Coding best practices

Coding best practices or programming best practices are a set of informal, sometimes personal, rules (<a href="/facts/Best_practice/HkqedbtQ">best practices</a>) that many <a href="/facts/Software_developer/WGTS1Jv9">software developers</a>, in <a href="/facts/Computer_programming/QmSsFnu0">computer programming</a> follow to improve <a href="/facts/Software_quality/7yoRvIuz">software quality</a>. Many computer programs require being robust and reliable for long periods of time, so any rules need to facilitate both initial development and subsequent maintenance of <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> by people other than the original authors.
In the <a href="/facts/Ninety%25E2%2580%2593ninety_rule/9E4fI91h">ninety–ninety rule</a>, Tom Cargill explains why programming projects often run late: "The first 90% of the code takes the first 90% of the development time. The last 10% takes another 90% of the time." Any guidance which can redress this lack of foresight is worth considering.
The size of a project or program has a significant effect on error rates, <a href="/facts/Programmer_productivity/EH2cnWvG">programmer productivity</a>, and the amount of management needed.

Coding best practices open-in-new

Coding best practices