There is no denying that the software industry has seen a boom in the past couple of decades, as no other industry has ever seen. The job opportunities this industry has created are enormous. It is the reason that many youngsters all around the globe are choosing software engineering as their majors. However, there are many things that you must know if you want to become a successful software engineer. For example, you must know the difference between greenfield vs brownfield development and many other such things.
If you are a student who is wondering if they should opt for software engineering or if you are a software engineer, then this blog is just the thing that you need to read.
So, without any further ado, let’s dig in and find out what you need to know about software engineering and software development in general.
Here you go:
Always Remember, Names Matter
You must know that everything that the name in your code or in any other project you are working on matters. Therefore, it is important to name everything wisely. The best practice is to name everything in a self-descriptive manner so that everyone can get the gist just by looking at the name. If you are a student, then it’ll make it easy for your professors to grade your work, and if you are working then, your supervisor will be happy to know that you know how to complete a task professionally. So, make it your habit to always name everything in a self-descriptive way.
Your Code Should Look Nice Too
If you think that the only thing that matters is that your code should work, then you are wrong on so many levels. You need to make your code look beautiful too. It means that you have to make sure that you are creating any kind of mess in your code and doing everything in a simple and straightforward manner. The more beautiful your code will look, the more effectively it’ll work. So, take all the time that you need to but make sure that your code looks nice at the end of the day.
Never Ignore Conventions
As much as you hate conventions, they are important, and if you want to make a good software engineer out of yourself, then you need to make sure that you follow all those conventions. It is especially important when it comes to uppercase and lowercase conventions because they are very easy to notice, and they make all the difference in the overall quality and efficiency of your code. So, don’t ignore conventions because they are as important as it gets.
You Need to Keep It Short and Simple
Remember, no one wants to see a complex and really long code. It is just going to get annoying, and no one will want to have a second look at it. So, you need to make sure that your code looks simple and keep it as shot as possible. It is important because the more lengthy and complex your code is, the more difficult it would be to make any changes in it. So, if you don’t want to get into any trouble, then keep it as simple as you can.
Bring Diversity in Your Work
If you are a software engineer and you’ve thought at any point in your life that it is okay to copy and paste in your code, then you need to unlearn it now. The better practice is to create a function and then use it wherever you want. Another important thing is that you must always make sure that your work is diversified so that it doesn’t look dry.
Knowing Database is the Key
If you call yourself a developer and you don’t know much about the database of your project, then you might need to stop calling yourself a good developer. A good developer always works with the help of the database, and they have extensive knowledge of the database of the project they are working on. So, take all the time that you need to research your database. It is important because the future of your project might depend on it.
