We understand coding it isn’t easy, there are codes to be written implementing various new technologies, meeting deadlines, and fixing bugs. So much has to be done, that the most important practices are compromised, which takes away from a developer. This negligence can end up in writing bad code, which eventually leads to a lot of time being wasted trying to fix the errors in the code.
For instance, you’ve been stuck on a particular project for weeks, and you think you’re almost there, the final touches to be made, but then out of nowhere a bug arises making it impossible to meet the deadline, and after going down the debugging rabbit hole you find the answer which you could’ve avoided in the first place, how annoying does that sound but this is a common phenomenon amongst developers.
However the good news is that you can keep low coding standards in check by making a habit out of these important coding philosophies as they are not just standard rules but these practices can be handy by assisting to become a better coder, saving time in the long run. In this article we will be touching upon some important coding practices that every one must be aware of, be it an amateur or a well seasoned coder.
1. Make Sure Your Code Looks Good Even For People Who Might Read It In The Future
It’s not just other people who will be looking at the code you write, so make sure you write it good for yourself in the future. Do not put too many things in a single function or a method. Pick the right names for variables and methods. Do not forget to document potentially unclear pieces of business logic in the form of comments. Last but certainly not the least, properly formatted and documented code is less painful to debug, maintain, and even share with other team members.
2. Adopt A Version Control Approach
If you are not working with version control systems such as Git, you are likely expending unnecessary effort. This will avoid headaches in the future with catching up other peoples’ versions and making the version you are working with easier to manage. If something went wrong, go back to the working version. Always use the commit with meaningful messages to understand your history better.
3. Follow Policies For Your Coding Style
One of the key features of coding standards is that it increases uniformity which in turn increases readability of the code. Whether it is classic issues of whether to use tabs or spaces, who gets to decide mainly depends on getting buy in from the team and sticking with it. This seems to be emphasized in many organizations including a number of Software Development Companies UK based or other localized ones.
4. Test Your Code
Testing may be a tedious activity, but it is very important. Writing unit tests, integration tests and end-to-end tests will help avoid errors once it is deployed. Automated testing frameworks help save time and be sure that codes pars during the intended operation.
5. Do Not Re Invent The Wheel
Being a developer, it is always tempting to start from square one. While it is okay to know how the system works at the background, do not spend valuable time trying to replicate solutions that are already there. Have a great library of established and well tested frameworks and tools. For instance, Syndell is a UK Software Development Company that works very well with established tools giving faster turn around and lowered errors levels.
6. Write Proper Comments
Documentation is your friend for the future. Whether it is inline comments or external documents, there is a need to get into the habit of annotating what your code does and why. This is utmost crucial in scenarios where you are in teams or it’s likely the code will be used at a later stage by other users.
7. Do Not Over Do Performance Optimization
Optimizing too early can increase rigidity. Instead, implement code breaking it down into working sections and only enhancing performance when there are problems with it. Using profiling tools assist in identifying the problem areas and providing solutions without adding excessive complexity.
8. Regular Code Review is the Key
There are a few false assumptions about code reviews — they don’t mean stealing someone’s credit or finding faults in people’s work, but improving the quality of the project. Code review is beneficial regardless if it’s you who is doing the reviewing or having your code reviewed. It may help to find errors, demonstrate a better way of doing things or simply work better together as a team.
9. Maintain the Search and the Learning Process
The target is mastered once and gets on with life; there are people with such a mindset. However, in the technology-oriented world we live in, one will be outdated someone or something in no time. As a spider spins its web, dedicate time to learning new languages, tools, and techniques. But remember, depth is as important as breadth. Specialization in certain areas can be beneficial in outsourced Software Development Services in the UK.
10. Use Planning in Software Development Life Cycle
I will be the first one to digress, but legit coding feels too good and rather powerful without any planning, capturing the essence of the topic, however, all it does is make a mess. Before you get your hands dirty, plan everything. Divide your problem into sub problems, draw flowcharts or at least write down pseudo codes. You will thank me later on having the peace of mind later.
Syndell: Your Smart Software Partner
Developers are everywhere and that’s why we at Syndell Software Development Agency UK try to assist innovatively with reality across all the industries that matter. We always have competent developers as our software development agency is engaged in multiple successful projects. Calling Syndell means that you are making the right choice whether it’s about seeking Software Development Services in the UK or requiring advice from industry experts.
FAQs
Q: Why writing code which is readable is of utmost importance?
A: Making writing code easy for reading increases its understandability, debugging and maintenance whether it’s you or any other developer who has a look at the code in future.
Q: Version control what is the significance with regard to developers?
A: Developers are always under pressure and in need of depositary aids therefore tools such as Git provide them with an opportunity to monitor operations together with structural colleagues and go back in versions if that’s necessary.
