Software development is a dynamic process that requires continuous monitoring, supervision, and process control. Any deviation from the standard workflow should be detected and corrected as soon as possible to prevent further issues. Non-conformance of processes, however, is fairly common in software development projects.
To achieve a fault-proof software development process, you need to anticipate risks and implement best practices to mitigate them effectively. In this blog post, we will discuss some secrets to achieving a fault-proof software development process.
Define and Adopt Coding Standards
Standards and conventions in a custom software development process help create a more consistent and reliable output. Coding standards for software development can be defined at the project level to standardize the following:
Naming Conventions
Naming conventions should be standardized across the project to avoid naming conflicts and dependencies.
Code Formatting
Code formatting can be standardized across files, file extensions, indentation, and other styles to ensure consistency.
Code Documentation
Comments, documentation, and other metadata can be standardized across files and modules to ensure consistency.
Standards and conventions also facilitate better collaboration and coordination among the project stakeholders. Defining and adopting coding standards will make it easier for your team members to understand code written by their colleagues. This, in turn, reduces risk of duplication, improves code quality, and enhances productivity.
Establish a Continuous Integration (CI) Process
A continuous integration (CI) process is the automated building, testing, and deployment of software components as changes are made to computer code. A CI server monitors your project repository for changes in the codebase, including new or modified code, additions to the build log, and update issues in the issue tracking system.
After detecting a code change, the CI server executes the necessary scripts to build the software components. If any fatal errors occur, the process stops to avoid the inclusion of faulty code in the next software release.
A CI server can also trigger automated functional tests to assess the quality of the newly built software components. After passing the functional tests, the CI server deploys the newly built software components to the staging environment for further testing and review.
Identify and Implement Best Practices for Your Team
Team members are the backbone of any software development project. The experience and skill levels of your team members largely determine the success of your project. Before starting a new project, identify and implement best practices that will help you attract, recruit, and retain the right team members.
Conduct a Skills Gap Analysis
An analysis of the current vacancies and skill gaps in the project team can help you discover skill gaps and areas where you need to improve. This will help you efficiently recruit the right team members to fill these gaps.
Conduct a Cultural Fit Assessment
Cultural fit refers to the mutual fit between a project team and the organization. An assessment of the project team’s cultural fit with the organization will help you ensure a successful software development project.
Plan for Communication Barriers
Communication barriers are common in software development projects. A communication barrier can be an issue related to the communication method, frequency, or the people involved in the communication. Examples of communication barriers include:
Language Barriers
Language barriers are often present in distributed teams that comprise members from different parts of the world.
Timing Issues
Timing issues occur when team members work on different time zones. To avoid timing issues, you can try to schedule meetings when most team members are available.
Continuously Monitor Your Applications
Monitoring applications for defects and performance issues is an important part of the software development process. Monitoring also serves as an early indicator of issues that might affect the success of the project.
Monitoring is an ongoing process that involves regularly checking the application’s health, performance, and functionality. By monitoring your applications, you can catch issues early and correct them before they affect critical operations.
Fault-Proof Software Development is Possible With Help
Creating a fault-proof software development process can be difficult for companies with little experience with it. However, you can get help to make the process much easier. At KitelyTech, we work with companies to develop new processes in web development and software development so that they can grow in an increasingly digital world. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to schedule a consultation about your software development needs.
