The Pragmatic Programmer - How to Generate Code

We continue our dive into The Pragmatic Programmer and debate when is it text manipulation vs code generation as Joe can’t read his bill, Michael makes a painful recommendation, and Allen’s gaming lives up to Southern expectations.

In case you’re reading these show notes via your podcast player, you can find this episode’s full show notes at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode112 and join in on the conversation.

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Blurring the Text Manipulation Line

Text Manipulation

• Programmers manipulate text the same way woodworkers shape wood.
  • Text manipulation tools are like routers: noisy, messy, brutish.
• You can use text manipulation tools to trim the data into shape.
  • Once you master them, they can provide an impressive amount of finesse.
• Alternative is to build a more polished tool, check it in, test it, etc.

Tip 28

• Learn a Text Manipulation Language.

Code Generators

• When you have a repetitive task, why not generate it?
• The generated code takes away complexity and reduces errors.
• And it’s reuse has little to no additional cost.

Tip 29

• Write Code That Writes Code.

There are two types of code generators:

1. Passive code generators are run once (scaffolding).
2. Active code generators are used each time they are required.

Passive code generators save typing by automating…

• New files from a template, i.e. the “File -> New” experience.
• One off conversions (one language to another).