Junk-drawer utils and helpers modules and folders

Files and folders: one of the ways AI coding agents bloat software, from lessloc's pattern catalog. lessloc catches it as junk-drawer.

What makes junk-drawer utils and helpers modules and folders a bad practice?

The standard that calls it a bad practice: Fowler: Mysterious Name.

What does lessloc do about junk-drawer utils and helpers modules and folders?

lessloc catches it as junk-drawer.

• junk-drawer (tier 2): A new utils, helpers, common, misc or similar module or folder.

Related patterns

The other patterns in Files and folders:

• Scratch, backup, copy and harness files: lessloc catches it as junk-file and refuses it before it lands.
• Caches, build output and logs about to be committed: lessloc catches it as junk-file.
• CI workflows and Dockerfiles nobody asked for: lessloc catches it as unrequested-file.
• Tiny one-function files; file-per-concern splits: lessloc catches it as tiny-file and new-files.
• New folders for one or two files; layer trees for small apps: lessloc catches it as new-folder.
• Vague names (process_data, handle): lessloc catches it as vague-name.
• Moving or renaming files without a reason: lessloc catches it as moved-files.
• Secrets: a committed .env, API keys, private keys: lessloc catches it as secret.