Software Engineering: Best Coding Practices vs. Functionality

In the realm of software engineering, the debate between adhering to the best coding practices and prioritizing immediate functionality often arises. Many would argue that both are essential; however, my extensive experience in incremental improvements to legacy systems has led me to a nuanced perspective that values both aspects for long-term success.

The Pros of Best Coding Practices

The primary argument for following best coding practices is their ability to ensure that software is not only functional but also maintainable, scalable, and future-proof. By writing clean, well-documented, and robust code, engineers can avoid the proliferation of technical debt, which can exponentially increase development and maintenance costs over time.

Rule 1: Do Not Break What Already Works - A golden rule in legacy system modifications is to avoid breaking existing functionality. This is particularly crucial as many legacy codes are riddled with issues that can be traced back to countless iterations and tweaks by earlier generations of developers. Introducing changes without a proper understanding or testing mechanisms can lead to significant complications and unreliability.

Corollary 2: Do Not Change Anything You Don’t Have To - This corollary emphasizes the importance of maintaining existing working code, with the key exception being the addition of necessary comments and documentation. This approach helps in preserving the integrity of the codebase, making it easier for new members of the team to understand and contribute.

Corollary 3: Write Good Code That Fits In - It is equally important to modify code to fit within the existing framework. This is crucial for ensuring that new changes are integrated seamlessly and do not disrupt the overall functionality of the system.

The result of these practices is often a codebase that is incrementally improved but remains cluttered and difficult to maintain, known as "crustiness".

Progressive Improvement of Legacy Systems

A significant opportunity arises when the opportunity to transform a legacy system emerges. Over a period of 18 months, I had the privilege of leading a team in progressively bringing a legacy codebase into a state of clarity and uniformity, creating a more maintainable and scalable system.

The key takeaway is that refactoring and modernization should be an iterative process rather than a one-off event. This approach allows for gradual improvements, balancing the need for functionality with the long-term maintainability of the codebase.

Adapting to Evolving Best Practices

In a rapidly evolving field, best practices are not static but continually changing. It is essential to be open to adopting new methodologies and technologies that may emerge in the future.

As Kent Beck famously states: "Make it run. Make it run right. Make it run right fast." This mantra aligns with the idea of prioritizing functionality and performance, even if it means deferring the adoption of new coding practices.

Future-Proofing: The challenge lies in determining whether today's best coding practices will still be relevant tomorrow. The Merry-Go-Round of Best Practices highlights how quickly the landscape can change, emphasizing the need to be flexible and adaptable.

Conclusion

In summary, the question of whether best coding practices or immediate functionality is more important is not a zero-sum game. Both are crucial for long-term success in software engineering. By understanding the importance of incremental improvements and being adaptable to evolving best practices, engineers can ensure that their codebases remain robust and maintainable.

References

Beck, K. (Year). Artifact Title.

Keywords

software engineering, coding practices, software maintainability