I've been assigned to update an API that's quite lengthy—around 600 lines of code. The issue is that it contains a lot of complicated SQL queries that make it hard for me to grasp what the API is doing at a fundamental level. I need a strategy to deconstruct it and understand the overall functionality before I can proceed with my updates. How should I tackle this?
5 Answers
Don't overcomplicate things at first. Just figure out a high-level workflow for what the API does. For example:
- Input: { xyz }
- Database to get customer info.
- Check stock.
- Calculate pricing and discounts.
- Create a transaction.
- Return output.
Once you map it out, you can dive deeper into each part like database interactions. It's all about understanding the overall goal first.
If time allows, consider refactoring! Cleaning up the code can make it way easier to understand. Just make sure to have tests ready for your existing logic!
Using AI could really help here! You can feed it snippets of your SQL and ask for explanations. Just give it some context about what you're working on, and it can break it down for you.
Honestly, 600 lines isn't too daunting. Are the SQL queries your main headache, or is there more complex processing as well? Just trying to get a sense of where you're stuck.
When I dive into complex code, I jot down the main actions as I go through it. Start with broad strokes: what inputs are there, what outputs do you get? Even something like:
1. Retrieve list of products.
2. Check stock.
3. Request purchase.
4. ???
5. Profit.
This helps you get a handle on each step before you get lost in the details. Also, creating a flowchart can make the data flow much clearer!
Yeah, flowcharts can be super helpful for grasping the big picture.