Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Elegant Objects summary
Brief summary
Elegant Objects by Yegor Bugayenko challenges traditional object-oriented programming practices and offers a fresh perspective on creating more elegant and maintainable software through the use of immutable objects and other principles.
Topics
Table of Contents
Elegant Objects
Summary of key ideas
Understanding Object-Oriented Programming
In Elegant Objects by Yegor Bugayenko, the author introduces us to the core concepts of object-oriented programming. He starts by explaining the fundamental principles of OOP, highlighting the importance of encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism in creating elegant and efficient code.
Bugayenko emphasizes the significance of using objects to encapsulate data and behavior, allowing us to create reusable and modular code. He also discusses the concept of immutability, advocating for the use of immutable objects to ensure predictability and reliability in our programs.
The Flaws of Common OOP Practices
The book then delves into the flaws of some common OOP practices. For instance, Bugayenko argues against the widespread use of getter and setter methods, stating that they violate the principle of encapsulation by exposing the internal state of objects. He also criticizes the use of null references, highlighting their potential to introduce unexpected errors in our code.
Another controversial topic he addresses is the use of static methods, which he claims are not object-oriented and should be avoided. Bugayenko argues that static methods create tight coupling and make it difficult to test and maintain our code, advocating for the use of instance methods instead.
Designing Elegant Objects
In the following chapters of Elegant Objects, Bugayenko outlines a set of practical recommendations for designing elegant objects. He introduces the concept of a 'strongly-typed' language, where each object has a clear and specific purpose, and its behavior is defined by its type. He also stresses the importance of creating small, focused classes with a single responsibility, promoting better reusability and maintainability.
Bugayenko also discusses the concept of immutability in more detail, explaining how it helps to eliminate side effects and make our code more predictable. He encourages us to design our objects in a way that minimizes the need for mutability, thus reducing the risk of unexpected behavior and bugs in our programs.
Building Robust Systems with Elegant Objects
As we progress further into the book, Bugayenko discusses how we can use elegant objects to build robust, reliable systems. He emphasizes the importance of strong contracts between objects, encouraging us to define clear and unambiguous interfaces that specify the behavior of our objects.
He also introduces the concept of object-oriented design patterns, highlighting how we can use them to solve common programming problems while adhering to the principles of elegant object-oriented programming. Bugayenko’s approach to design patterns focuses on creating flexible and maintainable systems through the use of carefully designed objects.
Conclusion: A Paradigm Shift in OOP
In conclusion, Elegant Objects challenges many of the traditional practices of object-oriented programming and offers a new perspective on creating elegant, efficient, and reliable code. Bugayenko’s approach emphasizes the importance of object-oriented principles such as encapsulation, immutability, and strong typing, and provides practical recommendations for designing elegant objects.
While some of Bugayenko's ideas may be controversial and go against conventional wisdom, his thought-provoking insights encourage us to rethink our approach to OOP and consider new ways to create more elegant and robust systems.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Elegant Objects about?
Elegant Objects by Yegor Bugayenko challenges conventional programming practices and offers a fresh perspective on object-oriented design. Through a series of thought-provoking essays, the book advocates for a more elegant and efficient approach to writing code, emphasizing the importance of encapsulation, immutability, and minimalistic design. It encourages programmers to rethink their habits and strive for cleaner, more maintainable code.
Elegant Objects Review
Elegant Objects (2016) explores the principles of object-oriented programming in depth, offering valuable insights for both beginners and experienced developers. Here's why this book is a great addition to your reading list:
- Provides clear explanations on complex OOP concepts, making them easy to understand and implement.
- Presents a fresh perspective on writing clean, maintainable code through object-oriented design principles.
- The book's practical examples and case studies showcase real-world applications of elegant object-oriented programming, ensuring an engaging and enlightening read.
Who should read Elegant Objects?
Software engineers and developers who want to improve their object-oriented programming skills
Those who are interested in understanding the principles of elegant and efficient code design
Individuals who are open to challenging traditional programming practices and exploring alternative approaches
Categories with Elegant Objects
Book summaries like Elegant Objects
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
36 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Elegant Objects FAQs
What is the main message of Elegant Objects?
The main message of Elegant Objects is to prioritize object-oriented programming principles for cleaner, more maintainable code.
How long does it take to read Elegant Objects?
Reading Elegant Objects takes a few hours, while the Blinkist summary can be finished in around 15 minutes.
Is Elegant Objects a good book? Is it worth reading?
Elegant Objects is a valuable read for those aiming to enhance their coding skills with refined object-oriented practices.
Who is the author of Elegant Objects?
The author of Elegant Objects is Yegor Bugayenko.
What to read after Elegant Objects?
If you're wondering what to read next after Elegant Objects, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Big Data by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Kenneth Cukier
- Physics of the Future by Michio Kaku
- On Intelligence by Jeff Hawkins and Sandra Blakeslee
- Brave New War by John Robb
- Abundance# by Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler
- The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver
- You Are Not a Gadget by Jaron Lanier
- The Future of the Mind by Michio Kaku
- The Second Machine Age by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee
- Out of Control by Kevin Kelly