Functions without documentation comments make code harder to understand and maintain. When developers encounter an undocumented function, they must
read through the entire implementation to understand what it does, what parameters it expects, and what it returns.
This becomes especially problematic in larger codebases where:
- Multiple developers work on the same code
- Functions are called from different parts of the application
- Code needs to be maintained months or years after it was written
- New team members need to understand existing functionality
The Google Shell Style Guide requires function comments to improve code readability and maintainability. Well-documented functions serve as a
contract between the function author and its users, making the codebase more professional and easier to work with.
Documentation comments also help with code reviews, debugging, and refactoring by providing clear context about the function’s intended
behavior.
What is the potential impact?
Undocumented functions reduce code maintainability and increase the time needed for code reviews, debugging, and onboarding new developers. This
can lead to misunderstandings about function behavior, incorrect usage, and increased development costs over time.
