mcpField
R
return-early-pattern

return-early-pattern

github.com/gkwaDevelopment035 installsUpdated today
Repository

About return-early-pattern

return-early-pattern is a coding skill that guides the use of guard clauses to handle failure conditions before the main logic. It emphasizes applying the pattern only when it reduces complexity and keeping clear alternatives as they are.

Key features

  1. 01Handle preconditions with early returns
  2. 02Reduce nesting around the main path
  3. 03Preserve clear if/else alternatives
  4. 04Avoid applying the pattern mechanically

Use cases

  1. 01Simplifying functions with null checks
  2. 02Handling invalid parameters before work
  3. 03Reducing nesting for boundary conditions

Install

Copy the command and run it in a terminal.

$npx skills add https://github.com/gkwa/volcanicviper --skill return-early-pattern

After installing, type/return-early-patternin Claude Code to confirm it loaded.

Bundled filestile.json

Details

From the project README

Use guard clauses to handle edge cases and failure conditions at the top of a function. Return immediately rather than nesting the happy path inside conditionals.

Good:

function process(data):
    if data is null: return
    if not data.is_valid(): return
    return do_work(data)

Bad:

function process(data):
    if data is not null:
        if data.is_valid():
            return do_work(data)

Apply this pattern where it genuinely makes the code cleaner — functions with clear precondition checks (null references, invalid parameters, boundary conditions) followed by main business logic as the happy path.

Only apply where it reduces complexity. Preserve simple if/else structures where they are already clear. Do not force the pattern into short functions where a single if/else is more readable, or when conditions represent legitimate alternative behaviors rather than failure cases.

References:

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