Comments on: Reasons Why You Should Use a Function

By: James Hare

James Hare — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:42:15 +0000

SeanJA : If you are using enough functions and classes to slow down your code noticeably then you are doing something wrong...

I completely agree with your point Sean. I would imagine that this blog is generally written with the type of user in mind that creates and administers small/medium size web applications. In these cases, the myraid benefits of clean, portable code far outstrip any concerns that 'the result came back in 12ms rather than 8ms'. The users won't notice the difference; but the designer certainly will when he/she comes to code their next project... Obviously enterprise-scale applications have a whole different set of rules; but thankfully I get to dodge that bullet!

By: SeanJA

SeanJA — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:05:25 +0000

If you are using enough functions and classes to slow down your code noticeably then you are doing something wrong. That said, I would never do the add() function… it lends itself to writing things like:

add(add(add(add(add(1,2),3),4),5),6)

which is far less readable than

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6

By: admin

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:54:47 +0000

Good point, I meant for ease of improving performance functions help. It’s more practical to recode a routine with a more efficient algorithm and have it update where ever the function is being used, than having to search out every piece of code and update it. A single optimization benefits the whole code. But you are right, use function sparingly, just be smart about it if it is going to save you time.

By: EllisGL

EllisGL — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:34:50 +0000

Actually, functions and classes slow down execution of code, class more so. If you want the performance, only use functions for recursion. Of course for the best performance, create extensions for everything you are doing!