Too-Many-Instance-Variables.md

Introduction

Too Many Instance Variables is a case of Large Class.

Example

Given this configuration

TooManyInstanceVariables:
  max_instance_variables: 3

and this code:

class Smelly
  def initialize
    @arg_1 = :dummy
    @arg_2 = :dummy
    @arg_3 = :dummy
    @arg_4 = :dummy
  end
end

Reek would emit the following warning:

test.rb -- 5 warnings:
  [1]:TooManyInstanceVariables: Smelly has at least 4 instance variables

Current Support in Reek

Reek only counts the instance variables you use explicitly like in the example above. Class macros like attr_accessor are disregarded.

Configuration

Reek's Too Many Instance Variables detector offers the Basic Smell Options, plus:

Option	Value	Effect
max_instance_variables	integer	The maximum number of instance variables that are permitted. Defaults to 4