This cop 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

This cop checks if the length of a method exceeds some maximum value. Comment lines can optionally be ignored. The maximum allowed length is configurable.

This cop tries to produce a complexity score that's a measure of the complexity the reader experiences when looking at a method. For that reason it considers when nodes as something that doesn't add as much complexity as an if or a &&. Except if it's one of those special case/when constructs where there's no expression after case. Then the cop treats it as an if/elsif/elsif... and lets all the when nodes count. In contrast to the CyclomaticComplexity cop, this cop considers else nodes as adding complexity.

Example:

def my_method                   # 1
  if cond                       # 1
    case var                    # 2 (0.8 + 4 * 0.2, rounded)
    when 1 then func_one
    when 2 then func_two
    when 3 then func_three
    when 4..10 then func_other
    end
  else                          # 1
    do_something until a && b   # 2
  end                           # ===
end                             # 7 complexity points

This cop checks that the cyclomatic complexity of methods is not higher than the configured maximum. The cyclomatic complexity is the number of linearly independent paths through a method. The algorithm counts decision points and adds one.

An if statement (or unless or ?:) increases the complexity by one. An else branch does not, since it doesn't add a decision point. The && operator (or keyword and) can be converted to a nested if statement, and ||/or is shorthand for a sequence of ifs, so they also add one. Loops can be said to have an exit condition, so they add one.

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

A method with Too Many Statements is any method that has a large number of lines.

Too Many Statements warns about any method that has more than 5 statements. Reek's smell detector for Too Many Statements counts +1 for every simple statement in a method and +1 for every statement within a control structure (if, else, case, when, for, while, until, begin, rescue) but it doesn't count the control structure itself.

So the following method would score +6 in Reek's statement-counting algorithm:

def parse(arg, argv, &error)
  if !(val = arg) and (argv.empty? or /\A-/ =~ (val = argv[0]))
    return nil, block, nil                                         # +1
  end
  opt = (val = parse_arg(val, &error))[1]                          # +2
  val = conv_arg(*val)                                             # +3
  if opt and !arg
    argv.shift                                                     # +4
  else
    val[0] = nil                                                   # +5
  end
  val                                                              # +6
end

(You might argue that the two assigments within the first @if@ should count as statements, and that perhaps the nested assignment should count as +2.)

Duplication occurs when two fragments of code look nearly identical, or when two fragments of code have nearly identical effects at some conceptual level.

Reek implements a check for Duplicate Method Call.

Example

Here's a very much simplified and contrived example. The following method will report a warning:

def double_thing()
  @other.thing + @other.thing
end

One quick approach to silence Reek would be to refactor the code thus:

def double_thing()
  thing = @other.thing
  thing + thing
end

A slightly different approach would be to replace all calls of double_thing by calls to @other.double_thing:

class Other
  def double_thing()
    thing + thing
  end
end

The approach you take will depend on balancing other factors in your code.

Duplication occurs when two fragments of code look nearly identical, or when two fragments of code have nearly identical effects at some conceptual level.

Reek implements a check for Duplicate Method Call.

Example

Here's a very much simplified and contrived example. The following method will report a warning:

def double_thing()
  @other.thing + @other.thing
end

One quick approach to silence Reek would be to refactor the code thus:

def double_thing()
  thing = @other.thing
  thing + thing
end

A slightly different approach would be to replace all calls of double_thing by calls to @other.double_thing:

class Other
  def double_thing()
    thing + thing
  end
end

The approach you take will depend on balancing other factors in your code.

Duplication occurs when two fragments of code look nearly identical, or when two fragments of code have nearly identical effects at some conceptual level.

Reek implements a check for Duplicate Method Call.

Example

Here's a very much simplified and contrived example. The following method will report a warning:

def double_thing()
  @other.thing + @other.thing
end

One quick approach to silence Reek would be to refactor the code thus:

def double_thing()
  thing = @other.thing
  thing + thing
end

A slightly different approach would be to replace all calls of double_thing by calls to @other.double_thing:

class Other
  def double_thing()
    thing + thing
  end
end

The approach you take will depend on balancing other factors in your code.

Classes should not assume that instance variables are set or present outside of the current class definition.

Good:

class Foo
  def initialize
    @bar = :foo
  end

  def foo?
    @bar == :foo
  end
end

Good as well:

class Foo
  def foo?
    bar == :foo
  end

  def bar
    @bar ||= :foo
  end
end

Bad:

class Foo
  def go_foo!
    @bar = :foo
  end

  def foo?
    @bar == :foo
  end
end

Example

Running Reek on:

class Dummy
  def test
    @ivar
  end
end

would report:

[1]:InstanceVariableAssumption: Dummy assumes too much for instance variable @ivar

Note that this example would trigger this smell warning as well:

class Parent
  def initialize(omg)
    @omg = omg
  end
end

class Child < Parent
  def foo
    @omg
  end
end

The way to address the smell warning is that you should create an attr_reader to use @omg in the subclass and not access @omg directly like this:

class Parent
  attr_reader :omg

  def initialize(omg)
    @omg = omg
  end
end

class Child < Parent
  def foo
    omg
  end
end

Directly accessing instance variables is considered a smell because it breaks encapsulation and makes it harder to reason about code.

If you don't want to expose those methods as public API just make them private like this:

class Parent
  def initialize(omg)
    @omg = omg
  end

  private
  attr_reader :omg
end

class Child < Parent
  def foo
    omg
  end
end

Current Support in Reek

An instance variable must:

• be set in the constructor
• or be accessed through a method with lazy initialization / memoization.

If not, Instance Variable Assumption will be reported.

Duplication occurs when two fragments of code look nearly identical, or when two fragments of code have nearly identical effects at some conceptual level.

Reek implements a check for Duplicate Method Call.

Example

Here's a very much simplified and contrived example. The following method will report a warning:

def double_thing()
  @other.thing + @other.thing
end

One quick approach to silence Reek would be to refactor the code thus:

def double_thing()
  thing = @other.thing
  thing + thing
end

A slightly different approach would be to replace all calls of double_thing by calls to @other.double_thing:

class Other
  def double_thing()
    thing + thing
  end
end

The approach you take will depend on balancing other factors in your code.

A NilCheck is a type check. Failures of NilCheck violate the "tell, don't ask" principle.

Additionally, type checks often mask bigger problems in your source code like not using OOP and / or polymorphism when you should.

Example

Given

class Klass
  def nil_checker(argument)
    if argument.nil?
      puts "argument isn't nil!"
    end
  end
end

Reek would emit the following warning:

test.rb -- 1 warning:
  [3]:Klass#nil_checker performs a nil-check. (NilCheck)

A Utility Function is any instance method that has no dependency on the state of the instance.

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

This cops checks for two or more consecutive blank lines.

Example:

# bad - It has two empty lines.
some_method
# one empty line
# two empty lines
some_method

# good
some_method
# one empty line
some_method

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

This cop checks whether method definitions are separated by one empty line.

NumberOfEmptyLines can be and integer (e.g. 1 by default) or an array (e.g. [1, 2]) to specificy a minimum and a maximum of empty lines.

AllowAdjacentOneLineDefs can be used to configure is adjacent one line methods definitions are an offense

Example:

# bad
def a
end
def b
end

Example:

# good
def a
end

def b
end

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cop checks whether comments have a leading space after the # denoting the start of the comment. The leading space is not required for some RDoc special syntax, like #++, #--, #:nodoc, =begin- and =end comments, "shebang" directives, or rackup options.

Example:

# bad
#Some comment

# good
# Some comment

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?

Checks for empty else-clauses, possibly including comments and/or an explicit nil depending on the EnforcedStyle.

Example: EnforcedStyle: empty

# warn only on empty else

# bad
if condition
  statement
else
end

# good
if condition
  statement
else
  nil
end

# good
if condition
  statement
else
  statement
end

# good
if condition
  statement
end

Example: EnforcedStyle: nil

# warn on else with nil in it

# bad
if condition
  statement
else
  nil
end

# good
if condition
  statement
else
end

# good
if condition
  statement
else
  statement
end

# good
if condition
  statement
end

Example: EnforcedStyle: both (default)

# warn on empty else and else with nil in it

# bad
if condition
  statement
else
  nil
end

# bad
if condition
  statement
else
end

# good
if condition
  statement
else
  statement
end

# good
if condition
  statement
end

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cop checks for multiple expressions placed on the same line. It also checks for lines terminated with a semicolon.

Example:

# bad
foo = 1; bar = 2;
baz = 3;

# good
foo = 1
bar = 2
baz = 3

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"

This cop checks whether comments have a leading space after the # denoting the start of the comment. The leading space is not required for some RDoc special syntax, like #++, #--, #:nodoc, =begin- and =end comments, "shebang" directives, or rackup options.

Example:

# bad
#Some comment

# good
# Some comment

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cop checks for redundant return expressions.

Example:

def test
  return something
end

def test
  one
  two
  three
  return something
end

It should be extended to handle methods whose body is if/else or a case expression with a default branch.

Checks the spacing around the keywords.

Example:

# bad
something 'test'do|x|
end

while(something)
end

something = 123if test

# good
something 'test' do |x|
end

while (something)
end

something = 123 if test

This cop checks for the formatting of empty method definitions. By default it enforces empty method definitions to go on a single line (compact style), but it can be configured to enforce the end to go on its own line (expanded style).

Note: A method definition is not considered empty if it contains comments.

Example: EnforcedStyle: compact (default)

# bad
def foo(bar)
end

def self.foo(bar)
end

# good
def foo(bar); end

def foo(bar)
  # baz
end

def self.foo(bar); end

Example: EnforcedStyle: expanded

# bad
def foo(bar); end

def self.foo(bar); end

# good
def foo(bar)
end

def self.foo(bar)
end

This cop looks for uses of the for keyword, or each method. The preferred alternative is set in the EnforcedStyle configuration parameter. An each call with a block on a single line is always allowed, however.

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cops checks if empty lines around the bodies of classes match the configuration.

Example: EnforcedStyle: empty_lines

# good

class Foo

  def bar
    # ...
  end

end

Example: EnforcedStyle: emptylinesexcept_namespace

# good

class Foo
  class Bar

    # ...

  end
end

Example: EnforcedStyle: emptylinesspecial

# good
class Foo

  def bar; end

end

Example: EnforcedStyle: noemptylines (default)

# good

class Foo
  def bar
    # ...
  end
end

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?

This cop checks whether comments have a leading space after the # denoting the start of the comment. The leading space is not required for some RDoc special syntax, like #++, #--, #:nodoc, =begin- and =end comments, "shebang" directives, or rackup options.

Example:

# bad
#Some comment

# good
# Some comment

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?

This cop checks whether comments have a leading space after the # denoting the start of the comment. The leading space is not required for some RDoc special syntax, like #++, #--, #:nodoc, =begin- and =end comments, "shebang" directives, or rackup options.

Example:

# bad
#Some comment

# good
# Some comment

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

Checks the spacing around the keywords.

Example:

# bad
something 'test'do|x|
end

while(something)
end

something = 123if test

# good
something 'test' do |x|
end

while (something)
end

something = 123 if test

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?

This cop checks whether comments have a leading space after the # denoting the start of the comment. The leading space is not required for some RDoc special syntax, like #++, #--, #:nodoc, =begin- and =end comments, "shebang" directives, or rackup options.

Example:

# bad
#Some comment

# good
# Some comment

This cop checks whether comments have a leading space after the # denoting the start of the comment. The leading space is not required for some RDoc special syntax, like #++, #--, #:nodoc, =begin- and =end comments, "shebang" directives, or rackup options.

Example:

# bad
#Some comment

# good
# Some comment

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

This cop checks for uses of and and or, and suggests using && and || instead. It can be configured to check only in conditions, or in all contexts.

Example: EnforcedStyle: always (default)

# bad
foo.save and return

# bad
if foo and bar
end

# good
foo.save && return

# good
if foo && bar
end

Example: EnforcedStyle: conditionals

# bad
if foo and bar
end

# good
foo.save && return

# good
foo.save and return

# good
if foo && bar
end

Checks for colon (:) not followed by some kind of space. N.B. this cop does not handle spaces after a ternary operator, which are instead handled by Layout/SpaceAroundOperators.

Example:

# bad
def f(a:, b:2); {a:3}; end

# good
def f(a:, b: 2); {a: 3}; end

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

Checks for if and unless statements that would fit on one line if written as a modifier if/unless. The maximum line length is configured in the Metrics/LineLength cop.

Example:

# bad
if condition
  do_stuff(bar)
end

unless qux.empty?
  Foo.do_something
end

# good
do_stuff(bar) if condition
Foo.do_something unless qux.empty?

This cop checks for unwanted parentheses in parameterless method calls.

Example:

# bad
object.some_method()

# good
object.some_method

This cop checks for the presence of superfluous parentheses around the condition of if/unless/while/until.

Example:

# bad
x += 1 while (x < 10)
foo unless (bar || baz)

if (x > 10)
elsif (x < 3)
end

# good
x += 1 while x < 10
foo unless bar || baz

if x > 10
elsif x < 3
end

This cops checks for two or more consecutive blank lines.

Example:

# bad - It has two empty lines.
some_method
# one empty line
# two empty lines
some_method

# good
some_method
# one empty line
some_method

Checks for spaces inside ordinary round parentheses.

Example:

# bad
f( 3)
g = (a + 3 )

# good
f(3)
g = (a + 3)

This cop checks for redundant parentheses.

Example:

# bad
(x) if ((y.z).nil?)

# good
x if y.z.nil?