Better Code!!

15 Software Engineering Principles I Ignored for Too Long

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash

Software engineering isn’t just about writing code — it’s about writing good, scalable, maintainable, and efficient code. When I started, I focused more on making things work rather than making them right. Over time, I learned that ignoring core software engineering principles leads to technical debt, unmanageable code, and endless debugging nightmares. In this article I will share 16 kept principle that I ignored for too long.

“Good code is its own best documentation.” — Steve McConnell

1. DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself)

I used to copy-paste chunks of code across multiple files, thinking it was a quick way to get things done. But whenever a bug showed up, I had to fix it in ten different places, which turned into a nightmare.

DRY is all about avoiding duplication by using functions, classes, and organizing your code better. It saves time, reduces errors, and makes your project easier to maintain.

How to Apply It

• Write reusable functions instead of repeating the same logic.
• Use object-oriented programming…