Software development is a dynamic industry, continuously undergoing changes. On the one hand, it is difficult to keep up with the technological advancements and programming shifts. On the other hand, the never-ending clients’ requirements are becoming more and more complex. Under such circumstances, it is quite possible to overlook some of the ideal practices and make a few mistakes. If these mistakes are not corrected in time, one might develop a habit of making them that can result in making a new norm. Therefore, it is important to correct these mistakes in time to avoid resource utilization in the wrong direction. Simply put, you can save yourself time, money, and other resources by avoiding these mistakes. In this blog we have talked about eight mistakes software developers often make and how these problems can be avoided.
1. Not Listening to User Requirements and Input
Software development’s ultimate goal is to bring ease into the life of the user. It must address the user’s concerns. Whether software is being developed for the house, or for a client, if the requirements of the user are not incorporated, there is no point in making any such product.
If the software developers fail to understand the user’s requirements, that can lead to poor application development. As it fails to address users’ major pain points, he would want you to correct it in the light of given requirements, resulting in wastage of resources such as time, money, and efforts.
The ideal practice is to make a list of features that the user must tick to let you know what he wants from you. This is a great solution for those applications which are turn-key projects. For a niche market or customized software, during your planning phase, listen to the client carefully and also collaborate with other departments. Ask for user feedback at each step so that you can be sure about progressing in the right direction.
2. Unrealistic Time Estimates
In a competitive market, many software developers struggle with getting clients. In their efforts to win a client, they would sometimes propose a completely unrealistic timeline for software development to coincide with the client’s desires. This is a poor practice because it not only reflects badly on professionalism but also damages the client’s trust. No matter how great of software you develop for him, it will always be haunted by ‘time delays’ comments.
When you are going to work on a project, make a clear assessment of the time required for that project. Whether you need 5 minutes or 5 years; clearly communicate the time required and also the breakdown of this time to avoid vague scope, optimism, and poor delivery estimates.
A misbalance between requirements and the available resources can lead to pressure to deliver or over-promising. It is important that all teams should collaborate and provide a realistic timeline for project delivery.
3. Relying on Temporary Solutions
Once you are working, and the clock is ticking, you might find a quick-fix a life-saver. You have saved yourself the time and effort to fix problems without having the knowledge of the technique that fixed a particular problem.
While a quick fix can save the day, it might be too much of an issue in the long run. Imagine the quick fix stops working at some point, bringing down the whole system, while you are clueless as to how to fix it. You might have forgotten about the problem by the time it arises. Combined with the technology debt, there will be aggravated issues much more difficult to correct later.
4. Protecting Against Vulnerabilities
A digital realm is a risky place. It is critical for all software developers to have expertise in secure coding standards so that the software doesn’t fall into any vulnerability. Overlooking secure coding can result in disaster. While developers make sure they use secure coding, they must also keep themselves abreast with the latest patches used in tools or frameworks. If a software developer has expertise in a particular environment, he might overlook the need and criticality of regular software updates.
5. Holding back Knowledge
Many times, different teams hold back sharing of information in their effort to outshine others. This is a bad practice, which must be discouraged at all levels. For successful project delivery, all teams must collaborate and share their business knowledge, expertise, and experience. If there are new employees they must also be trained so that they can contribute their expertise effectively.
In the end, a good software product is the result of the whole group and the whole team will benefit from it. Unutilized knowledge is useless if it is not put to any use only for the purpose of preventing others to perform well. Encourage as much information sharing, as possible.
6. Not Keeping Updated With Technology
Software development is dynamic. The changes take place frequently and abruptly. It is critical to keep yourself updated with the latest technology to remain relevant to the industry. Other than software developers, other teams and managers must also be up-to-date when it comes to new trends in the industry. One can stay updated with the latest tools and technologies with the help of online courses, certifications, seminars, and workshops, reading industry news or books, listening to podcasts of industry authority, or watching videos.
If software developer does not have access to resources that are up-to-date, they might make themselves irrelevant completely. Although the technology used to develop a product is something that users are not concerned with. They are simply concerned with the solution to their problems.
7. Not Learning from Mistakes
It is quite a routine to witness mistakes being made while developing software. Yes, you can fix the problems or get them fixed by someone else. But, a good developer is one who analyzes the mistakes and understands them. Learning from mistakes is the best practice to become a successful software developer. Don’t just fix a problem. Instead, review the error and find out how it occurred. This will provide you with an opportunity to learn from mistakes and avoid making such mistakes in the future.
8. Limited Code Review
If a product does not work fine, the code needs to be reviewed by different teams. It is important to adopt the best practices and code quality so that the review process is easier. Make sure that the code is tidy and well put together so that it is easier for others to review code from a different perspective. A neat and clean code enhances productivity and efficiency because the reviewer can go through the code smoothly without tripping here and there.
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