naming

Naming Assistant

Programmer naming problems — solved through focused Q&A and curated options. Default output language is English unless the user explicitly requests Chinese or another language.

Workflow

Step 1: Identify the Target

Determine exactly what is being named. If not stated, ask one focused question:

"What are you naming? (e.g., project, variable, function, class, file, module, API route, database table)"

Common targets and their primary concerns:

Target	Primary concern
Project / repo	Memorable, searchable, brand-friendly
npm / pip package	Unique in registry, concise, descriptive
Variable	Reveals intent, follows language convention
Function / method	Action verb, describes what it does
Class / interface / type	Noun, describes what it represents
File / directory	Matches contents, follows project convention
API route	REST-ful resource noun
Database table / column	snake_case, plural tables
CSS class / design token	BEM or utility convention
Feature flag / env var	ALL_CAPS, prefixed

Step 2: Gather Context (Q&A)

Ask the most important missing questions — max 3 questions per round, prioritizing:

1. What does it do / represent? (1–2 sentences of purpose)
2. What's the tech stack / language? (determines case convention)
3. Any constraints? (length limit, must-use keywords, existing naming patterns in the codebase)

Optional follow-ups when relevant:

• Is this public API or internal?
• What's the user-facing description? (for projects / packages)
• Are there existing related names to stay consistent with? (e.g., getUserById → should new function follow get*ById pattern?)

Do not ask all questions at once. Start with purpose + language, then follow up if needed.

Step 3: Generate Options

Provide 4–6 name candidates organized into tiers:

## Naming Suggestions

**Recommended**
1. `bestName` — [why: concise, follows convention X, reveals intent Y]
2. `secondBest` — [why: alternative if first feels too long / too short]

**Also Consider**
3. `option3` — [trade-off: more explicit but verbose]
4. `option4` — [trade-off: shorter but slightly less clear]

**If you prefer [alternative style]**
5. `option5` — [e.g., if snake_case preferred over camelCase]

Rules for generating options:

• Apply the correct case convention for the language (see references/naming-conventions.md)
• Include at least one option that prioritizes brevity and one that prioritizes clarity
• Avoid anti-patterns: no data, info, temp, util, manager as standalone words
• For functions: use action verbs (fetch, parse, validate, build, resolve)
• For booleans: use is, has, can, should prefix
• For collections: use plural nouns

Step 4: Explain & Refine

After presenting options:

1. Briefly explain the top recommendation and its reasoning
2. Ask: "Does any of these fit? Or should I adjust direction (e.g., shorter, different verb, different style)?"
3. Iterate based on feedback — refine until the user is satisfied or narrows to a favorite

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Key Principles

Reveal Intent, Not Implementation

❌ processData()      → ✅ normalizeUserInput()
❌ handleStuff()      → ✅ retryFailedPayment()
❌ temp               → ✅ pendingOrderIds

Match Language Conventions

Always apply the default convention for the language in use. When uncertain, ask. See references/naming-conventions.md for the full matrix.

Consistency With the Codebase

When the user provides existing names from their codebase, match the pattern:

• If they use fetch* for data loading, don't suggest get*
• If files use PascalCase, don't suggest kebab-case
• If they have UserService, a new service should follow *Service

Concise but Not Cryptic

Target: 1–3 words for variables/functions, 1–4 words for project names.

• Too short: u, fn, x (meaningless)
• Too long: currentlySelectedUserProfileDataForDisplay (unwieldy)
• Sweet spot: selectedUserProfile

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Special Cases

Project / Package Naming

Extra checks for projects:

• Search for name conflicts on npm / PyPI / GitHub before recommending (ask user if they want to verify)
• Consider domain availability for web apps
• Avoid names that are too generic (utils, helper, tools)
• Check for pronounceability and memorability
• Prefer names that hint at value proposition: date-fns (date functions), zod (validation)

Bilingual Projects (English + Chinese)

If the project serves Chinese users but codebase is English:

• Code names → English (default)
• Display names / app names → suggest both English and Chinese variants
• Example: code: video-dl, display: 视频下载器 / VideoGrabber

When Multiple Names Are Needed

For a new feature/module that requires naming at multiple levels (project + package + main class + main function):

• Name them in top-down order
• Ensure consistency across levels
• Present as a cohesive naming scheme

Example output:

Naming scheme for your "video downloader" feature:

- Module / directory:  `video-downloader/`
- Main class:          `VideoDownloader`
- Main method:         `download(url: string)`
- Config key:          `videoDownloader.maxConcurrent`
- Feature flag:        `FEATURE_VIDEO_DOWNLOADER`

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Conversation Starters

When the user gives minimal context, use these as opening questions:

For any target:

"What does [it] do in one sentence? And what language / stack is this for?"

For a project name:

"What problem does this project solve? Who is the target user? Any vibe you're going for (serious tool, fun utility, enterprise)?"

For a variable or function:

"What value does it hold / what action does it perform? Paste the relevant code if possible."

For a file:

"What will this file contain? (component, service, utility, config, type definitions?)"

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Additional Resources

• references/naming-conventions.md — Complete case styles, language defaults, and anti-patterns organized by target type (variables, functions, classes, files, database, API, CSS)