Take Care
Although it seems to be very easy to change a method name, code can be broken if refactoring tools (built into many modern IDE's) are not used to also change all code that refers to the existing method.
If a codebase has provided an external API that including the existing method name then the existing function should not be removed, but 'deprecated' over time and finally removed at a future date. In this case the "Copy Method" refactoring can be considered as an alternative.
- Java 5.0 provides the annotation @Override to help protect against mistakes such as this.
Read more about this topic: Rename Method
Famous quotes containing the word care:
“TAKE CARE TO SELL YOUR HORSE BEFORE HE DIES
THE ART OF LIFE IS PASSING LOSSES ON.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“Having a child is the great divide between one’s own childhood and adulthood. All at once someone is totally dependent upon you. You are no longer the child of your mother but the mother of your child. Instead of being taken care of, you are responsible for taking care of someone else.”
—Elaine Heffner (20th century)