---
title: File Structure
tags: article software
created: 2023-07-28T09:21:24Z
published: true
---

There are two widely used types of source code organization and I will explain why one of these should be avoided.
As an example, let's take a look at the model-view-controller pattern:

## "by type"

An inexperienced programmer will often create this file structure when asked to create an MVC project:

```text
.
├── controllers
│   ├── Post.controller
│   └── User.controller
├── models
│   ├── Post.model
│   └── User.model
└── views
    ├── Post.view
    └── User.view
```

We call this "by type" organization and it should be avoided like the devil.

First of all, it violates the software principle that related things should always stay close to each other.
It becomes very hard to find all the files related to a component.
Nowadays fuzzy finders can help offset this problem, but it's nonetheless a problem that could have been avoided in the first place instead of requiring extra tooling.

Secondly, this structure makes deletion non-trivial. If a component is no longer needed, then you need to delete it from your repository.
This should be a trivial task, ideally removing one directory and you're done. If your component, however, happens to be spread out over 15 different folders, then the deletion process is very complex.

## "by feature"

There is a very simple solution to all of these problems and it's called "by feature" organization:

```text
.
├── Post
│   ├── Post.controller
│   ├── Post.model
│   └── Post.view
└── User
    ├── User.controller
    ├── User.model
    └── User.view
```

With this file structure:

- All related code is closely grouped together
- Deleting a component is very easy

Depending on the style regulations, you might encounter the plural forms `Posts` and `Users`, but it's the same principle. Personally, I prefer singular names because plurals aren't consistent. If your code uses type names via reflection to build the paths, you're better off with singular names.

## Conclusion

- Don't organize files by their file type
- Organize files by feature
- Make deletion simple