# Divergent Change

> A defect in which one module changes for many unrelated reasons.

Record: `architecture:divergent-change`
Kind: anti-pattern
Layer: [Enforcement Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/enforcement-core.md)
Severity: discouraged
Scope: modularity
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology#architecture-divergent-change

Listed in [Architecture principles](https://banes-lab.com/api/records/architecture.md), after [Shotgun Surgery](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/shotgun-surgery.md) and before [Feature Envy](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/feature-envy.md).

## Repair

- Refactored by: split_module, extract_class, separate_concerns, move_method
- Detected by: unrelated_commits_touch_same_file, mixed_methods, mixed_dependencies
- Violated by: Place unrelated responsibilities in the same module so unrelated change reasons repeatedly modify one artifact.
- Measured by: distinct reasons to change per module in the change history
- Enforced by: module cohesion limits, [design review](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/design-review.md)

## Severity

- [discouraged](https://banes-lab.com/records/vocabulary/severity-discouraged.md)

## Category

- [Anti-patterns](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture-category/anti-patterns.md)

## Force

- [Modularity](https://banes-lab.com/records/force/modularity.md)

## Negated by

- [Single Responsibility Principle](https://banes-lab.com/records/architecture/single-responsibility.md)

## Linked from

- [An anti-pattern is a decay path](https://banes-lab.com/software-architecture/decay/an-anti-pattern-is-a-decay-path.md)
- [Anti-patterns](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-anti-patterns.md)
- [Core Modular Design](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/principles/architecture-category-core-modular-design.md)
- [Severity levels](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/schema/the-vocabulary-severity.md)
- [The forces](https://banes-lab.com/ontology/schema/the-forces.md)