OBEY Clean Code by Robert C. Martin

When to use

Use when you need a small always-on bias toward readable, low-surprise code.

Primary bias to correct

Working code is not automatically clean code.

Decision rules

• Preserve behavior, write for the next reader, and leave touched code cleaner within scope.
• Write for local reasoning and use precise names with one term per concept.
• Split boolean flags, mixed abstraction levels, and hidden side effects out of functions.
• Separate commands from queries and keep parameters small and meaningful.
• Keep the happy path readable; make invalid states, errors, and cleanup explicit instead of implicit.
• Use comments only for rationale or contracts, not to explain confusing code.
• When touching code, remove the smell most likely to make the next change risky or unclear.

Trigger rules

• When a function both mutates and answers, split it.
• When a comment explains the flow, simplify the code first.
• When async, concurrency, or framework quirks spread the change, reduce shared mutable state and add the right boundary instead of more branching.

Final checklist

• Local reasoning preserved?
• Clear names?
• Clear mutation boundaries?
• One smell removed?