Java programmer expert
Practical coding tips and tricks: How to learn to code and avoid coding mistakes?
There is a Slovak proverb that says “to err is human”. However, most of us would like to make as few mistakes as possible and avoid unnecessary ones. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common mistakes developers make when learning a programming language (such as Java) and offer solutions to avoid them. We’ll also provide some useful tips to help you improve your programming skills.
Learning multiple programming languages at the same time
Trying to learn multiple programming languages at the same time is a terrible idea. You’ll feel confused, and you’ll keep going back to the parts you’ve already studied in detail. It is also bad if you start with one language and switch to another in a few weeks. Pick a language, stick with it and get better at it. You can choose another language later, once you’ve learned the first one, but avoid jumping between languages.
Writing code without analysis
Writing code without a proper analysis of the problem is definitely a bad idea. You don’t really understand the requirements and the scope of the problem, and you don’t consider other possible scenarios. Sometimes the first solution that comes to mind is not optimal, and investing a little more time in analyzing the problem at the beginning can save us time later with a more efficient implementation.
Not backing up your work
This is one of the most inexcusable mistakes you can make as a developer, even if you’re a beginner. Imagine you’ve been working on a project for a long time, solving a lot of complicated problems, and then one day your hard drive crashes and you lose all your work. You’ll be furious and wish you had saved your source files earlier.
Ignoring documentation
Documentation is an important part of any project. It’s a way to record basic information about how your code works, how to use it, and how other developers can maintain it. Ignoring the documentation is a mistake you shouldn’t make.
Too complicated code
You’re not out to prove to the world that you know the most complex functions and all the libraries mankind has ever created. Your main goal when writing code should be to solve problems in the most efficient way. If your code is simple, it will be easier to write, easier to maintain, and easier to manage. Let’s keep it simple – follow the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle as much as possible.
Repeating code
If you find yourself repeating code, you’re breaking one of the most fundamental rules of software development for programmers – DRY(Don’t repeat yourself ). You should always strive to follow this rule and write “clean code”. If you find that you are copying parts of the code, you need to realize that you are probably deviating from the DRY principle and should correct yourself. This situation can often be solved by using cycles and functions. Built-in libraries (frameworks) can also be very useful.
Adding many lines to a function
You can multitask, but that doesn’t mean you should. Stick to the principle of single responsibility, which says that a function should only be responsible for one thing. If a function does more than one thing, you’re practically asking for mistakes and a negative impact on many other things.
Unclear variable names
Variables are a critical part of programming, no matter what language you use. That’s why it’s important to get good habits about naming variables. If you use generic terms that are vague, you can create a lot of chaos later on. Your code may work correctly, but when you go back and look at it later, you may get lost trying to work out what’s going on and what the variable represents. Also, if you are working in a team, you may well become the laughing stock of your more experienced colleagues because of your non-specific variable names.
Bad formatting
A lot of beginners don’t want to worry about formatting, because the code can work fine even if the formatting is messy and inconsistent. However, it will cause you big problems in the future with maintenance and further development… and it will be even more of a problem for the next developer when they have to maintain and further develop the code.
Some common code formatting mistakes are:
– not using correct indentation in code
– using newlines and whitespace irregularly or putting everything on one line
– writing functions too large or cramming everything into one line, function, or file
– randomly using upper and lower case in variable names.
This is certainly not a list of all formatting errors. There are many other formatting mistakes you can make in your code, especially if you’re a beginner.
Make sure you write well-structured code that is clean, readable and easy to maintain. Follow code formatting standards and use proper indentation, spacing, and alignment.
Magic numbers and strings
A magic number is a unique value with unexplained meaning or multiple occurrences, which should ideally be replaced by named constants.
Neglecting error checking
Take care of your code! Never trust user input, and always check input before processing it. Be careful with memory and files, and make sure you handle exceptions and errors correctly.
Commenting
If your code is easy to read, you don’t need to add unnecessary comments. However, if your code is quite complex and needs explanation, you should add comments in certain places so that other people reading your code can better understand your intent. After all, the code should be readable and easy to understand even without a lot of comments.
Don’t stop learning
Continuous learning and improvement is very important in software development. Technology is constantly evolving and changing, so you should strive to keep learning and improving. Read books, articles, take online courses and keep solving new problems to develop your programming skills.
If you avoid these mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to coding efficiently and cleanly in any programming language. Remember that programming is a process of learning and continuous improvement, so don’t be too hard on yourself. With time and experience, you will definitely become a better developer.
Learn from other people’s mistakes, because life is not long enough to make them all yourself.
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