Thou Shall Progress: Ten Commandments for Writing Code
The transition from 2023 to the new year of 2024 aligned seamlessly with my literary journey, culminating in the completion of Daniel Lappin’s “Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money” and the commencement of Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.” Being an IT professional, I found inspiration in crafting my own set of Ten Commandments designed to benefit every practitioner in the field, fostering a culture of doing less but doing it better.
Lappin’s book, “Thou Shall Prosper”, weaves secular Jewish wisdom with a business-savvy approach to making money and navigating everyday life. While not wholly aligned with every point, the book offers a courageous perspective on the essence of conducting business and the business profession itself.
McKeown’s “Essentialism”, in contrast, provides a broader perspective, extending beyond business to encompass life in its entirety. According to McKeown, the essence of life lies in how we choose to allocate our energy. Amidst the myriad of important tasks, the focus should be on the essential, the most impactful, promising the greatest outcomes.
Both books left indelible messages, prompting tangible changes in my day-to-day activities and reshaping my perspective on various aspects of life. In acknowledgment of this transformative reading experience, I present my own Ten Commandments for Programmers | Software Engineers | IT Professionals, infused with the essence of Essentialism.
I share these commandments in the hope that you find them enjoyable to read and perhaps even applicable to your daily life, as I found joy in penning them down.
I. Thou shalt write clean and readable code
Software Code is a language, and clarity is key. Write code that is easy to understand, both for yourself and others who may inherit your work.
II. Thou shalt not duplicate code recklessly
Repetition breeds errors and maintenance nightmares. Embrace the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) principle and keep your codebase efficient and maintainable.
III. Thou shalt test thy code thoroughly
Testing is not an option; it’s a responsibility. Ensure that your code is robust by writing unit tests, conducting integration testing, and covering edge cases.
IV. Remember to comment thy code wisely
Document your code judiciously. Comments should explain the why, no just the what. A well-documented codebase is a gift to your future self and your collaborators.
V. Honor thy deadlines and commitments
Time management is a virtue. Meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and manage expectations.Reliability is key in the professional world.
VI. Thou shalt continually learn and adapt
Technology evolves rapidly. Stay updated wth the latest trnds, tools, and methodologies. Adaptability is a hallmark of successful IT professional.
VII. Thou shalt secure thy code and data
Security is paramount. Be vigilant about protecting sensitive data and write code with security best practices in mind to safeguard against vulnerabilities.
VIII. Thou shalt communicate efectively
Programming is not just about writing code; it’s about conveying ideas. Communicate clearly with team members, stakeholders, and clients. Clarity minimizes misunderstandings.
IX. Thou shlt embrace collaboration
Teamwork is essential. Cultivate a collaborative environment, share knowledge, and learn from your peers. A united team is greater than the sum of its parts.
X. Thou shalt have a backup and recovery plan
Disaster happen. Regularly back up your code and have a recovery plan in place. Be prepared to handle emergencies with minimal downtime and data loss.
May these commandments serve as guiding principles, encouraging a culture of doing less but doing it better in the dynamic landscape of IT. Embracing the courage to pursue essential tasks, collaborating effectively, and prioritizing simplicity, let us navigate the complexities of our roles with clarity and purpose.
Here’s to a year of growth, innovation, and meaningful contributions in the ever-evolving field of technology. May the commandments inspire and guide you, encuraging success and fulfillment in your professional journey.
Let me know what’s your take on these Commandments and how many of them you already religiously follow in your practice.
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