Cognitive Complexity

Cognitive Complexity is a measure of how difficult a unit of code is to intuitively understand. Unlike Cyclomatic Complexity, which determines how difficult your code will be to test, Cognitive Complexity tells you how difficult your code will be to read and comprehend.

A method's cognitive complexity is based on a few simple rules:

• Code is not considered more complex when it uses shorthand that the language provides for collapsing multiple statements into one
• Code is considered more complex for each "break in the linear flow of the code"
• Code is considered more complex when "flow breaking structures are nested"

Further reading

• Cognitive Complexity docs
• Cognitive Complexity: A new way of measuring understandability

Checks that the ABC size of methods is not higher than the configured maximum. The ABC size is based on assignments, branches (method calls), and conditions. See http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?AbcMetric and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_Software_Metric.

Interpreting ABC size:

• <= 17 satisfactory
• 18..30 unsatisfactory
• > 30 dangerous

You can have repeated "attributes" calls count as a single "branch". For this purpose, attributes are any method with no argument; no attempt is meant to distinguish actual attr_reader from other methods.

Example: CountRepeatedAttributes: false (default is true)

# `model` and `current_user`, referenced 3 times each,
 # are each counted as only 1 branch each if
 # `CountRepeatedAttributes` is set to 'false'

 def search
   @posts = model.active.visible_by(current_user)
             .search(params[:q])
   @posts = model.some_process(@posts, current_user)
   @posts = model.another_process(@posts, current_user)

   render 'pages/search/page'
 end

This cop also takes into account AllowedMethods (defaults to []) And AllowedPatterns (defaults to [])

Checks the length of lines in the source code. The maximum length is configurable. The tab size is configured in the IndentationWidth of the Layout/IndentationStyle cop. It also ignores a shebang line by default.

This cop has some autocorrection capabilities. It can programmatically shorten certain long lines by inserting line breaks into expressions that can be safely split across lines. These include arrays, hashes, and method calls with argument lists.

If autocorrection is enabled, the following Layout cops are recommended to further format the broken lines. (Many of these are enabled by default.)

• ArgumentAlignment
• ArrayAlignment
• BlockAlignment
• BlockDelimiters
• BlockEndNewline
• ClosingParenthesisIndentation
• FirstArgumentIndentation
• FirstArrayElementIndentation
• FirstHashElementIndentation
• FirstParameterIndentation
• HashAlignment
• IndentationWidth
• MultilineArrayLineBreaks
• MultilineBlockLayout
• MultilineHashBraceLayout
• MultilineHashKeyLineBreaks
• MultilineMethodArgumentLineBreaks
• MultilineMethodParameterLineBreaks
• ParameterAlignment

Together, these cops will pretty print hashes, arrays, method calls, etc. For example, let's say the max columns is 25:

Example:

# bad
{foo: "0000000000", bar: "0000000000", baz: "0000000000"}

# good
{foo: "0000000000",
bar: "0000000000", baz: "0000000000"}

# good (with recommended cops enabled)
{
  foo: "0000000000",
  bar: "0000000000",
  baz: "0000000000",
}

Checks the length of lines in the source code. The maximum length is configurable. The tab size is configured in the IndentationWidth of the Layout/IndentationStyle cop. It also ignores a shebang line by default.

This cop has some autocorrection capabilities. It can programmatically shorten certain long lines by inserting line breaks into expressions that can be safely split across lines. These include arrays, hashes, and method calls with argument lists.

If autocorrection is enabled, the following Layout cops are recommended to further format the broken lines. (Many of these are enabled by default.)

• ArgumentAlignment
• ArrayAlignment
• BlockAlignment
• BlockDelimiters
• BlockEndNewline
• ClosingParenthesisIndentation
• FirstArgumentIndentation
• FirstArrayElementIndentation
• FirstHashElementIndentation
• FirstParameterIndentation
• HashAlignment
• IndentationWidth
• MultilineArrayLineBreaks
• MultilineBlockLayout
• MultilineHashBraceLayout
• MultilineHashKeyLineBreaks
• MultilineMethodArgumentLineBreaks
• MultilineMethodParameterLineBreaks
• ParameterAlignment

Together, these cops will pretty print hashes, arrays, method calls, etc. For example, let's say the max columns is 25:

Example:

# bad
{foo: "0000000000", bar: "0000000000", baz: "0000000000"}

# good
{foo: "0000000000",
bar: "0000000000", baz: "0000000000"}

# good (with recommended cops enabled)
{
  foo: "0000000000",
  bar: "0000000000",
  baz: "0000000000",
}

Checks the length of lines in the source code. The maximum length is configurable. The tab size is configured in the IndentationWidth of the Layout/IndentationStyle cop. It also ignores a shebang line by default.

This cop has some autocorrection capabilities. It can programmatically shorten certain long lines by inserting line breaks into expressions that can be safely split across lines. These include arrays, hashes, and method calls with argument lists.

If autocorrection is enabled, the following Layout cops are recommended to further format the broken lines. (Many of these are enabled by default.)

• ArgumentAlignment
• ArrayAlignment
• BlockAlignment
• BlockDelimiters
• BlockEndNewline
• ClosingParenthesisIndentation
• FirstArgumentIndentation
• FirstArrayElementIndentation
• FirstHashElementIndentation
• FirstParameterIndentation
• HashAlignment
• IndentationWidth
• MultilineArrayLineBreaks
• MultilineBlockLayout
• MultilineHashBraceLayout
• MultilineHashKeyLineBreaks
• MultilineMethodArgumentLineBreaks
• MultilineMethodParameterLineBreaks
• ParameterAlignment

Together, these cops will pretty print hashes, arrays, method calls, etc. For example, let's say the max columns is 25:

Example:

# bad
{foo: "0000000000", bar: "0000000000", baz: "0000000000"}

# good
{foo: "0000000000",
bar: "0000000000", baz: "0000000000"}

# good (with recommended cops enabled)
{
  foo: "0000000000",
  bar: "0000000000",
  baz: "0000000000",
}

Checks hash literal syntax.

It can enforce either the use of the class hash rocket syntax or the use of the newer Ruby 1.9 syntax (when applicable).

A separate offense is registered for each problematic pair.

The supported styles are:

• ruby19 - forces use of the 1.9 syntax (e.g. {a: 1}) when hashes have all symbols for keys
• hash_rockets - forces use of hash rockets for all hashes
• nomixedkeys - simply checks for hashes with mixed syntaxes
• ruby19nomixed_keys - forces use of ruby 1.9 syntax and forbids mixed syntax hashes

This cop has EnforcedShorthandSyntax option. It can enforce either the use of the explicit hash value syntax or the use of Ruby 3.1's hash value shorthand syntax.

The supported styles are:

• always - forces use of the 3.1 syntax (e.g. {foo:})
• never - forces use of explicit hash literal value
• either - accepts both shorthand and explicit use of hash literal value
• consistent - forces use of the 3.1 syntax only if all values can be omitted in the hash

Example: EnforcedStyle: ruby19 (default)

# bad
{:a => 2}
{b: 1, :c => 2}

# good
{a: 2, b: 1}
{:c => 2, 'd' => 2} # acceptable since 'd' isn't a symbol
{d: 1, 'e' => 2} # technically not forbidden

Example: EnforcedStyle: hash_rockets

# bad
{a: 1, b: 2}
{c: 1, 'd' => 5}

# good
{:a => 1, :b => 2}

Example: EnforcedStyle: nomixedkeys

# bad
{:a => 1, b: 2}
{c: 1, 'd' => 2}

# good
{:a => 1, :b => 2}
{c: 1, d: 2}

Example: EnforcedStyle: ruby19nomixed_keys

# bad
{:a => 1, :b => 2}
{c: 2, 'd' => 3} # should just use hash rockets

# good
{a: 1, b: 2}
{:c => 3, 'd' => 4}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: always (default)

# bad
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

# good
{foo:, bar:}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: never

# bad
{foo:, bar:}

# good
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: either

# good
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

# good
{foo: foo, bar:}

# good
{foo:, bar:}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: consistent

# bad - `foo` and `bar` values can be omitted
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

# bad - `bar` value can be omitted
{foo:, bar: bar}

# bad - mixed syntaxes
{foo:, bar: baz}

# good
{foo:, bar:}

# good - can't omit `baz`
{foo: foo, bar: baz}

Looks for trailing blank lines and a final newline in the source code.

Example: EnforcedStyle: final_newline (default)

# `final_newline` looks for one newline at the end of files.

# bad
class Foo; end

# EOF

# bad
class Foo; end # EOF

# good
class Foo; end
# EOF

Example: EnforcedStyle: finalblankline

# `final_blank_line` looks for one blank line followed by a new line
# at the end of files.

# bad
class Foo; end
# EOF

# bad
class Foo; end # EOF

# good
class Foo; end

# EOF

Checks for ambiguous block association with method when param passed without parentheses.

This cop can customize allowed methods with AllowedMethods. By default, there are no methods to allowed.

Example:

# bad
some_method a { |val| puts val }

Example:

# good
# With parentheses, there's no ambiguity.
some_method(a { |val| puts val })
# or (different meaning)
some_method(a) { |val| puts val }

# good
# Operator methods require no disambiguation
foo == bar { |b| b.baz }

# good
# Lambda arguments require no disambiguation
foo = ->(bar) { bar.baz }

Example: AllowedMethods: [] (default)

# bad
expect { do_something }.to change { object.attribute }

Example: AllowedMethods: [change]

# good
expect { do_something }.to change { object.attribute }

Example: AllowedPatterns: [] (default)

# bad
expect { do_something }.to change { object.attribute }

Example: AllowedPatterns: ['change']

# good
expect { do_something }.to change { object.attribute }
expect { do_something }.to not_change { object.attribute }

Checks for trailing comma in hash literals. The configuration options are:

• consistent_comma: Requires a comma after the last item of all non-empty, multiline hash literals.
• comma: Requires a comma after the last item in a hash, but only when each item is on its own line.
• no_comma: Does not require a comma after the last item in a hash

Example: EnforcedStyleForMultiline: consistent_comma

# bad
a = { foo: 1, bar: 2, }

# good
a = { foo: 1, bar: 2 }

# good
a = {
  foo: 1, bar: 2,
  qux: 3,
}

# good
a = {
  foo: 1, bar: 2, qux: 3,
}

# good
a = {
  foo: 1,
  bar: 2,
}

Example: EnforcedStyleForMultiline: comma

# bad
a = { foo: 1, bar: 2, }

# good
a = { foo: 1, bar: 2 }

# bad
a = {
  foo: 1, bar: 2,
  qux: 3,
}

# good
a = {
  foo: 1, bar: 2,
  qux: 3
}

# bad
a = {
  foo: 1, bar: 2, qux: 3,
}

# good
a = {
  foo: 1, bar: 2, qux: 3
}

# good
a = {
  foo: 1,
  bar: 2,
}

Example: EnforcedStyleForMultiline: no_comma (default)

# bad
a = { foo: 1, bar: 2, }

# good
a = {
  foo: 1,
  bar: 2
}

Checks if uses of quotes match the configured preference.

Example: EnforcedStyle: single_quotes (default)

# bad
"No special symbols"
"No string interpolation"
"Just text"

# good
'No special symbols'
'No string interpolation'
'Just text'
"Wait! What's #{this}!"

Example: EnforcedStyle: double_quotes

# bad
'Just some text'
'No special chars or interpolation'

# good
"Just some text"
"No special chars or interpolation"
"Every string in #{project} uses double_quotes"

Checks hash literal syntax.

It can enforce either the use of the class hash rocket syntax or the use of the newer Ruby 1.9 syntax (when applicable).

A separate offense is registered for each problematic pair.

The supported styles are:

• ruby19 - forces use of the 1.9 syntax (e.g. {a: 1}) when hashes have all symbols for keys
• hash_rockets - forces use of hash rockets for all hashes
• nomixedkeys - simply checks for hashes with mixed syntaxes
• ruby19nomixed_keys - forces use of ruby 1.9 syntax and forbids mixed syntax hashes

This cop has EnforcedShorthandSyntax option. It can enforce either the use of the explicit hash value syntax or the use of Ruby 3.1's hash value shorthand syntax.

The supported styles are:

• always - forces use of the 3.1 syntax (e.g. {foo:})
• never - forces use of explicit hash literal value
• either - accepts both shorthand and explicit use of hash literal value
• consistent - forces use of the 3.1 syntax only if all values can be omitted in the hash

Example: EnforcedStyle: ruby19 (default)

# bad
{:a => 2}
{b: 1, :c => 2}

# good
{a: 2, b: 1}
{:c => 2, 'd' => 2} # acceptable since 'd' isn't a symbol
{d: 1, 'e' => 2} # technically not forbidden

Example: EnforcedStyle: hash_rockets

# bad
{a: 1, b: 2}
{c: 1, 'd' => 5}

# good
{:a => 1, :b => 2}

Example: EnforcedStyle: nomixedkeys

# bad
{:a => 1, b: 2}
{c: 1, 'd' => 2}

# good
{:a => 1, :b => 2}
{c: 1, d: 2}

Example: EnforcedStyle: ruby19nomixed_keys

# bad
{:a => 1, :b => 2}
{c: 2, 'd' => 3} # should just use hash rockets

# good
{a: 1, b: 2}
{:c => 3, 'd' => 4}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: always (default)

# bad
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

# good
{foo:, bar:}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: never

# bad
{foo:, bar:}

# good
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: either

# good
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

# good
{foo: foo, bar:}

# good
{foo:, bar:}

Example: EnforcedShorthandSyntax: consistent

# bad - `foo` and `bar` values can be omitted
{foo: foo, bar: bar}

# bad - `bar` value can be omitted
{foo:, bar: bar}

# bad - mixed syntaxes
{foo:, bar: baz}

# good
{foo:, bar:}

# good - can't omit `baz`
{foo: foo, bar: baz}