# Tips to write more readable code [closed]

What are some tips to write a more readable code?

For example in C, tab is your friend. You can also declare variables in a way such that you can read the code easily later on.

In Mathematica, if you are writing a complicated code, things can get messy very quick and becomes very hard to read later on. What are some tips for code readability without trading away the performance?

## closed as too broad by m_goldberg, Dr. belisarius, user9660, MarcoB, ilianNov 13 '15 at 18:00

Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• – user9660 Nov 13 '15 at 16:46
• @commentators I don't think this is broader than Where can I find examples of good Mathematica programming practice?. I find the question very interesting and would vote to remove the hold. – Jack LaVigne Nov 14 '15 at 0:53

Several rules of thumb:

• Always use lower-case letters to start the name of a variable or defined function: myList and myFunction (not MyList or MyFunction) so as to never conflict with Matheamtica's internal names.
• Group similar program elements on a single line for readability:

Plot3D[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 1}, {y, 0,1}]

Plot3D[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 1}, {y, 0,1}]

• Likewise, align lists, options, and such so that any errors can be easily seen
• Use blank lines to separate large groups of code of similar functionality.
• Use the usage option for important functions, as in f::usage = "explanation of function f"
• Comment as necessary (* my comment *)
• There are innumerable other suggestions that are specific to Mathematica language (such as Table instead of Do) that are best discovered by extensive programming.
• Use cell style such as Chapter to separate code in easily recognizable fashion.
• Use the pulldown menu Format... TextColor or Format... BackgroundColor to color variables or functions for ease of finding and reading.
• Thank you, this is about what I am asking. – gurluk Nov 14 '15 at 0:59

In a language like C, you'll write sequential procedures like:

a=some stuff;

b=more stuff;

result=munge a and b together;

return result;

In Mathematica, it's much handier to write one-line functions and compose them rather than one-line steps and concatenate them:

a[stuff_]:=a formula

b[stuff_]:=another formula

munge[stuff_]:=a[stuff] together with b[stuff]


By making a, b, and munge functions, you localize their behavior and make them easier to understand and test in isolation.

In any programming language the readability of code is greatly improved when the programmer takes the time and puts in the effort to use meaningful identifiers. Mathematica is no exception in this regard.

I quote a piece of own code as an example. It moves a file into the OS X trash.

moveToTrash[fullPathName_String] :=
Module[{trash, fileName},
trash = FileNameJoin[{HomeDirectory[], ".Trash"}];
fileName = FileNameTake[fullPathName];
While[FileExistsQ[FileNameJoin[{trash, fileName}]],fileName = "#" <> fileName];
RenameFile[fullPathName, FileNameJoin[{trash, fileName}]]]


I think this code is as readable as any code written with care given to choosing identifier names in any other language.