Show HN: Spaghettify – A VSCode Extension to make your code worse with AI

Coding is not a very delicious activity. You sit in front of a screen, type some stuff, and then you have some stuff on a screen. What if we could make it more delicious, like shoveling down a massive plate of spaghetti?

Meet Spaghettify, a Visual Studio Code extension that turns your not-so-tasty code into spaghetti. Mama Mia! 🤌

What can Spaghettify do?

Spaghettify comes with several ways to make your code a lot more flavorful. (and…maybe a bit less healthy)

Spaghetti Time

Here’s some Python code which finds neighbors in a 2D array. Let’s spaghettify it.

Introduce a Bug

Throw in a subtle change that will break the code, leaving your coworkers scratching their heads for hours. Add a stray +1, extra iteration, or nested list with ease! Can you spot the bug? 🐛

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def neighbors(arr, x, y, n):
result = []
row_start = max(0, x-n)
row_end = min(len(arr)-1, x+n)
col_start = max(0, y-n)
col_end = min(len(arr[0])-1, y+n-1)
for i in range(row_start, row_end+1):
for j in range(col_start, col_end):
result.append((i, j))
return result


Obscure Code

Was the code too readable? Too elegant? Could your coworkers understand what it did with a passing glance? Well not anymore!

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def neighbors(arr,x,y,n): r=[] ; rS=max(0,x-n); rE=min(len(arr)-1,x+n); cS=max(0,y-n); cE=min(len(arr[0])-1,y+n); [r.append((i,j)) for i in range(rS,rE+1) for j in range(cS,cE+1)]; return r


Add Irrelevant Comments

Do you ever look at code and think, “This sorting function sure could use an existential questioning about why it’s there”. Now it’s easy!

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# Definition of neighbor-finding function
# 🤔 what a weird thing. Wonder why they need this.
def neighbors(arr, x, y, n): # 👋 Hello!
result = [] # initialized result
row_start = max(0, x-n) # setting row start
row_end = min(len(arr)-1, x+n) # setting row end
col_start = max(0, y-n) # setting col start
col_end = min(len(arr[0])-1, y+n) # setting col end
# Now iterating to find matches 🤔??
for i in range(row_start, row_end+1): # Duh!! 😒
for j in range(col_start, col_end+1): # Still going
result.append((i, j)) # Coo doodly doo! :)
return result # Returning the result

# 🤷‍♂️ So much logic 😱


Document with Emoji

While we’re ✍️ writing comments, how 👏 about documenting the 👏 code 😤 entirely with 🐺 emoji? 🎭🙋

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"""
🌐🕵️‍♂️🔍👀📍👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
"""
def neighbors(arr, x, y, n):
"""
📊🎯🎖️
"""
result = [] # 🔍
row_start = max(0, x-n)
row_end = min(len(arr)-1, x+n)
col_start = max(0, y-n) # 💯
col_end = min(len(arr[0])-1, y+n)
for i in range(row_start, row_end+1): # 🔃
for j in range(col_start, col_end+1):
result.append((i, j)) # 🤝
return result # 🛩️


Overly Descriptive Names

Make your code just a little bit more explicit about what it does. (We see you, Objective-C developers.)

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def neighboring_locationFinder_routine(matrix_of_cells, x_index_coordinate, y_index_coordinate, adjacency_boundaries_bracket):
list_of_neighbor_locs = []
vertical_axis_start_index = max(0, x_index_coordinate-adjacency_boundaries_bracket)
vertical_axis_end_index = min(len(matrix_of_cells)-1, x_index_coordinate+adjacency_boundaries_bracket)
horizontal_axis_start_index = max(0, y_index_coordinate-adjacency_boundaries_bracket)
horizontal_axis_end_index = min(len(matrix_of_cells[0])-1, y_index_coordinate+adjacency_boundaries_bracket)
for horizontal_index in range(vertical_axis_start_index, vertical_axis_end_index+1):
for vertical_index in range(horizontal_axis_start_index, horizontal_axis_end_index+1):
list_of_neighbor_locs.append((horizontal_index, vertical_index))
return list_of_neighbor_locs

Random Whitespace

Win the space race by adding random, inconsistent spaces all throughout your formerly symmertrical code.

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def neighbors (arr ,x, y , n): result =[]; row_start= max ( 0 , x-n ); row_end =min(len(arr)-1 , x + n );col_start = max (0, y - n); col_end =min ( len (arr[ 0 ]) -1 , y +n ); for i in range ( row_start , row_end +1 ): for j in range ( col_start , col_end + 1):result.append( (i , j ) ) ;return result ;


Fancy Docstring

Document your code automatically using any character or style. Rap lyrics? Dirty limerick? Fast talkin’ 1930’s gangster? A pirate on acid? Whatever you need, Spaghettify heeds.

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"""
Returns a list full of points
From given matrix, they anoints
Up to n away
Each row and column they sway
'Til each neighbor is accounted for joint
"""

Drop #2, by BCAD