Hey everyone! I've been working on a few small projects using three.js and now I'm tackling a bigger project. The main challenge I'm facing is figuring out how to break things down and modularize my code effectively. I've got a solid understanding of JavaScript concepts from my smaller projects, but I find that the bigger project is overwhelming. It seems like I constantly have to think ahead about what functions might be needed rather than just focusing on the current tasks, which is frustrating. I've even tried using AI to help me learn modularization, but the responses come too fast and are too professional for me to grasp fully, making me lose sight of my original goal. I did experiment with creating smaller modules like importing and exporting functions, and I enjoyed that process. I'm looking for tutorials or hands-on resources that could help me improve in this area since my searches haven't yielded much help beyond simple examples. Any suggestions would be incredibly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
5 Answers
Identifying functions can be tricky for larger projects, but start with the core tasks your project needs to perform. As you code, keep an eye out for repeating patterns. Don't worry if you can't foresee everything at first—modularization is a gradual process that comes with experience.
Check out Martin Fowler's book on refactoring! It's super helpful for transitioning from big files to modular code. And remember the principle of 'low coupling, high cohesion'—that could guide your modularization process.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll look it up. That principle sounds really useful.
Remember that learning to modularize is a skill that improves over time through experience. The best way to learn is by actually working on projects and refining your code as you go. Reading about good patterns and principles can help, but nothing beats the hands-on experience of tackling messy code.
That makes sense! I’ve been stuck trying to perfect it right away, but I guess I just need to dive in and improve as I go.
It sounds like you're overthinking the planning aspect. Focus on getting something working first, even if it’s messy. As you develop, look for repetitive code or large functions and break those into modules as needed. This way, you can organize it retroactively rather than stressing about planning everything upfront.
What if my project has a lot of similar functions? How do I decide which ones go into a function versus a module?
Modularization can really simplify your project! It breaks down your code into focused sections, making it much easier to manage. I think about what each module should do and its inputs and outputs. Frameworks are useful too, as they help you structure larger applications. If you're stuck, let me know more about your specific challenges!
I want to modularize without relying on frameworks, since most of my work is vanilla JS. What specifics should I consider?
Oh, I get it now! I was stuck thinking I had to modularize all at once. Thanks for clarifying that!