Program Complexity Analysis Questions
Code duplication refers to the presence of identical or similar code segments in different parts of a program. It occurs when developers copy and paste code instead of creating reusable functions or modules. Code duplication can have a significant impact on program complexity.
Firstly, code duplication increases the size of the program, making it harder to understand and maintain. When the same code is repeated in multiple places, any changes or bug fixes need to be made in each instance, which is time-consuming and error-prone. This can lead to inconsistencies and discrepancies in the program.
Secondly, code duplication hinders code reusability and modularity. Instead of having a single function or module that can be called from different parts of the program, duplicated code requires separate maintenance and updates. This not only increases the effort required for development but also makes the program less flexible and adaptable to changes.
Furthermore, code duplication can introduce unnecessary complexity and increase the chances of introducing bugs. If a bug is fixed in one instance of duplicated code but not in others, it can lead to inconsistent behavior and unexpected results. Additionally, duplicated code may have subtle differences that can cause confusion and errors during program execution.
To mitigate the impact of code duplication on program complexity, developers should strive for code reuse and modularity. This can be achieved by identifying common code segments and extracting them into reusable functions or modules. By reducing code duplication, programs become more maintainable, flexible, and less prone to errors.