed to make breaking up large routines into smaller pieces fast, safe, and clean. They reduce bugs and simplify development.

1. Direct Access to Parent Variables

   Local routines inherit the variable scope of their parent. You can use any variable from the parent routine directly, without passing it as a parameter. This reduces complexity and eliminates boilerplate.

2. Logical Task Separation

   Each local routine handles a focused task but stays tied to the main routine logically. This makes the code easier to understand, since unrelated tasks aren’t mixed together.

3. No Global Namespace Pollution

   Local routines can only be invoked from inside their parent routine. This disallows accidental use elsewhere and avoids name conflicts in the global scope.

4. Simple Refactoring

   You can move sections of a large routine into local routines without needing to rewrite variables or handle lengthy parameter passing. It’s fast, clean, and safe.

   private routine process_file open file in\_ch: name "data.txt" total\_count = 0 valid\_count = 0 do local read\_data if eof? then exit do local validate\_data local update\_counts loop close #in\_ch end routine local routine read\_data line input #in\_ch, eof eof?: line\$ end routine local routine validate\_data if line\$ = "" then return end routine local routine update\_counts total\_count++ if line\$ = "valid\_pattern" then valid\_count++ end routine

5. Clear Structure Enforced by Compiler

   Local routines must be defined after their parent calls them, but outside of the parent itself. This enforces a logical structure without being restrictive— for example, you can group all your local routines at the end of the file. If a local routine is ever called from outside its parent, SheerPower gives a compile-time error.

6. Easier Debugging

   By isolating specific logic into local routines, you can more easily track down bugs. Smaller units are easier to test and diagnose than large blocks of code.

7. Improved Readability

   Splitting large routines into local routines is easy to do and creates a clean top-down view. The parent shows the overall logic, while the local routines handle the details.