developer

Best Practices for Crafting an Efficient Build Script

May 9, 2011

When it comes to software development, a robust and efficient build script can be a game-changer. Whether you’re working on a Java project or any other type of application, the right build script can streamline the whole process and make life a whole lot easier for developers. Here’s a rundown of some best practices to keep in mind when you’re writing your build script: Platform Independence # Choose a programming language that is compatible across multiple platforms, especially if you’re working on a Java project. ...

The Fine Line Between Developers and Administrators - A Balancing Act

April 4, 2011

Learning from your own experiences is priceless. We’ve all made our share of blunders, myself included. While sharing tales of our missteps might provide some comic relief, the real value lies in the lessons learned. You don’t forget a mistake when you’ve had to deal with its consequences. Speaking from firsthand observation, it’s not uncommon for developers to roll out code live, often hastily, to meet pressing business deadlines. The urgency tends to outweigh any considerations for the potential havoc it could wreak on a production environment. ...

Never use a shared database server for development work.

September 15, 2010

Like many conveniences in software development, a shared database is a tar pit waiting to fossilize a project. Developers overwrite each other’s changes. The changes I make on the server break the code on your development machine. Remote development is slow and difficult. Avoid using a shared database at all costs, as they ultimately waste time and help produce bugs.

Lessons Learned – from a cms developer

October 9, 2009

As a CMS developer, I have learned some valuable lessons over the years. Here are some of the most important ones that I want to share with you: Never use the Root directory for your website; “forward” requests to a secondary directory. This will make your website more secure and easier to manage. You can use .htaccess files or other methods to redirect requests from the root directory to a subdirectory where your CMS files are located. ...

9 skills developers will need in the next five years

July 12, 2009

The economy is changing rapidly, and developers need to keep up with the latest trends and skills to stay relevant and competitive. Here is a list of 9 skills that every developer should master or at least be familiar with in the next five years. This list is not comprehensive, and it does not cover every niche or specialty in the industry. However, for most mainstream development scenarios, these skills will give you an edge over others and help you create better solutions. ...