Ways to show your co-programmers that some methods

Question

What approaches can you use when:

• you work with several (e.g. 1-3) other programmers over a small C++ project, you use a single repository
• you create a class, declare its methods
• you don't have a time do implement all methods yet
• you don't want other programmers to use your code yet (because it's not implemented yet); or don't want to use not-yet-implemented parts of the code
• you don't have a time/possibility to tell about all such not-yet-implemented stuff to you co-workers
• when your co-workers use your not-yet-implemented code you want them to immediately realize that they shouldn't use it yet - if they get an error you don't want them to wonder what's wrong, search for potential bugs etc.

Answer 1

Assert is the best way. Assert that doesn't terminate the program is even better, so that a coworker can continue to test his code without being blocked by your function stubs, and he stays perfectly informed about what's not implemented yet.

In case that your IDE doesn't support smart asserts or persistent breakpoints here is simple implementation (c++):

#ifdef _DEBUG
    // 0xCC - int 3 - breakpoint
    // 0x90 - nop? 
    #define DebugInt3 __emit__(0x90CC)
    #define DEBUG_ASSERT(expr) ((expr)? ((void)0): (DebugInt3) )
#else
    #define DebugInt3
    #define DEBUG_ASSERT(expr) assert(expr)
#endif

    //usage
    void doStuff()
    {
        //here the debugger will stop if the function is called 
        //and your coworker will read your message
        DEBUG_ASSERT(0); //TODO: will be implemented on the next week; 
                         //postcondition number 2 of the doStuff is not satisfied;
                         //proceed with care /Johny J.
    }

Advantages:

1. code compiles and runs
2. a developer get a message about what's not implemented if and only if he runs into your code during his testing, so he'll not get overwhelmed with unnecessary information
3. the message points to the related code (not to exception catch block or whatever). Call stack is available, so one can trace down the place where he invokes unfinished piece of code.
4. a developer after receiving the message can continue his test run without restarting the program

Disadvantages:

1. To disable a message one have to comment out a line of code. Such change can possibly sneak in the commit.

P.S. Credits for initial DEBUG_ASSERT implementation go to my co-worker E. G.

Answer 2

Declare it. Dont implemented it. When the programmer use to call the unimplemented part of code linker complains, which is the clear hit to the programmer.

class myClass
{
    int i;
public:
    void print(); //NOt yet implemented
    void display()
    {
        cout<<"I am implemented"<<endl;
    }
};

int main()
{
    myClass var;
    var.display();
    var.print(); // **This line gives the linking error and hints user at early stage.**
    return 0;
}

Answer 3

I would not check it into the repository.

Answer 4

You should either, just not commit the code, or better yet, commit it to a development branch so that it is at least off your machine in case of catastrophic failure of your box.

This is what I do at work with my git repo. I push my work at the end of the day to a remote repo (not the master branch). My coworker is aware that these branches are super duper unstable and not to be touched with a ten foot pole unless he really likes to have broken branches.

Git is super handy for this situation as is, I imagine, other dvcs with cheap branching. Doing this in SVN or worse yet CVS would mean pain and suffering.

Answer 5

You can use pure virtual functions (= 0;) for inherited classes, or more commonly, declare them but not define them. You can't call a function with no definition.

Answer 6

The simplest answer is to tell them. Communication is key whenever you're working with a group of people.

A more robust (and probably the best) option is to create your own branch to develop the new feature and only merge it back in when it's complete.

However, if you really want your methods implemented in the main source tree but don't want people using them, stub them out with an exception or assertion.