Aryan Shaily
Is Separation of Concerns (SOC) Really Important?
July 24, 2024
Exploring the significance of the Separation of Concerns design principle in software engineering.
Introduction
I’ve been trying to learn about Separation of Concerns (SOC) as much as I can for the past few days, and here’s what I’ve gathered so far.
For those who don’t know, Separation of Concerns (SOC) is a design principle in software engineering that focuses on breaking down a program into multiple parts based on their relation and dependency on other components of the program.
Achieving SOC
Cohesion
- Definition: Refers to how similar the functionalities within a module or component are.
- Goal: Increase cohesion so that each module has a clear, focused purpose.
Coupling
- Definition: Represents how dependent one part of your code is on other parts.
- Goal: Decrease coupling to make components more reusable and testable.
In short: To achieve SOC, aim for reduced coupling and increased cohesion. The more decoupled your component or module is, the more reusable and testable it becomes.
When Should We Choose SOC?
This is where I had the most questions. From what I found:
- Business Vision Matters: Choosing SOC isn’t just about technical feasibility; it’s also a business decision. Your project’s vision and your company’s goals can dictate which design patterns make the most sense.
- Tech Stack Influence: The stack or framework you use also heavily influences architecture decisions. For example, in React, many developers keep business logic and UI in the same component, whereas in Kotlin, a more traditional SOC-based design pattern might be encouraged.
Personal Takeaways
Honestly, I still don’t have the clearest picture, but I believe that as I make more architectural decisions throughout my career, my understanding of SOC will deepen. Real-world application and seeing how others implement SOC in different contexts are key to grasping its full potential.
Sources
Hashtags:
#designpatterns #swe