7 tips for writing cleaner code

Writing clear code is one of a developer's most important skills. Code that is well-structured, consistent, and self-documenting is easier to develop, maintain
and extend over time. Unclear code causes frustration and wasted time and introduces errors and bugs that could have been avoided.

When code is written clearly, the next person who reads it - whether that's you in 6 months or another developer - will be able to understand the purpose, logic, and "flow" very quickly. They won't have to struggle through confusing variable names, inconsistent formatting, deeply nested logic, and a lack of comments. They can make changes confidently, knowing they understand how the code works and affects other parts of the system.

Debugging and maintaining unclear code is a constant struggle. You have to slowly piece together the intended logic by following the execution, guessing at variable names, and deducing the purpose of functions. This process takes time and effort that could be better spent adding new features or improvements.

Writing clear code from the beginning pays off drastically over the application's lifetime. After all, code is meant to be read by humans, not just computers. The higher the "signal to noise ratio" - the ratio of meaningful code to confusing code - the easier it will be for developers now and in the future.

Here are 7 tips for writing cleaner code:

Use meaningful variable and function names:
Choose self-documenting names that clearly describe what the variable or function contains or does. Avoid vague names like var1, var2. This makes your code much more readable and easier to debug later.

Break code into modular functions:
Functions should do one specific task and nothing more. Keep functions short, around 5-20 lines. This makes the code reusable, testable, and easier to change in the future.

Follow conventions for syntax and style:
For the language you're using, follow established conventions for syntax, spacing, indentation, etc. This ensures consistency and readability for other developers working on the code.

Limit nesting:
Try to keep nesting of if/else, for, while loops to no more than 2 or 3 levels deep. Flat code is easier to read and understand. Use clearer variable names instead of deeply nested logic.

Add comments where needed:
Comment large sections of code, unclear logic, and anything that needs explanation. Avoid over-commenting obvious code. Well-written code should explain most of the logic.

Avoid duplicate code:
Refactor duplicate blocks of code into functions to reduce repetition and make changes in one place. Duplicated logic leads to bugs and maintenance issues.

Handle errors everywhere:
Use try/catch or if statements to validate inputs and handle potential errors for all functions and inputs. This ensures your code is robust and able to handle unexpected scenarios.

By following these practices, you'll end up with code that is:

• Easier to read, understand, and modify over time
• More reusable across projects
• Easier to extend and maintain
• Less error-prone