Good Frontend Dev !== Good coder

Hi Everyone, From last 3+ years working as a Frontend developer I realised that being good at coding is just not enough to deliver a high quality and robust feature. When it comes to development it involves proper planning and execution at every step. There are few do's and dont's that I follow to ace in this process:

DO'S

1. Feature Planning:

• Understand the requirement thoroughly.
• Discuss with designers, backend developers, and stakeholders to align on expectations.

2. Understand the User:

• Identify the target audience for the feature.
• Always picture yourself in place of a user while developing the feature, this helps to provide good UX going ahead.

3. Effective Communication:

• Regularly update the team about progress or potential blockers.
• Ensure alignment with designers and backend developers before starting.

4. Plan & Prioritize:

• Break down the feature into smaller, manageable tasks.
• Prioritize tasks based on dependencies and deadlines.
• Allocate sufficient time for testing and iterations.

5. Think Long term:

• Even if the feature is has minimal requirements, always build a system which can be made scalable and mantainable going ahead.

6. Stay organised:

• Document decisions made during planning.
• Keep track of changes, deadlines, and dependencies using tools like Trello, Jira, or Notion.

7. Focus on accessibility:

• Think about how users with disabilities might interact with the feature.
• Advocate for inclusive design even if it’s not explicitly requested.

DONT'S

1. Rush the planning phase:

• Don’t skip or rush through the requirement analysis and planning stages. Poor planning leads to rework and delays.

2. Be overprotective of your ideas:

• Avoid resisting suggestions or feedback.
• Features are a team effort, and other perspectives can improve the end result.

3. Overpromise deadlines:

• Don’t commit to unrealistic timelines under pressure. Be transparent about what’s feasible within the given time frame.

4. Underestimate testing importance:

• Don’t assume the QA team or end-users will catch all issues. Prioritize thorough testing during development.
• Always write unit test cases for a safer side.

5. Ignoring personal well-being:

• Don’t overwork yourself to meet deadlines. Take breaks and maintain a healthy work-life balance to stay productive and creative.

Final Thought

A well-developed feature isn’t just about clean code—it’s about understanding user needs, effective collaboration, and balancing priorities. Focusing on these non-technical aspects ensures the feature aligns with business goals and delivers a seamless experience for the end user.