{"id":40061,"date":"2021-06-22T07:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=40061"},"modified":"2021-06-26T14:00:15","modified_gmt":"2021-06-26T18:00:15","slug":"tips-for-coders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/tips-for-coders\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Tips for Coders: Beyond Your Coding Skills"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Do you want to get better at coding? What do you think great coders do differently? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leveling up as a coder isn&#8217;t just about writing better code. Great coders adhere to personal rules and standards that aren&#8217;t always about code; sometimes they\u2019re about attitude and behavior while working.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his book <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-clean-coder-book\/\">The Clean Coder<\/a><\/em>, Robert C. Martin shares some helpful tips for coders that have nothing to do with code itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Level Up Your Coding Game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In his book <em>The Clean Coder<\/em>, Robert C. Martin shares some tips that have worked for him and encourages the reader to reflect on what else might work for them. Here are some general no-code tips for coders to help you level up in your craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #1: Avoid Doing Damage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The first rule is to avoid doing damage, and if you do create damage, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/accepting-responsibility\/\">take responsibility<\/a> for it by apologizing and learning from the mistake<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A software developer can damage two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. The working of the software. <\/strong>You damage the working by making a change that creates a bug that breaks the software. To avoid damage and take responsibility:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Personally and regularly test <\/strong><strong><em>all <\/em><\/strong><strong>of your code.<\/strong> Before you release your code to anyone, including Quality Assurance, make sure you know that it works. (Relying on QA to find problems is expensive, causes delays, and is lazy.) If you feel you don\u2019t have time for testing on this scale, automate the testing. If you feel your code is too hard to test, write code that\u2019s more easily testable. (See Chapter 4 for more on testing.)<\/li><li><strong>Learn from bugs<\/strong> so you can avoid making the same mistake in the future.<\/li><li><strong>Reduce your debugging time. <\/strong>Your employer pays the same for debugging time as coding time, so get it as low as possible by doing things right in the first place.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. The structure of the software.<\/strong> You damage the structure by making the code difficult or expensive to change. To be professional and avoid damaging the structure, mercilessly and regularly refactor (edit) it to improve it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>(Shortform example: If you notice that a piece of code is redundant, clean it up.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people don\u2019t like refactoring because they\u2019re scared of breaking the code. If you test all of your code (as you need to do to avoid damaging the working), there\u2019s no need to fear breaking anything. If something <em>does <\/em>go wrong, your tests will catch it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #2: Don\u2019t Code While You\u2019re Tired or Worried<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The second rule is to avoid coding when you\u2019re tired or worried. <strong>If you\u2019re not in a mental space in which you can concentrate, you\u2019re going to make mistakes and have to throw out most of your work because coding is hard. <\/strong>You have to do all of the following at the same time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Know what problem your code is addressing and how to fix it. You have to keep track of all the solution\u2019s details as well as the mechanics of coding (what language you\u2019re writing in, how the program you\u2019re using works, and so on).<\/li><li>Give your customer what she needs (which isn\u2019t always what she asks for).<\/li><li>Fit your code into what already exists. Your code can\u2019t make the whole system more breakable or static, as you learned in rule #1.<\/li><li>Craft your code so that other people can figure out what it does. This involves more than simply leaving explanatory comments\u2014you need to actually structure the code in a way that a human can follow. (This might be the hardest part of coding.)<\/li><li>Partition the system. Ideally, you want to divide a system into small pieces that don\u2019t rely on each other, which is hard.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>First, we\u2019ll look at how to manage tiredness, and then, worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Decreasing Tiredness<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some techniques to decrease your tiredness levels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technique #1: Disengage and Recharge<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you\u2019re tired, you lose your ability to problem-solve and be creative.<\/strong> Once you\u2019ve used up all your focus (you will probably physically feel it), you need to recharge by disengaging and spending at least an hour doing something that doesn\u2019t require focus. Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/the-unconscious-mind\/\">unconscious mind<\/a> will continue to mull over the problem in the background. To disengage, you might:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Drive.<\/strong> Driving doesn\u2019t require creativity, but it requires you to use enough of your mind and body to pull your concentration off your work.<\/li><li><strong>Exercise or do something with your hands. <\/strong>While these activities do require focus (Shortform example: Carpentry requires being careful around sharp things), it\u2019s muscle rather than mental focus. Practicing muscle focus can increase your mental focus.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Take a shower.<\/strong> Martin often gets good ideas in the shower.<\/li><li>Take a walk.<\/li><li>Talk to a friend.<\/li><li>Meditate.<\/li><li>Nap.<\/li><li>Read a magazine.<\/li><li>Listen to a podcast.<\/li><li>Look out the window.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technique #2: Strategically Arrange Your Life to Make the Most Use of Your Focus<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>In the previous technique, we looked at what to do when you start to feel tired at work. Now, we\u2019ll look at how to arrange your life so you can make your work time your most energetic time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Sleep enough. <\/strong>Martin needs seven hours of sleep to work an eight-hour day.<\/li><li><strong>Use caffeine in moderation. <\/strong>Caffeine improves focus, but if you have too much, you\u2019ll get hyperactive and focus on the wrong things. Martin finds a morning cup of coffee and a lunchtime diet coke works most days.<\/li><li><strong>Pace yourself. <\/strong>Don\u2019t use up all your energy at once.<\/li><li><strong>Use your focus before it decays.<\/strong> You lose your focusing abilities throughout the day even if you\u2019re not using them, so code when you have them (as opposed to doing something like attending a meeting). When they\u2019re gone, do something that requires less focus.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Decreasing Worry<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s one technique for decreasing worry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Address Personal Worries<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re worried about something, part of your brain will be occupied with the worry instead of thinking about your code.<\/strong> You might even physically feel the worry as a tightness in your chest or a sick feeling in your stomach.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, when Martin tries to code while worried, he might be able to write a small amount, but he\u2019ll always revert to concentrating on his worry and staring blankly at his screen.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To avoid being distracted by worry, devote some time (often an hour) to addressing the worry. <\/strong>Not all worries are solvable within an hour, but making some progress on them can reduce anxiety enough to let you work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, when Martin\u2019s child was at home sick and he was worried, he\u2019d call home and ask how the child was feeling.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s most professional to schedule worry-addressing time at home so that when you arrive at the office, you\u2019re ready to give your best. But <strong>if you\u2019re unable to address something at home, and you can\u2019t get anything done at work for thinking about it, it\u2019s more productive to take an hour of office time to address the worry.<\/strong> If you try to push through, you\u2019ll just write garbage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #3: Don\u2019t Wallow in Writer\u2019s Block<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The third rule is to avoid getting writer\u2019s block. When you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/stuck-in-life\/\">feeling stuck<\/a>, try the following techniques to get past the block:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If the block is caused by exhaustion or worry, use the techniques for addressing these from the previous section.<\/li><li><strong>Increase your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/media-consumption\/\">content consumption<\/a>. <\/strong>Consuming creative content (like reading sci-fi novels) will help you output creativity\u2014inspired by someone else\u2019s work, you\u2019ll want to create your own.<\/li><li><strong>Pair program. <\/strong>Working with someone else will nearly always refresh you. Martin feels a physiological change when pair programming.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rule #4: Avoid Time Pressure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fourth rule is to avoid or at least minimize time pressure\u2014this is the best way to deal with it.<\/strong> To do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Adhere to your rules.<\/strong> You\u2019ll be most efficient if you don\u2019t break things, don\u2019t get stuck behind writer\u2019s block, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Use your crisis behaviors all the time.<\/strong> In a crisis, you\u2019ll use the most effective and efficient method of doing something. To achieve crisis levels of efficiency all the time, use your crisis behaviors in non-crisis times too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, if you don\u2019t normally pair program except in an emergency, this shows that you think pair programming is the most efficient way to get something done. Pair program more often to be more efficient<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Say no to unreasonable deadlines<\/strong>. See Chapter 3 for more on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Watch out for manipulative client behaviors. <\/strong>If a client does any of the following, they might be gearing up to put unfair pressure on you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Describes the project as simple and easy.<\/strong> This will put you in the wrong mental state.<\/li><li><strong>Fails to discuss all required features.<\/strong> The client might not <em>explicitly <\/em>mention all required features. (Shortform example: They might ask for only one feature, but this feature requires other features to work.) If you try to call them on it, they might say you should have realized features were necessary because you\u2019re a programmer.<\/li><li><strong>Pushes deadlines. <\/strong>Some clients will give you a short initial deadline so that you work quickly. Then, they\u2019ll ask for more features and extend the deadline.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>No matter how well you employ the above techniques, you\u2019ve inevitably going to encounter pressure.<\/strong> For example, someone on your team might quit at an inopportune time. When you <em>are<\/em> under pressure, you should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Stay calm. <\/strong>Getting stressed and rushing will only do damage, which will ultimately slow you down because you\u2019ll have to go back and fix things. Instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-look-at-the-bigger-picture\/\">look at the big picture<\/a> of the whole project, make a plan, and then keep up a steady pace toward your goal.<\/li><li><strong>Talk to your coworkers.<\/strong> Tell them you\u2019re under pressure, share your plan to deal with it, and solicit their feedback.<\/li><li><strong>Exaggerate your rule-following.<\/strong> For example, if your normal workflow involves refactoring, refactor more than usual. You already know your discipline works\u2014adhere to it.<\/li><li><strong>Pair program. <\/strong>Pair programming produces higher-quality code faster\u2014your partner will help you focus, stay calm, and see the whole project.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #5: Avoid the \u201cZone\u201d When You\u2019re Working<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The fifth rule is to avoid the \u201czone\u201d\u2014a state of mind that makes you feel focused, productive, and invincible. In reality, the zone is just a meditative state\u2014parts of your brain shut off, which skews your sense of time passing and depresses your creativity. Being in the zone is useful when practicing, but not while working because<strong> you\u2019re not actually more productive or on your game when you\u2019re in the zone<\/strong>. You\u2019ll write more code, but because you\u2019ve got tunnel vision, you\u2019ll probably have to revise what you\u2019ve written so it fits into the larger structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you feel the zone approaching, avoid it by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Stopping work.<\/strong> Go for a walk, check your email, or take a break.<\/li><li><strong>Pair programming.<\/strong> You can\u2019t get hyper-focused on your code if you have to talk to someone.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #6: Be Careful With Music<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The sixth rule is to deploy music carefully. <strong>Many people think that music helps them concentrate, but this isn\u2019t universally the case.<\/strong> Sometimes, it even helps people <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-get-in-the-zone\/\">enter the zone<\/a>, which you learned is detrimental in the previous rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, when Martin used to listen to music while coding, when he went back to look at his work later, he realized he\u2019d put some of the lyrics from <em>The Wall<\/em> into the comments. For him, listening to music uses up a part of his brain, axing that part\u2019s ability to contribute to the code.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If listening to music <\/strong><strong><em>does <\/em><\/strong><strong>work for you, it\u2019s fine to use it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #7: Finish Properly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The seventh rule is to completely finish all tasks before declaring them \u201cdone\u201d and to define \u201cdone\u201d as \u201cpassed all tests\u201d<\/strong> (for more on tests, see Chapter 4). Don\u2019t accept partial completion for any reason, including if you\u2019re short on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Breaking this rule leads to a slippery slope\u2014you\u2019ll declare things \u201cdone\u201d earlier and earlier in the process. \u201cDone\u201d will become meaningless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>(Shortform example: If \u201cdone\u201d only means that some code has been written, not that it actually works, \u201cdone\u201d no longer provides any meaningful status update.)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #8: Give and Accept Help<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The eighth rule is to give and accept help\u2014programming is so hard it requires more than one brain. <\/strong>Despite this fact, many programmers have trouble with collaboration\u2014there\u2019s some truth to the stereotype that programmers are big-headed introverts who get into the field because they\u2019d rather talk to a predictable computer than a messy person with emotions. <strong>Even if you find collaboration hard, develop the discipline to follow this rule.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Giving Help<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two ways to give help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Respond when asked.<\/strong> If people have questions, you must answer them. It\u2019s fine to schedule <em>some <\/em>alone or uninterrupted time, but you need to be available too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, you might decide that in the morning, no one can interrupt you, but your door is open all afternoon.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Offer to pair program.<\/strong> If someone seems to be having difficulty, offer to pair program with her even if she hasn\u2019t asked. Expect to spend at least an hour (it may not actually take this long, but if you budget this amount, you won\u2019t make your partner feel rushed). Even if you\u2019re not experienced with whatever she\u2019s working on, you can always offer a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Receiving Help<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two ways to receive help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Accept it when it\u2019s offered.<\/strong> <em>Always <\/em>accept help, even when you\u2019re under pressure. If the person isn\u2019t helping after half an hour, then thank them and excuse yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Ask for help. <\/strong>It\u2019s unprofessional to waste time banging your head against the wall when resources are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tip #9: Deal With Interruptions Efficiently and Gracefully<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The last rule is to come up with a workflow for interruptions.<\/strong> You\u2019ll inevitably be interrupted, sometimes by people asking for help, and as you learned in the last rule, it\u2019s your responsibility to graciously help them. Therefore, you need to come up with some strategies for quickly getting back into your work after an interruption. Here are some options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Pair program.<\/strong> When you get interrupted, your partner can keep track of your place and thought process, so that when you return, you can get right back to concentrating on your work.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Use a workflow that holds your place for you. <\/strong>For example, in test-driven development (more in Chapter 4), you alternate writing short tests and short pieces of code. Because these steps are in such a strict order, when you leave and return to your workstation, you can quickly find exactly where you were and what you were in the middle of.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t like being interrupted because it pulls you out of the zone, remember rule #5: You\u2019re not supposed to be in the zone in the first place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want to get better at coding? What do you think great coders do differently? Leveling up as a coder isn&#8217;t just about writing better code. Great coders adhere to personal rules and standards that aren&#8217;t always about code; sometimes they\u2019re about attitude and behavior while working.&nbsp; In his book The Clean Coder, Robert C. Martin shares some helpful tips for coders that have nothing to do with code itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":40072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,43,30],"tags":[397],"class_list":["post-40061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career","category-self-improvement","category-work","tag-the-clean-coder","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>9 Tips for Coders: Beyond Your Coding Skills - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Being a good coder isn&#039;t just about writing good code. Here are some general tips to help you level up your craft. 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