Refactor Categories.create: simplify conditionals and variables to reduce function complexity

[anthony-tom1]

P1B: Starter Task: Refactoring PR

1. Issue

Link to the associated GitHub issue: [https://github.com//issues/132]

Full path to the refactored file: src/categories/create.js

What do you think this file does? (Your answer does not have to be 100% correct; give a reasonable, evidence‑based guess.) Based on interacting with the local NodeBB server, I believe that this file creates categories. It likely adds categories to the main page of the NodeBB server, which already has categories including Announcements, General Discussion, Comments & Feedback, and Blogs. Categories can be created by logging into the

What is the scope of your refactoring within that file? The scope of my refactoring was local within the create.js file because I only modified and refactored the Categories.create function in the src/categories/create.js file.

(Name specific functions/blocks/regions touched.) Within the create.js file that I refactored, I modified the Categories.create function. I simplified the conditionals that were included in the Categories.create function, in order to reduce the function complexity, which was indicated by a Qlty smell.

Which Qlty‑reported issue did you address?
(Name the rule/metric and include the BEFORE value; e.g., “Cognitive Complexity 18 in render()”.) I addressed the following Qlty-reported issue: "Function with high complexity (count = 13): create". This Qlty-reported issue was resolved after refactoring.

2. Refactoring

How did the specific issue you chose impact the codebase’s maintainability? With high function complexity for Categories.create, the creation of categories in the local NodeBB server can have potential issues that are difficult to fix. This can lead to a higher risk of bugs and errors for the user, negatively impacting the codebase's maintainability.

What changes did you make to resolve the issue? I replaced ternary operators with logical OR operators to reduce function complexity (e.g. const parentCid = data.parentCid ? data.parentCid : 0; to const parentCid = data.parentCid || 0; in line 16). In addition, I used the category field of results to reduce variable reassignment in the function. I also added a new variable finalCategory that specifies the final category value to be returned by the Categories.create function, further reducing function complexity.

How do your changes improve maintainability? Did you consider alternatives? By simplifying the complexity of Categories.create, the creation of categories in the NodeBB server is easier to maintain and manage, since the code is simpler and less prone to potential bugs. Since other functions in the code files depend on the effective and correct creation of categories, simplifying the function complexity of Categories.create contributes positively to the codebase's maintainability. Regarding alternatives, I considered simplifying other functions within the parent module.export function, which would have also improved the effectiveness and maintainability of category creation.

3. Validation

How did you trigger the refactored code path from the UI? I triggered the refactored code path from the UI by first logging into the provided admin account in my local NodeBB server. I then accessed category creation through the Manage tab. I then created a category called "Project 1B Test Category", which triggered the refactored code path from the UI. The console.log "Category Created - Anthony Tom" was outputted in the console.

Attach a screenshot of the logs and UI demonstrating the trigger.
(If you refactored a public/src/ file (front-end related file), watch logging via DevTools (Ctrl+Shift+I to open and then navigate to the 'Console' tab). If you refactored a src/ file, watch logging via ./nodebb log. Include the relevant UI view. Temporary logs should be removed before final commit.)

Attach a screenshot of qlty smells --no-snippets <full/path/to/file.js> showing fewer reported issues after the changes.

The Qlty issue "Function with high complexity (count = 13): create" is no longer present and is therefore resolved in src/categories/create.js.

[coveralls]

Pull Request Test Coverage Report for Build 21277211131

Details

• 13 of 14 (92.86%) changed or added relevant lines in 1 file are covered.
• No unchanged relevant lines lost coverage.
• Overall coverage increased (+0.001%) to 78.842%

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Changes Missing Coverage	Covered Lines	Changed/Added Lines	%
src/categories/create.js	13	14	92.86%

Totals
Change from base Build 21149476722:	0.001%
Covered Lines:	25356
Relevant Lines:	30326

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💛 - Coveralls