The software development process can be full of surprises. Sometimes those surprises are pleasant, like when a long line of code works perfectly first-time. However, more often than not, they’re unpleasant, like when you find out that your code is full of bugs.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent bugs from creeping into your code in the first place. Here are some tips:
Automate as much as possible
One of the best ways to prevent bugs is to automate as much as possible by using automated testing tools. Common testing tools, like Selenium, are used by many software developers, but you should also consider selenium alternatives if you require more heavy-duty testing for complicated sets of code. By automating your tests, you can avoid many of the problems associated with manual testing.
Manual testing is often slow and tedious and can also be error-prone, since it relies on humans to execute the tests. Automated testing, on the other hand, has many benefits. It is often faster and more accurate than manual testing and it can also be less expensive, since it does not require the same level of manpower. In this way, automated testing is a valuable tool for any software development team no matter how big or small.
Plan quality control from the start
Another way to prevent bugs is to plan for quality control from the start. It’s important not to wait until your code is “finished” to start thinking about how you’re going to test it. Build testing and quality control into your development process from the beginning.
This may seem like a lot of work up front, but it will pay off in the long run. Doing testing as you go along can avoid you having to start again, so by taking the time to plan for testing and quality control, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort down the road.
Write code that is easy to read and understand
Similarly, it’s important to write code that is easy to read and understand if you want to avoid bugs. Code is a set of instructions that tell a computer what to do, and those instructions are written in a programming language. If you wrote English with dozens of spelling mistakes, people would find it hard to read, and the same applies to code.
There are many different programming languages, but they all have one thing in common: they are designed to be easy for humans to read and understand. However, that doesn’t mean that code is always easy to write. In fact, even experienced programmers make mistakes sometimes. Luckily, by understanding how code works, you can reduce the chances of making a mistake. And if you do make a mistake, understanding how code works will also help you find and fix the bug more quickly.
One way to make your code easier to read is to use clear and concise variable names, or you can use comments to explain what your code is doing. By taking the time to make your code readable, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort down the road.
Use a version control system
One final way to prevent bugs is to use a version control system. This is similar to how you can look at past versions of a Word document when you make a mistake and want your old work back. For software programming, this will allow you to track changes to your code and easily roll back to a previous version if necessary.
In this way, version control systems are a valuable tool for inexperienced software developers who are still getting used to doing their own coding. Often it can be tricky to spot where a mistake has been made, so version control can help to reset the code back to a place before the mistake was made, helping to avoid many of the common headaches associated with managing code changes.
Conclusion
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to preventing bugs in your code. By following these tips, you can avoid many of the common problems associated with software development. So, don’t wait until your code is “finished” to start thinking about how you’re going to test it. Check as you go and keep those bugs at bay!