Writing high-quality code can be challenging, particularly when you’re under tight deadlines or you’re fighting off bad coding habits. When working on your own small project, stylistic quirks and deviations from accepted standards may not be a big deal. However, when working as part of a team or on projects that others maintain, writing clear, efficient code is vital.
To ensure that your code doesn’t become a nightmare for yourself or others, you need to adopt certain best practices. In this article, you’ll learn some of the most common best practices to ensure clean, and easy-to-maintain code.
10 Coding Best Practices
The following are some basic coding best practices that you should incorporate when you program. These practices are language independent and can help any level developer produce higher quality and more accessible code.
1. Prioritize Readability
When you prioritize the readability of your code, it helps others handle your source code. Code that is easy to read enables you to quickly understand what the code is supposed to do. It also makes it easier to troubleshoot issues or make changes.
To improve readability, make sure to use a consistent style. Use regular indentation and spacing to visually define code blocks and lines. Consistent use of white space can make it easier to spot syntax errors and to follow the path of the code. You can use linters to help you ensure consistency. Linters are tools that analyze static code for stylistic and programmatic errors.
2. Follow Naming Conventions
Follow proper naming conventions for your variables, functions, classes, etc. A name should reflect the usage or value that it is tied to. It should add information and clarity to your code. For example, using “age” instead of “x” or “calcTaxRate” instead of “funcA”.
3. Use Comments
As you write your program, try to find a balance of code and comments. Some sections may not need comments, especially when you use proper naming conventions and simple logic. Other sections may be less clear. When creating comments, try to address what a block of code does and why it’s implemented the way it is.
Adding comments to complex functionality can help you better maintain code later. Comments can make it simpler to find the functionality you’re looking for and make the necessary changes. Commenting can also make it easier for other developers to work with your code.
4. Keep Code Simple
Keep your code as simple as possible. Use the simplest functions and loops possible to create the functionality you need. It reduces the chance of bugs being introduced by excess complexity.
Using simple code can help reduce the number of code lines in your codebase. However, don’t make the mistake of trying to make all functionality as compact as possible. Trying to cram everything into single line statements often makes code less readable. You need to find a balance between code lines and readability.
5. Limit Dependencies
The general rule is—the fewer dependencies, the better. The fewer dependencies you include, the more secure and stable your code will be. Dependencies can introduce vulnerabilities into your code and updates, and removal of libraries can cause your code to break.
To minimize dependency use, try to find the minimal amount of libraries to meet your needs. Also, try to avoid using a library for a single purpose. Unless a function or method is highly complex, it’s better to write it directly into your code.
6. Verify Open-Source Code
There’s nothing wrong with using code from StackOverflow or incorporating open-source libraries into your projects. However, you shouldn’t use these tools carelessly. Make sure you know what the code you’re incorporating does and ensure that it doesn’t include any malicious functionality or exploits.
Scan any code you wish to use and make sure you are using the most recent version of reputable libraries. It’s a good idea to evaluate any dependencies for vulnerabilities and verify whether there are any known issues. Vulnerability databases and threat data feeds can be a good source of information for verification.
7. Use Trusted Security Tools
Unless you are a security expert, you should not try to code your own security tools. This includes encryption and authentication tools.
Security tools require significant expertise to develop effectively. It doesn’t make sense to put yourself or your users at risk by trying to craft your own. Instead, stick to established and respected security libraries with a proven track record.
8. Avoid Hardcoding Values
Hardcoding is when you write values directly into your logic. Hardcoding makes it more difficult to update code. It can also present a security risk, particularly if you hardcode passwords or API keys. You can use constants and configuration files instead of hardcoding
9. Don’t Ignore Errors
Don’t try to hide errors by catching and ignoring exceptions or by using libraries that don’t report errors. Hiding errors may make your code seem cleaner but it can make it harder to find and diagnose errors later. When you do need to ignore errors, log them so you can find and analyze the data later.
10. Use Helper Functions
Use “helper” functions to break down complex tasks. These functions can be joined together by calling them in a primary function. This joining enables you to break a feature into manageable chunks while still achieving the functionality you need. Using “helper” functions makes it easier to correct issues or modify functionality later on.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article helped you learn some best practices you can integrate into your coding projects. When adopting these practices, remember that changing the way you work doesn’t happen immediately. Improving your practices takes effort but the results are worth it and mean less work in the future for you and your team.
Once you’re ready for more specific guidance on how to improve your code, search for your language’s coding standards. You should find a variety of standards to choose from, many of which are specially written for specific industries.
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