Best Coding Practices
Helpful for Beginners!
Here are some foundational coding practices I've picked up that have made a real difference in how I write and maintain code.
Code Editor
Visual Studio Code is my go-to. Syntax highlighting, code-completions, built-in Git integration, and a massive plugin ecosystem for debugging and linting make it hard to beat.
GitHub Workflow
Version control with Git is non-negotiable. Beyond just committing code, explore:
- GitHub Marketplace — integrations for testing, CI/CD, and linting
- GitHub Projects — task tracking and team collaboration
- GitHub Workflows — automate repetitive tasks with YAML-based scripts
Virtual Environments
Always maintain separate project environments. Dependency conflicts are a nightmare. I use VirtualEnv to isolate each project's dependencies from the base system environment. This keeps things clean and reproducible.
Debugging
Two approaches I rely on:
- Process of Elimination — revert to known working code, then add changes incrementally with print statements to narrow down the issue
- Test-Driven Development — write tests before implementation. When something breaks, the tests tell you exactly where
Finding Error Solutions
When you hit an error: copy the exact error message and code. Search Stack Overflow, GitHub Issues, and official documentation. Avoid unreliable sources that may lead you down the wrong path.
Documentation
Good documentation includes:
- Inline comments for complex logic
- README files explaining purpose, setup, and usage
- GitHub Pages for larger projects that need proper documentation sites
Adopt these habits early. Future you will be grateful.