Hunting Down The Mythical High-Quality Code

(via: https://pixabay.com/en/code-code-editor-coding-computer-1839406/)

Programming and coding are without a doubt among the most “in-demand” job skills out there right now. All different types of companies in many different industries have a use for those who specialize in these skills. This is especially true as more and more companies begin to use or create software for their operations.

However, not all code is created equally. Some code is brilliant and does exactly what you wanted it to, while some are low quality and do not. Over course, every individual and company want their code to be high quality. With that in mind, this article is going to look at what goes into creating high-quality code.

Know the Characteristic of Quality Code

While there is no exact dictionary definition of what high-quality code is, there are a few characteristics of it you should know. First of all, the code needs to be correct. The code should perform the functions it is supposed to do and if not, it’s not high quality.

In addition to making sure code is correct, it should also be stable. The code should be free of major errors and if errors occur, they shouldn’t completely decimate the code. Lastly, the code that is high quality should be clear. Everyone, not only the people who wrote the code, should be able to understand it. If not, anyone who has to work on it or manage it in the future will be left in the dark.

Review Your Code Frequently and Keep it Maintained

While you might be a great programmer, everyone has their own biases and specific skill sets. As a result, it is a good idea to have other people check through and review your code to check for potential problem areas. In addition to getting the code reviewed or tested by other programmers, it is a good idea to go back and review it yourself. As you write code, especially over a few weeks or months, you are bound to improve and learn new things.

Because of this, it is important to go back and review your code and see if any changes need to be made. Maintaining your code over time is important as well, but instead of constantly checking it manually, consider using automatic logging or another solution to keep track of your logs.

Your software or code will produce logs, which are time-stamped documentation of events that relate to your code or software. These tools or services will notify you of an issue or error, and also tell you where the issue is and what caused it. If you want to learn more about logging and its benefits, check out this link: Logging for Heroku – tail and view Heroku logs with Papertrail

Use a Consistent Coding Style

While those not experienced in the space might think all coding is the same, that is far from the truth. With there being tens of millions of professional software developers all over the world, many different coding styles have arisen. Some will prefer to do things a certain way, while others may use completely different tactics.

In order for your code to be high quality, you need to be consistent in how it is written. This goes for whether you are working on code by yourself, or with a team. When choosing a coding style for you or your team, be sure naming and commenting is consistent, code is broken into a manageable amount or source files and that your writing is informative. Doing all of this will help keep the code more readable.

In conclusion, hopefully, this article has been able to teach you a little more about what high-quality code is and how to achieve it.