Is It Refactor Wars Time Yet?

Ben Buchanan, Sydjs 2011.05.18

Some background

• We're not all ninja-level JS devs (certainly not me!).
• That's ok. Repeat after me: everyone was a newbie once!
• I am keen for Sydjs to help both the ninja and the n00b.

Refactoring

• It's one thing to write code from scratch.
• It's something else entirely to work on existing code.

Thoughts on refactoring

• Refactoring is not measured purely in lines of code!
• Consider readability, reuse, reliability, performance...
• It's an iterative process that's never really over.

What's awesome about it for Sydjs?

Seeing how people refactor your code is a great way to learn.

What's daunting about it for Sydjs?

Showing n00b code to ninjas is scary, so be nice! :)

Code time!

• The task: have several people refactor an existing, working, but flawed script.
• The point: a way for Sydjs to share knowledge between the ninjas and newbies.
• The target: http://isitlaksatimeyet.200ok.com.au/

isitlaksatimeyet.200ok.com.au

• Simple countdown according to user's local time
• Shows a series of "are we there yet?" messages as Laksa Time approaches
• Written quickly, never refactored!

The Refactor Warriors and their code

(For reference, the original version of the code and as a bonus, although not presented on the night, my eventual refactor which now runs on the site)

• Lindsay "Baconator" Evans (github) (demo)
• Chris "Daz" Darroch (gist) (demo: No jQuery) (demo: Zepto)
• Steve "The Haff" Haffenden (github) (demo)
• Gabe "The Barista" Hollombe (gist) (raw coffee) (ground coffee) (demo)

thanks to our incredibly generous refactor warriors for giving their time!

Code is up at isitlaksatimeyet.200ok.com.au/refactor/