Devit!

Some important and yet simple tips that can get lost over time: (In no particular order)

1. Ensure every code path closes your database connection
2. Log all errors and review your error logs on a periodic basis
3. Comment all code - It’s easier to remove excessive comments than to try and understand someone else’s code
4. Write out the process in SUDO code before you start to ensure you’ve covered off all the necessary functionality
5. Have another developer review your code - in 5 minutes another developer can sanity check your code
6. Document complicated code in a WIKI or some other type of developer resource
7. Break down complex problems into smaller issues that are easier to digest - if necessary repeat
8. Always assume the user will do unexpected things
9. For larger development ensure database design and specifications are tackled first
10. Never be embarrassed to ask other developers for help, all to often developers try to solve a problem that one of their colleagues have already successfully resolved
11. Google is your friend, use it
12. And most important, get up and go for a walk, stretch your legs and get the blood flowing when you’re trying to solve a difficult problem or when you’ve just been working for hours on end

If you have some great tips feel free to post a comment below.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 9:42 am and is filed under Devit!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.