In the world of web development, challenges are an essential part of the job. Just like any other type of job, it also comes with its share of problems and frustrations. Keeping these things in mind, you can work through them to produce high-quality code that users will appreciate. Here’s a list of common challenges web developers face—and solutions for each one.
List of Web Development Challenges and Solutions
Scope Creep
A change in the project requirements is called “scope creep,” and it can wreak havoc on a project if not addressed. It’s important to protect your team from unnecessary extra work by managing project expectations from the outset.
In a waterfall model, the team works on one part of the project at a time. This way, they can focus on one thing at a time and finish it before moving on to the next part.
When you’re working with clients, you need to set expectations up front. You’ll also want to outline your process and the project schedule in detail so that everyone is on the same page.
Communicating with Remote Teams
Communication is a core element of team dynamics, regardless of whether you work in-house or remotely. When working remotely, things can get tricky when it comes to communication and resolving issues.
One of the best things you can do when you work with a remote team is to clearly establish communication guidelines and expectations. You’ll want to outline your communication mediums and frequency. It’s also important to set up rules around who initiates communication and how it is done.
Understanding Business Requirements
Business requirements are different from technical requirements, but they’re often intertwined. When deadlines or budgets are tight, it’s easy for developers to focus on the technical side of the project and overlook business requirements.
Hire someone who understands business needs as well as technology. That way, they can help you identify and communicate the business goals and needs for the project.
Keep business requirements in a separate document from the technical requirements. That way, everyone can stay focused on their own deliverables and find the document when they need it.
Responsive Design/User Interface Complexity
Mobile devices now outnumber desktop computers, so it’s no surprise that more users are accessing the web from their smartphones than ever before. As a result, many companies are using Webflow website development and switching to responsive design for their websites. However, it can be challenging to create an interface that is simple and intuitive for desktop users as well as those on mobile devices without sacrificing functionality.
If you’re not careful, you could end up creating a complicated interface that frustrates users and causes them to leave the website. To avoid this, stay focused on your users’ needs and goals. Talk to them and find out what they’re looking for.
Lack of Quality Assurance
Quality assurance (QA) is the process of checking a project before it goes live to make sure it’s free of errors and meets the requirements set out in the business requirements document. When QA is overlooked, it can lead to project delays, unhappy clients, and even lost revenue. That’s why it’s important to make QA a priority no matter how tight the deadline is.
Before starting a project, outline the QA process and get everyone’s buy-in. That way, no one will feel like QA is an afterthought or that they’re being held back. You can also use tools like Jira Software to help manage QA and find issues as soon as they happen through automated checks.
Changing Technologies
Modern web development is an ever-changing landscape of new technologies, tools, and best practices. New languages and frameworks appear seemingly out of nowhere and others fade into obscurity.
Keeping up with the latest trends can be tricky, but it’s important if you want to provide your customers with the best experience possible. There are a few ways you can stay up-to-date with the latest technologies.
Look at the technologies your company uses. If you want to try something new, talk to your team and see if they’re interested in switching. You can also follow thought leaders in the web development space. Follow blogs and newsletters that talk about the latest technologies and developments.
Planning to Scale
The success of digital resources for businesses means that they are growing at a faster rate. All digital assets designed for businesses need to incorporate planning to scale, or expand operations as the business grows.
Failing to plan to scale means that anything you build may become a limiting factor for a business since it cannot handle an expanded workload. Things like increased traffic become a hindrance rather than a benefit since the systems you built cannot handle it. Always plan for any project deliverable to scale in the near future and build accordingly.
Data Security
Data security is essential to protect your customers’ information. If you fail to protect your users’ privacy and data, you could face legal action, or your customers could lose trust in you. Here are a few ways to improve data security in your application:
Use SSL
All websites should use SSL to protect their users’ data. SSL uses encryption to protect the data as it travels from your users’ browsers to your servers.
Double-Check Security Settings
Make sure you check the settings on your application. If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, make sure you set it up correctly from the start.
Protect Your Code
Make sure your code is free of bugs that could lead to data breaches.
Integrating Third-Party Platforms
Integrating third-party platforms like eCommerce stores or CRMs into your application can be challenging. But it’s a necessary part of the development process for many companies.
If you’re integrating a third-party platform into your application, make sure you have a detailed time frame and a checklist of everything that needs to be done. This will help you stay on track and prevent issues from arising. Before you implement a new technology or platform, do your research and make sure it’s the best solution for your company.
Failing to Work with Experts
Web development is a complex and challenging space, but it’s also extremely rewarding when you see your projects come to life. By following these tips, you can stay on track and produce high-quality code.If you have a project coming up, consult with experts to make sure that it goes smoothly. At KitelyTech, we help businesses and tech teams develop the digital resources that they need. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to discuss your next project with our development teams.
