A seasoned developer with 30 years of experience has shared 12 invaluable lessons learned from a lifetime of coding, highlighting the importance of simplicity, clarity, and flexibility in software development. In a recent article, the developer distilled their hard-earned wisdom into a set of guiding principles for writing maintainable, efficient code.

The first and most fundamental lesson is that simplicity is better. The developer emphasizes the importance of avoiding complexity, which is often the result of over-engineering or trying to be too clever. Instead, developers should focus on writing simple, straightforward code that is easy to understand and maintain.

Another crucial aspect of writing good code is clarity. The developer stresses the importance of using clear, descriptive variable names and avoiding obfuscation. This not only makes the code easier to understand but also reduces the likelihood of errors and misunderstandings.

The Law of Demeter, which states that interactions should be limited to the absolute minimum, is another essential principle. This means avoiding unnecessary complexity by passing only the required information and avoiding hard-coded values. The developer also emphasizes the importance of coding for 0, 1, or N, rather than hard-coding specific values or assumptions.

Other key lessons include the importance of dependency injection, avoiding over-engineering, and planning for future needs. The developer also stresses the value of making the command line the first user interface, separating concerns, and being wary of if statements, which can often lead to spaghetti code.

Perhaps the most critical principle, however, is that everything should do one and only one thing. This means avoiding procedures with multiple responsibilities and instead breaking them down into smaller, more focused functions. The developer emphasizes that this approach leads to more maintainable, efficient code that is easier to understand and modify.

The article concludes by emphasizing that complexity is the enemy of good code, making it difficult to understand, maintain, and modify. By following these 12 principles, developers can write clearer, more efficient code that minimizes cognitive effort and reduces the risk of errors.

The full article provides a wealth of insight and practical advice for developers of all levels, offering a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their coding skills and write more maintainable, efficient software.