How to Write More Exceptional Code

A crucial component of software development is code quality, which includes a number of procedures and guidelines meant to produce clear, efficient, and maintainable code. It entails writing readable code, removing duplication with reusable parts, annotating documentation, carrying out exhaustive unit testing, and choosing relevant development tools. In addition to improving software's long-term maintainability and dependability, excellent code quality also promotes more effective development procedures and reduces errors, all of which contribute to better user experiences and more successful projects.

File Structure:

Make every effort to keep your files organised. If you're unsure about how to organise your folder, conduct some online research. Because certain areas of the codebase are easier for developers to locate, comprehend, and edit, this is critical for maintainability. As a result, making adjustments and troubleshooting problems take less time and effort.

Reusable Code:

Make sure a function is separated if it can be utilised in other places. Put simply, make sure your code and functions are reusable. We do not want an excessive number of duplicate codes in our code. Thus, be sure to give this some thought, particularly if you're restructuring your codes.

Comments

These remarks hold great significance. Your codes will remain unaffected by comments, and neither will the performance. These serve as everyone's own tour guide for your code, simplifying and improving the enjoyment of your programming for all parties involved. They make sure your code is more than simply a collection of mysterious symbols to understand by providing insights into its function and internal workings. In addition to being useful notes for you or your team, comments also help you prevent confusion, identify errors, and plan for future improvements. Consider comments, then, as your amiable fellow programmers who will help you navigate the world of coding with clarity and companionship.

Unit Tests

Make as many tests as you can; they will be helpful in the long run, especially if the project is still in its early stages. Promise me. Additionally, this will improve the methods' quality. If the project is not brand-new, however, begin by writing tests for the critical features and test the supporting features afterwards. Typescript is another approach I recommend for type safety.

Here are some recommendations I have for you once you locate the test framework for the programming language you are using.

JavaScript Popular tools for testing: Mocha, Jasmine, Unit JS, Jest

PHP popular tools for testing: PHPUnit

Other Suggestions: Vitest | Next Generation testing framework.

IDE is also crucial.

If you're using Visual Studio Code, make sure you install the extensions required for development. You may also utilise the VS Code profile system to set up several profiles for different development environments.

Since you will have complete support for the particular development language you are using—for example, PHPStorm for PHP development, WebStorm for web development, PyCharm for Python development, etc.—I personally advise choosing the JetBrains product. It offers capabilities like code duplicate checks and refactoring that will undoubtedly be helpful. You can apply for a free licence here: Licences for Open-Source Development (jetbrains.com) if you have an open-source project.

Tools AI

Make the most of AI to simplify a variety of activities. When it comes to code-related searches, standard search engines like Google Search are losing ground to AI-powered alternatives like Chat GPT, Bard, and Microsoft Edge's Edge Copilot.

I hope you found this post useful. Toast 🍻 and enjoy your day 🌞