How to Use This Guide

Structure of Each Antipattern

Every antipattern in this guide follows a consistent structure:

1. Overview

A brief explanation of what the antipattern is and why it’s problematic.

2. Real Code Example

Actual code from the “Worst Backend Ever” project demonstrating the antipattern in action.

src/bad-example.js

// This is how NOT to do it

3. Why It’s Bad

Detailed explanation of the problems this pattern causes:

• Performance issues
• Maintainability nightmares
• Security vulnerabilities
• Testing difficulties

4. The Right Way

Correct implementation of the same functionality:

src/good-example.js

// This is the proper way

5. Detection Tips

How to spot this antipattern in code reviews and what tools can help.

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Running the Example Project

The companion codebase can be run locally:

cd antipatterns
npm install
npm start

Security Warning

The example project contains intentional security vulnerabilities. Only run it in isolated development environments.

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Color Coding

Throughout this guide, we use color coding to distinguish between good and bad practices:

This is an example of bad code that should be avoided.

This is an example of good code that you should follow.

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Contributing

Found an antipattern we missed? Want to improve an explanation? Contributions are welcome!

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Prerequisites

To fully understand these antipatterns, you should be familiar with:

• JavaScript/Node.js
• Basic web development concepts
• REST API design
• Database fundamentals
• Basic security concepts