I've also noticed that intent comments doesn't get stale like bad comments, intent comments are tied to the purpose/objective instead to code, is not rare that a piece of code change but not that it's purpose change.
Maybe that's a sign of a useful comment, one that shouldn't get obsolete with an implementation change.
I am a self-taught developer from Argentina currently living in Spain. I am passionate about improving my technical skills and helping others do the same.
I am not sure about this one, I have seen comments get stale even if they are the "good comments", I have seen comments trying to convey intent on code that doesn't exist anymore, it was the intent for a class that it was deleted ages ago. Maybe I had some bad experiences and this is not the norm.
The only reason it gets stale is if you let it. I hear the "out of sync" argument a lot, but that problem is just as common with descriptive names! Yet I don't see any articles decrying descriptive naming as a result: you update the name.
Keep your comments in sync as a mandatory part of refactoring. Get into the habit of distrusting any code with a mismatching intent comment; it usually means both code and comment are wrong.
I've also noticed that intent comments doesn't get stale like bad comments, intent comments are tied to the purpose/objective instead to code, is not rare that a piece of code change but not that it's purpose change.
Maybe that's a sign of a useful comment, one that shouldn't get obsolete with an implementation change.
I am not sure about this one, I have seen comments get stale even if they are the "good comments", I have seen comments trying to convey intent on code that doesn't exist anymore, it was the intent for a class that it was deleted ages ago. Maybe I had some bad experiences and this is not the norm.
The only reason it gets stale is if you let it. I hear the "out of sync" argument a lot, but that problem is just as common with descriptive names! Yet I don't see any articles decrying descriptive naming as a result: you update the name.
Keep your comments in sync as a mandatory part of refactoring. Get into the habit of distrusting any code with a mismatching intent comment; it usually means both code and comment are wrong.
If your comments usually get out of sync, then it could be a symptom your code review process needs to be improved.