Do not confuse abstraction with obfuscation
Some developers resist techniques that introduce abstractions, preferring to see implementation details directly. This often stems from experience with poor abstractions - code that hides important details without providing clear benefit.
The key distinction:
- Good abstraction reveals intent while separating concerns and supports local reasoning by hiding irrelevant complexity
- Obfuscation hides details that matter for understanding
Creating good abstractions is a skill that requires:
- Understanding which details matter for the current context
- Recognizing when concerns are mixed together, and need separation
- Choosing names that accurately convey purpose
- Knowing when NOT to abstract (premature abstraction is harmful too)
The goal isn’t to hide complexity, but to organize complexity - break it down into simpler manageable pieces so readers can focus on what matters for their current task.