How do I use code contracts in .NET 4.0 without making my code look cluttered?

Question

I have started using Code Contracts and have found that it makes it difficult to immediately spot the 'guts' of a method.

Take this (very simple) example:

public static void UserAddNew(string domain, string username, string displayName)
{
    Contract.Assert(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(domain));
    Contract.Assert(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(username));
    Contract.Assert(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(displayName));

    LinqDal.User.UserAddNew(domain, username, displayName);
}

Now I'm tempted to put the contracts in a region, so that they can be hidden away, but then I'm concerned that I'm losing a nice advantage of being able to glance at the method and see what it expects.

What do you do to keep your contracts 'tidy'? Or am I just being too picky?

Answer 1

Have a look at the ContractClass and ContractClassFor attributes. This allows you to write classes with the code contracts in separate assemblies. This allows you to have the contracts available for dev work, doesn't clutter your code and also means you don't have to deploy the contracts with the live code:

Contract Class Attribute

Contract Class For Attribute