Web Development Best Practices: Ensuring Code Quality and Maintainability

Web development is an ever-changing field in the tech world with dynamic trends and emerging technologies. But that’s not all, it has some good old rules and practices to be followed. That seems questionable, isn’t it? The explanation is absolutely simple! In spiter of the fact that the technology might go through major shifts, there are a few standards of web app development that need to be employed because they are time-tested and proven to be useful.

In this article, we’ll have a look at the most efficient and appreciated strategies and practices that any web developer should implement in coding for excellent outputs.

Best Practices to Implement Coding Standards in Your Web Development

1.   Use Linter at IDE level

Using linters, which are like grammar checkers for code, can help spot and prevent many coding issues. Popular web app development tools like VS Code and JetBrains have linter integrations for various programming languages. When adding linters to existing code, start with basic rules and gradually add more based on manual reviews. Integrating linters into Continuous Integration (CI) processes using tools like Jenkins or Azure DevOps ensures consistent code quality. Automated linters like flake8 or black can enforce coding standards. Platforms like SonarCloud offer linters to maintain the same rules across the team. By checking linting before code commits, and using git pre-commit hooks, you reduce the time spent on fixing mistakes later.

2.   Correctly balancing comments

There are two types of developers: those who comment on everything and those who don’t comment at all. Too many comments clutter the code, while no comments leave future developers confused. It’s best to make the code self-explanatory, minimizing the need for comments. When you do comment, focus on explaining what the code does rather than what’s already defined. However, comments are only useful if they’re kept up-to-date when the code changes. Building with independent components instead of big, complex apps speeds up development and makes applications more consistent and scalable. Tools like Bit help teams create and combine these components effectively, starting with things like Design Systems or Micro Frontends.

3.   Test automation

Testing code ensures its quality, but automating tests reduces repetitive manual work. Yet, manual testing remains important. A good test suite catches errors, giving confidence to make changes. Writing code that’s easy to test is crucial. Where to start and what tests to focus on depending on the application. For APIs, automate API and unit tests; for web apps, use end-to-end and unit tests. Choose methods like Snapshot testing or follow test-driven development based on your strategy. This approach ensures your code works well and can adapt to changes confidently.

4.   Manual Code review

Code review is crucial for ensuring quality code. Developers often do it when merging changes in Git. Platforms like GitHub help with this. Tools like SonarCloud can automatically add comments to code reviews, saving time. But, no tool can replace a skilled developer’s manual review entirely. As it improves, developers can find common errors from manual reviews and automate them with new rules or tools. This continuous process helps maintain code quality over time.

5.   Quality Gates

Quality gates act as checkpoints to ensure code meets the necessary criteria before progressing to the next stage. They help by identifying and blocking bad code from reaching production. Activities like measuring test coverage, running automated tests (such as unit, integration, and end-to-end), and conducting static code analysis are typically carried out in quality gates. It’s important to place these gates at the right point in the CI/CD pipeline to avoid slowing down the process. For instance, unit tests and code analysis can happen during code reviews, while integration and end-to-end tests may occur after merging or periodically. This ensures code quality is maintained throughout development.

6.   Periodic due diligence of the Software

Software due diligence is like checking the health of a technology, product, or process. In today’s digital world, custom software development services are crucial for business success. So, it’s important to make sure it’s built well and can adapt to future needs. Developers check if the team follows a good process for things like requirements and bug fixing. They also see if they can deliver updates quickly and transparently. It’s essential to involve users in finding and fixing bugs and to automate updates and improvements. (Web Development) Plus, make sure the software is secure and built with good-quality code. These checks help ensure the software stays strong and reliable over time.

7.   Define coding standards

Setting coding standards is like creating rules for how to build software. It helps teams stay focused and organized, leading to better quality work. With clear guidelines, (Web Development) developers can work more efficiently, reducing the risk of project problems and making the code easier to understand and maintain. Plus, it saves money in the long run. It’s also important to have values like the Boy Scouts rule, where everyone pitches in to keep things tidy. This encourages team members to finish their work properly and not leave messy code behind. Overall, coding standards and good values help teams produce better software.

8.   Vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability management is crucial for IT security and software teams. It’s about finding and fixing any weaknesses in systems and software to prevent security breaches. A vulnerability scanner is like a detective tool that checks code for known security problems. For example, (Web Development) in JavaScript, the “npm audit” command helps spot issues in libraries. Many organizations automate this scanning process using pipelines in their development process. By integrating security checks into deployment (known as DevSecOps), teams can catch vulnerabilities before they reach production systems, keeping everything safe and secure.

9. Focus on loose coupling and high cohesion

High cohesion means keeping related things together in code, making it easier to avoid repeating yourself and reducing duplicate data. Loose coupling means modules are independent, (Web Development) so changes to one module don’t mess up others. Together, they help make coding, testing, deploying, and maintaining software easier and of better quality.

10. Code smarter, not longer

When writing code, keep it simple and purposeful. Each line should have a clear reason for being there and should be easy to understand. Complex code can lead to mistakes, especially when working in a team. Make sure every line serves a specific function or solves a problem. Commenting your code is also crucial; (Web Development) it helps you and others understand why certain parts of the code are written the way they are and what they’re meant to do. By coding smarter, not longer, you can avoid errors and make your code more efficient and maintainable.

Final Words

To make your business website effective, follow these web development tips. They’ll help attract more clients and boost your online presence. If you’re new to website development services, stick to these standards for all your projects. And if you already have a website, check if it meets these requirements. If not, consider making necessary changes. Whether your site is new or old, what matters most is how it helps your business succeed. So, focus on building a website that serves your business goals and meets the needs of your customers.