In the past few years, software development has seen tremendous growth and advancements. New technologies make it easier than ever to develop new software, and greatly expand the capabilities of that software to do nearly whatever you want it to do. These advancements are not limited to software technology and tools, but also include how software is developed.
Whether you are just getting into software development or you are a seasoned veteran, it is important to take a look at how the software development process has changed. Here is the complete guide to software development in 2023.
Best Practices for Software Development
As a software developer, you are a part of a wider community that works on multiple different types of software. It is important to be aware of best practices for the community you work in, so that you can communicate with others appropriately and set yourself up for success. Here is a software development guide to best practices that you should be aware of.
Prioritize Collaboration
Software is a collaborative effort. There are many different roles and people involved in bringing a piece of software to life. While you are responsible for the code you write, always be open to feedback and try to help others solve problems they are facing.
Iterate Often to Improve Development
Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. The only way to truly learn is by making mistakes and then correcting them.
Likewise, making small improvements over many iterations is a part of the development process. Don’t waste time trying to make major gains in every release. Instead, pick a few things that you can make meaningful improvements on, improve them, and iterate again to make small improvements turn into major changes.
Create Documentation for Every Project
Before you start building your software, create documentation of your plan and goals for the project. This can be as simple as a few sentences on a piece of paper and will help you stay on task and know where you are heading.
Most software development companies have some sort of documentation or coding standard they expect their employees to follow. This is important to ensure that the code written by your team is understandable by other members of the team and future team members. It is also a way of standardizing code to make it easier to maintain. Failing to create documentation for your projects can lead to serious development issues down the road.
Write Efficient Code
Whether you are writing code from scratch or just tweaking an existing program, you will probably come across the terms “efficient code” and “clean code”. An example of this is being specific when naming files, functions, and documents. Naming conventions are important when writing code. It is important to name your variables and functions in a way that is both specific and easy to understand. This will make your code easy to read and follow.
Another example is breaking your code into reusable modules where possible. As your program grows larger, it will become harder to maintain. Breaking it down into reusable modules not only makes coding faster when adding features and fixing problems, but it also limits the use of redundant code that can cause problems later.
Tips for Making Your Code Better
As you join new projects, there are little things that you can do to make a big difference in the quality of your code. Here are a few options that can help you advance as a developer.
Debugging and Testing Code
Debugging and testing are two important aspects of writing code. When you are debugging, you are identifying and fixing errors and issues in your code. When you are testing your code, you are verifying that it works as intended.
Break Your Code Into Smaller Parts
As your code grows larger, it becomes harder to understand and debug. However, if you break your code into smaller parts, you will be able to identify issues and bugs faster and easier. This will save you lots of time and effort, especially if you are working with a team.
Use Existing Libraries
When you are writing code, there are many different concepts and techniques you need to understand. It can be easy to get lost in all the minute details and forget about the bigger picture. When this happens, you can use existing libraries as a shortcut to solve a problem.
Find Automated Debugging and Testing Tools
Automation will play a big role in software development going forward. You can use debugging and testing tools that are automated, which is much faster and can give you the ability to conduct more complex tests. These tools have come a long way since their introduction, and they continue to be one of the strongest tool sets that software developers have to reduce development time and improve quality control.
Choose the Right Software Development Partner
Software development is no longer the domain of a single company. The industry thrives on collaboration more than anything else. That’s why you should focus on picking the right software development partner for your needs. At KitelyTech, we specialize in creating top-quality software for companies of all sizes. Our development team is focused on staying up-to-date on the best software development tools, tricks, and trends available. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to see how we can help you with your next software development project.
