Finding That Perfect Code

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Is there any such thing as perfect code? Many of the coders would say “no.” If you’re one of them, you’re still thinking right! Because coding requires complex programming techniques, it’s often tough to play smart with this monster. Add to that the bugs popping up and the repetitive alterations you need to make according to the changing algorithms. It’s no surprise that you end up making a new code right from scratch.

But there’s some good news as well. Though coding requires a lot of hard work, there are various ways to make your efforts worthwhile. Finding that perfect code is possible if you follow some useful rules before diving deep into the world of coding.

Let’s get started with the most crucial ones.

Give Descriptive Names To The Variables

Programmers used to create short names for their variables. This was all they could to do to save a few keystrokes. However, what worked in the past doesn’t have anything to do with today’s highly competitive programming environment.

Modern coding is comparatively more challenging and demanding. Besides monitoring your Python apps, you should come up with long, descriptive variable names to help your colleagues understand what your code actually does. Plus, this is also beneficial for yourself as it will help you remember the purpose of each code whenever you revisit it in the future.

So, instead of writing “elapsed time”, you can go for “elapsed time for ten days”. In this example, the descriptive name definitely sounds more meaningful and specific. Here’s another example: instead of writing “dab”, it’s wise to write “distanceBetweenAB” which is more recognizable and less time-consuming to understand.

Use A Specific Coding Style

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Perhaps, you’ve learned to code by picking some of the best programming tutorials. But if you’re still a newbie, chances are that you’re using multiple coding styles without recognizing the fact that this may result in inconsistency. It doesn’t matter what coding style you choose. What matters is how you stay consistent throughout the entire code.

So, if you’re comfortable using tabs instead of spaces, it’s better to stick to either tabs or spaces rather than using tabs as well as spaces interchangeably. Some languages such as C# and Python have various style guides so you can follow one of those according to your preferences.

Comment As You Code

Whether you’re writing a function or a method, never forget to start off with a comment. This will help your colleagues know what exactly every routine does, what its parameters are, what its exceptions are, and what outcome it’s designed to provide. As you write the comment, you can mention the contents of various class fields. Also, make sure not to delay adding the comments. If you’ve planned to do this later, there are chances that you’d forget.

Find Out Which Hour Of The Day Is The Most Productive For Coding

Writing great code is just like writing persuasive content. Both jobs don’t just require mental focus, they demand enthusiasm and willingness to provide the best outcome. This is one of the reasons why programmers should take a break when they’re tired. Writing code with drained energy will only result in more bugs.

The fix? Observe which slot is the best time slot of your work schedule and start writing code in those specific working hours. This will help you code with a fresh mind. As you begin implementing this technique, you’ll notice improved performance throughout your coding experience.

Stay Away From Security Pitfalls

Nobody wants to develop a complex code all over again. So, why should you? Modern coding does come with security risks, which is why malicious attacks could drastically wipe your data out. Therefore, you should keep it safe from SQL injection, buffer overflows, and various other security threats by learning more about these issues and avoiding them while developing code.

–EOF (Coding For Speed) —