SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Why Have Coding Standards?
The main reason for using a consistent set of coding conventions is to standardise
the structure and coding style of a Visual Basic program so that the programmer
and others can easily read and understand the code. The code must not only do its
job, but must be also easy to enhance, maintain and debug. The objective should
be to create code that is infinitely modifiable. As maintenance costs are high,
it is essential to write code according to a Coding Standard.
Coding Standards result in precise, readable, and unambiguous source code that is
consistent and as intuitive as possible. The intention should be to make the Visual
Basic program easy to read and understand without cramping the programmer's natural
creativity with excessive constraints and arbitrary restrictions.
Using solid coding techniques and good programming practices plays an important
role in software quality and performance. Errors are less likely to occur. By consistently
applying a well-defined Coding Standard, programmers working on a software project
are more likely to create a system that is easy to comprehend and costs less to
maintain.
The Coding Standard will help the programmer produce Visual Basic code where:
- The code is readable and clearly spaced.
- Blocks of code are broken into sections that are well defined.
- The code is uniformly indented showing control structures.
- Variables are named consistently throughout the code, and describe their content.
- The names of procedures describe their functionality.
- The code is well commented.
- Complex constructs are avoided.
- Complex code is isolated.
|