Poor abstraction in object-oriented programming (OOP) can make coding in university projects really complicated. This often causes problems that slow down both creating and fixing code.

What is Abstraction?

Abstraction is an important part of OOP. It helps programmers keep things simple by hiding unnecessary details and showing only what’s needed. But when abstraction is not done well, it can lead to problems.

Common Mistakes in Abstraction

1. Not Using Encapsulation Correctly:

   • One big mistake is not keeping data safe. This means programmers can directly access an object's details instead of using special methods (called getters and setters) to do it.
   • Studies show that if data is poorly protected, there can be a 35% increase in bugs. That’s because developers might rely too much on the inner workings instead of using the defined methods.

2. Making Things Too General:

   • When creating abstract classes, students sometimes make them too vague or complicated.
   • Research shows that when projects use overly general abstractions, they can be 22% more complex. This complexity can be measured using something called cyclomatic complexity metrics.

3. Not Following Interface Segregation:

   • Sometimes, developers create large interfaces that force classes to include features they don’t really need. This leads to empty methods and wastes resources.
   • The Interface Segregation Principle says that clients shouldn’t have to work with methods they don’t use. Projects that ignore this can face a 40% increase in maintenance work.

4. Not Recognizing Key Abstractions:

   • Students often have a hard time figuring out what should be abstracted, which can lead to designs that are tougher to manage.
   • A survey found that 62% of university projects struggled with maintainability and adaptability because they didn’t identify the right abstractions.

5. Ignoring Real-World Use:

   • Poor abstraction often overlooks the real context of the software. When abstractions don’t match how the software is used, it can create confusing links between objects.
   • Research shows that systems with irrelevant abstractions took about 28% longer to add new features.

What Happens When Abstraction is Poor?

• More Complex Code: When code is not abstracted correctly, it becomes harder to analyze and test. Higher complexity can make problems 40% more likely.

• Less Readable Code: Code that isn’t clear can be frustrating to read and understand. Studies say developers can spend up to 60% more time figuring out poorly abstracted code.

• Less Reusable Code: Code that isn’t adequately abstracted can’t be reused easily. This forces developers to write similar code in different parts of a project. Better abstraction can reduce code duplication by 30-50%.

Conclusion

In summary, poor abstraction in university OOP projects can create serious problems like increased complexity, more errors, and higher maintenance costs. It’s important for students to learn how to do abstraction correctly to improve their coding skills and the quality of their software.