# A one-line helper used once

*Code nobody needs*: one of the ways AI coding agents bloat software, from lessloc's [pattern catalog](https://lessloc.org/patterns/index.md). lessloc catches it as [`single-use`](https://lessloc.org/guide/reference.md#tier-2).

## What makes a one-line helper used once a bad practice?

The standards that call it a bad practice: Fowler: Inline Function; Anthropic's prompting guide: "Don't create helpers, utilities, or abstractions for one-time operations".

## What does lessloc do about a one-line helper used once?

lessloc catches it as [`single-use`](https://lessloc.org/guide/reference.md#tier-2).

- `single-use` (tier 2): A one-line helper used once.

## Examples

Caught as `single-use`:

```python [be.py]
def _label(o):
    return o.name.upper()


def report(orders):
    return [_label(o) for o in orders]
```

Written well:

```python [be.py]
def report(orders):
    return [o.name.upper() for o in orders]
```

## Related patterns

The other patterns in [Code nobody needs](https://lessloc.org/patterns/index.md#code-nobody-needs):

- [Options, flags, parameters or config for needs nobody named](https://lessloc.org/patterns/speculative-options.md): lessloc gives every session a rule against it and catches it as `mode-flag`.
- [An interface or abstract class with one implementation](https://lessloc.org/patterns/single-impl.md): lessloc catches it as `single-impl`.
- [Wrappers that only forward; barrel files that only re-export](https://lessloc.org/patterns/wrappers.md): lessloc catches it as `wrapper`.
- [A new function or import that nothing calls or tests](https://lessloc.org/patterns/unused.md): lessloc catches it as `unused` (ruff adds unused variables).
- [Obsolete code kept behind a guard or flag instead of deleted](https://lessloc.org/patterns/guarded-dead-code.md): lessloc gives every session the rule: delete what the change makes dead.
- [Tombstones](https://lessloc.org/patterns/tombstones.md): lessloc catches it as `history`.
- [Stubs and fake success](https://lessloc.org/patterns/stubs.md): lessloc catches it as `stub`; it asks to finish the code or to tell the user what is not real yet.
- [Placeholders: # ... existing code ..., "your code here"](https://lessloc.org/patterns/placeholders.md): lessloc catches it as `placeholder` and refuses it before it lands.
- [Commented-out code](https://lessloc.org/patterns/commented-out.md): lessloc catches it as `commented-out` and refuses it before it lands.
- [Debug leftovers](https://lessloc.org/patterns/debug-leftovers.md): lessloc catches it as `debug-leftover`.
- [A demo \_\_main\_\_ block or demo folder nobody asked for](https://lessloc.org/patterns/demo-code.md): lessloc catches it as `demo-code` and `new-folder`.
- [Hand-written boilerplate a language feature writes](https://lessloc.org/patterns/boilerplate.md): lessloc catches it as `simpler`.
- [TODO and FIXME left behind](https://lessloc.org/patterns/todo.md): lessloc catches it as `todo`; it asks to finish the work, or to record known debt as `shortcut:` and tell the user.