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default-over-not

Summary: Prefer default assignment over negated condition

Category: Style

Avoid

package policy

import rego.v1

username := input.user.name

username := "anonymous" if not input.user.name

Prefer

package policy

default username := "anonymous"

username := input.user.name

Rationale​

While both forms are valid, using the default keyword to assign a constant value in the fallback case better communicates intent, avoids negation where it isn't needed, and requires less instructions to evaluate. Note that this rule only covers simple cases where one rule assigns the "happy" path, and another rule assigns on the same condition negated. This is by design, as using not and negation may very well be the right choice for more complex cases!

Configuration Options​

This linter rule provides the following configuration options:

rules:
  style:
    default-over-not:
      # one of "error", "warning", "ignore"
      level: error

Community​

If you think you've found a problem with this rule or its documentation, would like to suggest improvements, new rules, or just talk about Regal in general, please join us in the #regal channel in the Styra Community Slack!