Code Smell 09 - Dead Code

TL;DR: Do not keep code "just in case I need it".

Maintainability

Remove the code

Gold plating code or Yagni code.

Coverage tools can find dead code (uncovered) if you have a great suite of tests.

Avoid metaprogramming. When used, it is very difficult to find references to the code.

Unnecessary

Remove dead code for simplicity. If you are uncertain of your code, you can temporarily disable it using Feature Toggle. Removing code is always more rewarding than adding.

Photo by Ray Shrewsberry on Pixabay

This article is part of the CodeSmell Series.