I'm working on a web app where a User entity can have multiple roles, and I have different dashboards showing users based on their roles. I'm debating whether to implement a single method to fetch all users, with an optional filter for roles, or if I should create separate methods for each role retrieval. While a single method seems efficient, I'm concerned about complexities that could arise if the dashboards have unique features like sorting or additional filters. The alternative would seem to align better with the Single Responsibility Principle (SRP), but it could lead to challenges when making updates across multiple methods if features change. What's the best way to implement SRP in this context? Any advice would be great!
4 Answers
For me, I would go with a `getUsers` method that has an optional parameter for roles. If no role is specified, it fetches all users. SRP is important, but don’t force it so much that you create duplicate methods with minor differences. Save your effort for when those functionalities really diverge down the line; for now, keeping it simple is key.
Exactly! Trying to force SRP when the two methods do almost the same thing isn’t practical.
I think both your options are more about fetching users than strictly adhering to SRP. The distinction is that your dashboard's responsibilities also include displaying data for users. I’d recommend pulling logic into a separate class just for getting users, so your dashboard can focus on displaying info as needed. Keep responsibilities clear!
The Single Responsibility Principle (SRP) is all about having a method focus on one responsibility, which in your case is fetching users. It’s perfectly fine for the method to take parameters for things like filtering. You could abstract the filtering logic out into its own function, so changes to the filter don't affect your user-fetching method. This way, you maintain SRP while keeping your code clean and flexible.
Honestly, if your logic is gonna change based on user types, I'd suggest having at least two methods. But don't sweat it too much if you have to modify multiple methods for new features down the line. If you structure it smartly with a controlling method to handle the different user types, you can refactor as you go! Think about using inheritance for user types, too; it can make calls much cleaner depending on the user class.
So you're suggesting that we should only refactor to separate functions when the dashboard logic becomes too complex? That makes sense!