Top 10 Worst😒 Mistakes to Avoid as a Software Developer in 2022

10. Disregarding mistakes as a virtue or lack of mistakes as a negative thing

As programmers, we should constantly and fearlessly work and learn and grow. And mistakes are an essential part of that process. It’s not like you’ll wake up one day with all the knowledge in the world about software development. And even if you do, mistakes are bound to happen. Don’t make mistakes as a be-all or end-all excuse for not writing code or learning new things.

9. Putting off refactoring

If your application falls into disrepair over time because of poor factoring in the code base, then it’s more than just an eyesore. It can mean major problems later on, such as difficult-to-understand code and bugs. The only way to prevent that is by refactoring your existing codebase, so it’s easier to understand and maintain.

8. Not using the right tools for the job😒

There are many development tools out there, but you can’t use all of them all the time. However, some mistakes can arise if you don’t use the right tools for the job at hand. If your software depends on a tool that isn’t well-supported or is known to have issues with certain operating systems, then there are bound to be problems later on. This can happen either during implementation or after deployment. And this will inevitably lead to mistakes.

7. Being obsessed with learning new languages and tools instead of focusing on more important things

It’s great that you want to learn all the latest and greatest programming languages and frameworks. But there are mistakes you can make when learning the hard way is not only an option but a default approach for doing things. Learn new languages and tools only when you need them, and use them where they make sense.

6. Not taking advantage of “libraries” / existing code🤴

Every programming language has open-source libraries that contain many functions you can reuse in your own projects. Instead of writing redundant code or reinventing the wheel, why not take advantage of what’s out there? Why waste time re-deriving what’s already been created?

5. Not optimizing your code for performance

You might have written the perfect algorithm, but if it doesn’t perform well, then you’re going to have problems with mistakes later on. It doesn’t matter how good the design is or how well-written the code is — if it runs at a snail’s pace, then mistakes are going to be made.

4. Not keeping up with your tools and APIs🥟

As a developer, you have to constantly learn new things — that’s just the nature of the job. Unfortunately, mistakes happen if you don’t keep up to date with what’s available for developers in terms of tools and APIs. Mistakes here include not knowing what tool to use for the job at hand, not knowing the limitations or problems with your tools. All mistakes can worsen over time without you even realizing it.

3. Not having any tests whatsoever🙄

If there are mistakes in your code, then mistakes will eventually be made. And mistakes that could have been caught by automated tests won’t only cost time and money, but it can also cause high levels of frustration and stress. Mistakes that would’ve otherwise never happened if you had some tests for your development code.

1. Not having any sort of documentation This is what can happen when mistakes are made. Mistakes become mistakes due to ignorance because the developer was never informed about something. This kind of mistake could have been stopped if proper documentation had been in place. Having crummy or non-existent documentation becomes a double-edged sword. Mistakes aren’t prevented and mistakes are made due to lack of knowledge.

1. Not handling errors well

Any sort of mistakes in software development can be considered mistakes because they can lead to bigger mistakes later on. Mistakes that could have been prevented if the code had simply thrown an error instead. Handling errors is crucial, namely because it helps you find out where mistakes are made. If mistakes aren’t handled, then mistakes are made due to ignorance.

Mistakes in your writing can be made if you write sloppy, use incorrect grammar and/or spelling mistakes, or don’t edit your mistakes out. You can even make mistakes in how you write an article by not giving the reader enough information for them to understand what you’re talking about (this is something I worry about when writing this kind of guide-type post!). 😂😂😂