Enhancing Your Coding Process: Three Pre-Coding Steps
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Chapter 1: The Importance of Preparation
Writing code is just one aspect of a software engineer's role. To effectively tackle challenges through coding, engineers must think beyond just the lines of code they are about to write. My problem-solving process begins well before any code is executed. Here are three critical steps I always take prior to coding:
Understanding the Requirements
At first glance, this may seem straightforward, but I make it a priority to thoroughly grasp the project I’m working on. Even when requirements are documented clearly, ambiguities can surface during the coding process that weren’t apparent initially. Therefore, I take the time to read and re-read all relevant documentation. Maintaining open lines of communication with product owners and business analysts is crucial. This way, if I encounter a situation that requires a product-related decision, I can resolve it efficiently.
Considering Manual Testing of Acceptance Criteria
After clarifying what I need to build, I focus on how the end user will interact with my code. This perspective is invaluable for confirming my understanding of the requirements. It also encourages me to think about edge cases more effectively. By considering the user's viewpoint, I can identify where and when the code will be utilized, allowing me to anticipate various pathways that may lead to my forthcoming changes. This thought process often reveals edge cases that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Creating an Implementation Checklist
Once I have a clear understanding of what I need to create and how I will test both the ideal path and potential edge cases, I draft a general checklist of the coding tasks necessary to meet the requirements. I aim to do this without making specific decisions about individual lines of code at this stage. Instead, the checklist serves as a high-level overview of the files requiring modifications and helps me plan where to make these changes. This step allows me to compartmentalize decisions, enabling me to focus on one small part of the task at a time. Additionally, writing the checklist encourages me to consider the overall code structure I aspire to achieve, ensuring that my solution is architecturally sound.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article! I hope you find these insights both interesting and valuable!
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