How much abstraction is too much?

Question

In an object-oriented program, how much abstraction is too much? How much is just right? When is it too much? At what point do the empty layers and extra "might need" abstractions become overkill? How little is too little? Where's the sweet spot? Are there any dependable rules of thumb you've found in the course of your career that help you judge the amount of abstraction needed?

Answer 1

The sweet spot is simple: abstract only when you actually need it. If you're copying the same code in 3 or more places, go ahead and abstract it. If you're only using it once or twice, just keep it simple , don't overthink it. Too much abstraction makes your code confusing and hard to follow. Too little makes it messy and repetitive. A good rule: if removing an abstraction makes your code easier to understand, it was probably overkill. Start basic, and let your design grow naturally as you add features. Don't plan for problems you don't have yet.