I agree, tests will prevent things from being removed without notice, but having one line right by the function would (hopefully) prevent the "refactoring" altogether.
Good point on modulus, bad example.
It was implied that the comment would state the name of the package or in the worst case link to GitHub issue will.
Bottom line, If you're not sure if you should leave the comment - you should.
It's a text, it's a core feature of every single language and it's meant to be used, not feared.
#ActuallyAutistic web dev. Does front of the front-end. Loves perf and minimalism. Prefers HTML, CSS, Web Standards over JS, UX over DX. Hates div disease.
Maybe I've had bad experiences or bad luck, but I've noticed comments to be rather ineffective against "refactoring". You need only one person with too strong an opinion and less experience who successfully ignores what the comment warns or informs about, and goes ahead changing and breaking things.
Code reviews don't perfectly protect against this as those may get through by another who doesn't stop to care about the comment, possibly because it doesn't appear in the diff. Only tests seem to successfully protect against this, at least against breaking stuff. You'd have to go for slightly malicious mindset to start removing or changing valid tests. These "refactors" are often done thinking it is an improvement, with no malicious intent.
This is one reason why I keep comments as the absolute last tool to convey understanding that the code or naming things can't provide.
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I agree, tests will prevent things from being removed without notice, but having one line right by the function would (hopefully) prevent the "refactoring" altogether.
Good point on modulus, bad example.
It was implied that the comment would state the name of the package or in the worst case link to GitHub issue will.
Bottom line, If you're not sure if you should leave the comment - you should.
It's a text, it's a core feature of every single language and it's meant to be used, not feared.
Maybe I've had bad experiences or bad luck, but I've noticed comments to be rather ineffective against "refactoring". You need only one person with too strong an opinion and less experience who successfully ignores what the comment warns or informs about, and goes ahead changing and breaking things.
Code reviews don't perfectly protect against this as those may get through by another who doesn't stop to care about the comment, possibly because it doesn't appear in the diff. Only tests seem to successfully protect against this, at least against breaking stuff. You'd have to go for slightly malicious mindset to start removing or changing valid tests. These "refactors" are often done thinking it is an improvement, with no malicious intent.
This is one reason why I keep comments as the absolute last tool to convey understanding that the code or naming things can't provide.