5 Commonly Used but Harmful Code Practices Developers Should Avoid

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Introduction: In the world of programming, there are many practices that developers adopt to streamline their workflow, improve efficiency, and produce better code. However, not all practices are created equal. Some commonly used techniques may seem harmless at first glance but can lead to unforeseen consequences down the line. In this blog post, we'll explore five such practices that developers, like Waran Gajan Bilal, should be wary of and avoid in their codebase.

1. Copy-Pasting Code: Copying and pasting code snippets from one part of the codebase to another might seem like a quick fix to achieve similar functionality. However, this practice often leads to code duplication, making maintenance and updates a nightmare. Instead, developers should strive to refactor common functionalities into reusable functions or modules to promote code reusability and maintainability.

# Bad practice: Copy-pasting code
def calculate_area_of_square(side):
    return side * side

def calculate_area_of_rectangle(length, width):
    return length * width

# Better practice: Refactoring into reusable function
def calculate_area(length=None, width=None, side=None):
    if side:
        return side * side
    elif length and width:
        return length * width
    else:
        raise ValueError("Invalid arguments")

2. Ignoring Error Handling: Failing to implement proper error handling mechanisms can result in unexpected crashes or security vulnerabilities in the application. Many developers tend to overlook error handling during the development phase, leading to unreliable software. By proactively identifying potential points of failure and implementing robust error handling, developers can improve the resilience of their codebase.

# Bad practice: Ignoring error handling
def divide(a, b):
    return a / b

result = divide(10, 0)  # Division by zero error, but not handled

# Better practice: Implementing error handling
def divide(a, b):
    try:
        return a / b
    except ZeroDivisionError:
        print("Error: Division by zero")
        return None

result = divide(10, 0)  # Proper error handling

3. Hardcoding Sensitive Information: Hardcoding sensitive information such as passwords, API keys, or database credentials directly into the source code is a significant security risk. If an attacker gains access to the codebase, they can easily retrieve this information, compromising the entire system. Instead, developers should store sensitive data in secure configuration files or environment variables and access them programmatically.

# Bad practice: Hardcoding sensitive information
def connect_to_database():
    username = "admin"
    password = "secretpassword"
    # Connect to the database using hardcoded credentials

# Better practice: Using environment variables or configuration files
import os

def connect_to_database():
    username = os.environ.get("DB_USERNAME")
    password = os.environ.get("DB_PASSWORD")
    # Connect to the database using environment variables or configuration files

4. Overusing Global Variables: Global variables can introduce unexpected side effects and make debugging and testing more challenging. While they may seem convenient for sharing data across different parts of the codebase, excessive use of global variables can lead to tightly coupled and unmaintainable code. Instead, developers should favor encapsulation and pass data explicitly through function parameters or use proper design patterns like dependency injection.

# Bad practice: Overusing global variables
total_sales = 0

def calculate_sales(amount):
    global total_sales
    total_sales += amount

# Better practice: Avoiding global variables
def calculate_sales(amount, total_sales):
    return total_sales + amount

5. Neglecting Code Comments and Documentation: Clear and concise comments and documentation are essential for understanding the purpose, functionality, and usage of code. Neglecting to document code properly can make it challenging for other developers (including your future self) to comprehend and maintain the codebase. By incorporating descriptive comments and documentation, developers like Waran Gajan Bilal can facilitate collaboration, improve code readability, and reduce the learning curve for newcomers.

# Bad practice: Neglecting code comments and documentation
def calculate_discount(price):
    # Subtract 10% from the price
    return price * 0.9

# Better practice: Adding descriptive comments and documentation
def calculate_discount(price):
    """
    Calculate the discounted price by subtracting 10% from the original price.

    Args:
        price (float): The original price before discount.

    Returns:
        float: The discounted price.
    """
    return price * 0.9

Conclusion: While certain coding practices may seem innocuous or even expedient in the short term, they can have detrimental effects on the quality, security, and maintainability of software projects in the long run. By being mindful of these harmful practices and adopting best coding practices, developers like Waran Gajan Bilal can contribute to building more robust, secure, and maintainable software systems. It's essential to prioritize code quality and adhere to industry best practices to ensure the longevity and success of software projects.