// ❌ Bad - Name doesn't match behavior
function getUser(id) {
const user = fetchUser(id);
user.lastLogin = Date.now();
saveUser(user); // Side effect! Not just "getting"
return user;
}
// ✓ Good - Name reflects actual behavior
function fetchAndUpdateUserLogin(id) {
const user = fetchUser(id);
user.lastLogin = Date.now();
saveUser(user);
return user;
}
// ❌ Bad - Unclear abbreviations
const usrCfg = loadConfig();
function calcTtl(arr) { }
// ✓ Good - Clear and readable
const userConfig = loadConfig();
function calculateTotal(amounts) { }
// ✓ Acceptable - Well-known abbreviations
const htmlElement = document.getElementById('main');
const apiUrl = process.env.API_URL;
// ❌ Bad - Unclear state
const login = user.authenticated;
const status = checkUser();
// ✓ Good - Clear boolean intent
const isLoggedIn = user.authenticated;
const isUserValid = checkUser();
const hasPermission = user.roles.includes('admin');
const canEditPost = isOwner || isAdmin;
const shouldShowNotification = isEnabled && hasUnread;
// ❌ Bad - Unnamed constants
if (age > 18) { }
setTimeout(callback, 3600000);
// ✓ Good - Named constants
const LEGAL_AGE = 18;
const ONE_HOUR_IN_MS = 60 * 60 * 1000;
if (age > LEGAL_AGE) { }
setTimeout(callback, ONE_HOUR_IN_MS);
# Naming Analysis Report
## Summary
- Items analyzed: 156
- Issues found: 23
- Critical: 5 (misleading names)
- Major: 12 (unclear/vague)
- Minor: 6 (convention violations)
---
## Critical Issues (5)
### src/services/UserService.js:45
**Current**: `getUser(id)`
**Issue**: Function name implies read-only but has side effects (updates lastLogin)
**Severity**: Critical - Misleading
**Suggestion**: `fetchAndUpdateUserLogin(id)`
**Reason**: Name should reflect the mutation
### src/utils/helpers.js:23
**Current**: `validate(x)`
**Issue**: Generic parameter name, unclear what's being validated
**Severity**: Critical - Too vague
**Suggestion**: `validateEmail(emailAddress)`
**Reason**: Specific names improve clarity
---
## Major Issues (12)
### src/components/DataList.jsx:12
**Current**: `const d = new Date()`
**Issue**: Single-letter variable in large scope
**Severity**: Major
**Suggestion**: `const currentDate = new Date()`
**Reason**: Clarity and searchability
### src/api/client.js:67
**Current**: `function proc(data) {}`
**Issue**: Abbreviated function name
**Severity**: Major
**Suggestion**: `function processApiResponse(data) {}`
**Reason**: Full words are more readable
### src/models/User.js:34
**Current**: `user.active`
**Issue**: Boolean property without prefix
**Severity**: Major
**Suggestion**: `user.isActive`
**Reason**: Follow boolean naming convention
### src/utils/format.js:89
**Current**: `const MAX = 100`
**Issue**: Generic constant name
**Severity**: Major
**Suggestion**: `const MAX_RETRY_ATTEMPTS = 100`
**Reason**: Specific purpose is clearer
---
## Minor Issues (6)
### src/config/settings.js:12
**Current**: `const API_url = '...'`
**Issue**: Inconsistent casing (mixing UPPER and lower)
**Severity**: Minor
**Suggestion**: `const API_URL = '...'` or `const apiUrl = '...'`
**Reason**: Consistency in convention
### src/helpers/string.js:45
**Current**: `function strToNum(s) {}`
**Issue**: Abbreviated function and parameter
**Severity**: Minor
**Suggestion**: `function stringToNumber(value) {}`
**Reason**: Clarity over brevity
---
## Convention Violations
### Inconsistent Boolean Prefixes
**Locations**: 8 files
**Issue**: Mixed use of `is`, `has`, `can` vs no prefix
**Recommendation**: Standardize on boolean prefixes
- Use `is` for state: `isActive`, `isVisible`
- Use `has` for possession: `hasPermission`, `hasError`
- Use `can` for ability: `canEdit`, `canDelete`
- Use `should` for decisions: `shouldRender`, `shouldValidate`
### Mixed Naming Conventions
**Location**: src/legacy/
**Issue**: Mix of camelCase and snake_case in JavaScript
**Recommendation**: Convert all to camelCase for consistency
---
## Suggested Renaming
### High Priority (Misleading or Critical)
1. `getUser` → `fetchAndUpdateUserLogin` (src/services/UserService.js:45)
2. `validate` → `validateEmail` (src/utils/helpers.js:23)
3. `process` → `processPaymentTransaction` (src/payment/processor.js:67)
### Medium Priority (Clarity)
1. `d` → `currentDate` (7 locations)
2. `temp` → `previousValue` (4 locations)
3. `data` → `apiResponse` or more specific (12 locations)
4. `arr` → `items`, `values`, or more specific (8 locations)
### Low Priority (Convention)
1. `active` → `isActive` (12 locations)
2. `error` → `hasError` (6 locations)
3. `API_url` → `API_URL` (3 locations)
---
## Naming Patterns to Follow
### Functions/Methods
- Verbs: `get`, `set`, `create`, `update`, `delete`, `fetch`, `calculate`, `validate`
- Clear action: `sendEmail()`, `parseJSON()`, `formatCurrency()`
### Classes
- Nouns: `UserService`, `PaymentProcessor`, `EmailValidator`
- Avoid generic: Don't use `Manager`, `Helper`, `Utility` unless necessary
### Variables
- Nouns or noun phrases: `user`, `emailAddress`, `totalAmount`
- Descriptive: `userList` not `list`, `activeUsers` not `users2`
### Constants
- All caps with underscores: `MAX_RETRY_ATTEMPTS`, `DEFAULT_TIMEOUT`
- Include units: `CACHE_DURATION_MS`, `MAX_FILE_SIZE_MB`
### Booleans
- Question form: `isValid`, `hasPermission`, `canEdit`
- Affirmative: `isEnabled` not `isDisabled` (prefer positive)
---
## Refactoring Script
Would you like me to create a refactoring script to apply these changes?
This will:
1. Rename all suggested items
2. Update all references
3. Maintain git history
4. Generate migration guide
---
## Best Practices
✓ **DO**:
- Use full words over abbreviations
- Be specific and descriptive
- Follow language conventions
- Use consistent patterns
- Make booleans obvious
- Include units in constants
✗ **DON'T**:
- Use single letters (except in loops: i, j, k)
- Use vague names (data, info, temp, x)
- Mix naming conventions
- Use misleading names
- Over-abbreviate
- Use Hungarian notation in modern code
- How do I install naming-analyzer?
- Download dist/plugins/naming-analyzer/skills/naming-analyzer/SKILL.md from the publisher, or copy the path and open the repository. PlugMCP lists the skill and does not host the file.
- Where does naming-analyzer live?
- The publisher keeps it at https://github.com/softaworks/agent-toolkit.
- Which agents can use naming-analyzer?
- Claude, Cursor, and Codex can read a SKILL.md you add from the publisher's repository.