Code Benefits From Separation of Concerns

Recently I wanted to improve how a certain feature worked in a program. It involved fuzzy string search, and the implementation was rather fuzzy itself—it was spread out everywhere. To fix this, I added a trie data structure. With a new component, I could isolate the logic—the program became easier to reason about.

By separating the parts of a program—also known as separation of concerns—we can make development easier. We can organize a large problem as a group of smaller problems. And a single component (like a file or class) can solve one of those smaller problems.

Every language allows for this approach. Some languages refer to objects or classes, and others to structs or files. The developer gets a feeling of accomplishment for having added a new component to the project, and the overall program becomes better.

Even new trends like vibe coding (coding using LLMs) can be used. We can have ChatGPT generate a new class or file, and then use it from the rest of the program. Once tested and reviewed, the code is good to go—and this should rightly make the developer feel a sense of accomplishment.