10 common mistakes when developing software

10 common mistakes when developing software

Software development is a long process that requires constant improvements and proper attention to the user’s demands. There should be a balance between complexity, cost, and time available, ultimately resulting in the perfect application. It is sometimes difficult for developers to strike the right balance and follow the best practices during the process. 

A mistake when developing software can eventually lead to a big one, wasting your time, money, and resources, and should be taken care of at the right time. This article will inform you of ten such mistakes to help you avoid them when developing software. 

Mistakes to avoid

Here are the top ten of them for you to explore so that you can avoid making them over and over again during software development. 

• Not having a complete plan for the project
• Lack of understanding of the resources required
• Misinterpretation of the project requirements
• Prioritising the project, not the people
• Poor project management
• Absence of clear communication
• Not taking feedback seriously 
• Leaving out the testing of the product
• Inability to keep up with technology
• Coding without comments or structure

1. Not having a complete plan for the project

Planning everything in software development is essential to clearly understanding what needs to be done and doing it in a specific manner to meet the deadline. When a project is big, your plan will guide you toward the end goal. 

• The planning includes proper application testing at regular intervals to determine whether to continue with the plan or amend it accordingly. 
• Sticking to the plan without a space to accommodate new developments can lead to future issues and affect the development process. 

So not having a proper and complete plan before starting a project is one of the most common mistakes developers or development teams make when committing to a project.

2. Lack of understanding of the resources required

The next mistake is not being mindful of the resources required to develop software. Most development teams focus on coding and programming the software as soon as possible rather than researching and studying technologies and other advancements in the industry. It results in the production of sub-par products. If you cannot identify suitable technical resources for the project, the development will have to compromise on quality.

3. Misinterpretation of the project requirements

The project requirements are often misinterpreted or misunderstood, negatively affecting software development. Every application is unique in its requirements, especially when it is expected to be custom-made. Therefore, creating a software specification document early on is important to compare the process and outputs to what the user anticipates.  

• The mistake is that developers ignore this specification document and fail to adhere to it. 
• It will cause errors to continue into the final stages of the process, which may cost you a lot of money. 
• Therefore, stakeholders and end users should be consulted at all levels to understand and verify the needs thoroughly.

4. Prioritising the project, not the people

It is true that when doing software development, project completion and meeting the deadline are top priorities. But when you do that, you fail to build relationships with people and connect with them. Developing software is not just about accomplishing your assigned tasks on time but also about producing outstanding ones. 

So it is necessary that the developers stay motivated to ensure that they can build a quality software product. It will help in natural project delivery rather than getting it done by forcing the development team for the sake of completing and delivering the project.

5. Poor project management

Poor project management or failing to allocate the development team’s tasks and responsibilities among them will be the next error. The team won’t be able to concentrate on application development if they are unclear about their responsibilities. They might not pay attention to assignments, which results in disagreements and power struggles within the team.

It can leave out some important factors that should be included or eliminated during a development process that can impact the project’s future. But avoiding over-delegating is essential, which would slow down the development process.

6. Absence of clear communication

Software development requires interaction between the development team and clients. The absence of such transparent communication will lead to misunderstandings, slow down the development process, and increase costs. 

Keeping in touch with management and the marketing team is also essential. After verifying viability elements at each level, it is easier to decide about future courses of action. The importance of coordinating each function is even greater when developing custom a.

7. Not taking feedback seriously 

One of the most typical faults in web development is ignoring feedback, whether it comes from the company or the software users. Such criticism or feedback that is not taken seriously can result in serious issues in the long run during the development process. If they are considered and solved, it will ensure the quality of the product created.

8. Leaving out the testing of the product

Another error is skipping the testing phase at the beginning or end of the development process. When developing, it is necessary to conduct both unit and load testing so that you can detect any bugs as early as possible. Failure to conduct the testing could cause long-term, irreparable damage. 

9. Inability to keep up with technology

The inability of developers, teams, and others to keep up with the constantly evolving technological environment can be another problem. They may find themselves working on a non-relevant product if they aren’t aware of trends, large-scale industry movements, and outdated procedures in development. 

So it is a common mistake that happens, and it should be solved when what matters most is the quality of the product. 

10. Coding without comments or structure

It is one of the developers’ top-listed mistakes when developing, i.e., not commenting and structuring the code. They should try to add appropriate comments or remarks while coding, and the code should be structured well enough. Otherwise, it can cause serious issues with future updates. 

If you’re working on a large development project, avoid making these common mistakes as much as possible. Many enterprises can lose a lot of money if such development mistakes are made. Following best practices will improve the efficiency of software development, which will solve the problem. You can learn from your mistakes and avoid making them again with the help of this article. 

Interesting Links:

Mistakes in Software Development Projects to Avoid

More information about Software Development

Pictures: Canva

The author: Sascha Thattil works at Software-Developer-India.com which is a part of the YUHIRO Group. YUHIRO is a German-Indian enterprise which provides programmers to IT companies, agencies and IT departments.