To say that Web developers are a busy lot is like making an understatement. Web development involves a lot of processes and the developers have to deal with tight deadlines and cope with unforeseen complications at work. From catering to client whims to fixing coding bugs and making last-minute modifications to site structure- they have their hands full at work! Unless they master the tricks to remain productive amidst all these, the web developers can find their work taxing and extremely stressful.
1. Planning ahead is important
As a web developer or a developer specializing in Magento, you can't simply dive into a new project and commence building a site on the spot! Prior planning is a prerequisite- regardless of the size and complexity of a project. Before starting a web development project- it can be the development of a site from scratch or revamp of an existing website, proper planning is a must.
Ideally, a web developer should plan an entire project into a number of phases-allocating a time-span for each. This can be helpful in evading delay in any one stage of development-owing to whatever arsons. Besides, some additional time should be kept for resolving errors or issues that may crop up in such projects. This will help the developers in adhering to the timeline and delivering the site to the client as per the agreement.
2. Learning how to prioritize the work
Web developers need to do a lot of work while working in the projects. It is essential that they learn to prioritize work and complete pending tasks accordingly. The linear approach of completing tasks by using a calendar, list or reminders may not always work the best for them.
The pending tasks may have varying levels of priority for a developer. They have to think of both timeline and importance of task when comparing and picking. Ideally, they should give the highest priority to important tasks that need to be done at the earliest. Then there are less important tasks that also need to be done quickly and priority tasks with an extended timeline.
3. Using a suitable PMS
A web developer needs to use a myriad of software applications for the projects- all through the year. Apart from picking the right design and testing tools, such a developer can benefit from using an apt project management system. A PMS application helps a web developer stay organized, focus better on work and communicate with clients and team members in a better manner.
Using PMS applications like Trello or Github, the developers can save time too as they need not use email separately for interaction with the clients. These tools come with many useful features and offer those under one umbrella to make things easier. However, the developers also need to analyze aspects like ease of use and integration with existing software when picking such a PMS application.
4. Investing in the right applications
When it comes to choosing the right applications for web development, a developer can literally get spoilt for choice. There is an abundance of web development tools and frameworks. Not everyone has the same preference of area or expertise. Some web developers may prefer using Open source CMS frameworks and tools while others may opt for more feature rich licensed tools or frameworks for their projects.
Additionally, they can use time tracking tools and ensure the projects do not lag behind the deadlines. A multi-platform time tracker like Pomodoro timer is ideal in this regard. While choosing an application, the developers should think of their expertise level and budget for a project. Someone who has god background in JavaScript should ideally go for JS-based editors or frameworks for projects.
5. Batching the tasks together
When the web developers are engaged in a project, they have to accomplish a lot of things. From making the blueprint of the site to coding and checking for bugs and functionality, they remain occupied round the clock. It is better that they focus on doing one task at a time when the project is in progress.
For example, if they need to do extensive bug testing for a site, it is prudent to keep a couple of days for that task alone. That is better than trying to accomplish many other things at the same time. This way the developers can evade the risk of doing any task in a half baked way.
6. Analyzing and eradiating errors
Some web development projects can be complex in nature and those may involve using thousands of lines of codes, usage of multiple tools and integration with third-party platforms, etc. Even for seasoned web developers, overlooking small glitches in coding or evading a few sections of the sites for testing can happen. This is why the developers should develop a habit of checking for errors at all stage of site development.
If the entire project is divided into 5-6 stages, at the completion of each stage-they should check for possible errors. This will not only eliminate the number of errors at the final level but will also help them evade the mistakes made earlier. Besides, this helps speed up the overall development process in lower website price for the client.
The seasoned and reputed web developers not only work hard, but they also work smart to eliminate errors. This can be done also by reusing the commonly used and tested codes in the projects. Referred to as snippets, the commonly used codes can be saved in a directory and they can be reused in many projects later. It is also prudent to use an IDE or source code editor to save such snippets.
7. The need for rest
Web development can be hectic and taxing on the nerves and that is applicable for even the veteran professionals in this sector. So, it is necessary that the developers take a break from their work sometimes and relax as much as possible. Between two projects, they can take short breaks and indulge in stress-busting activities and get enough sleep. This will help them stay motivated and get the energy to cope with the work pressure.
Being too workaholic can prove to be counterproductive in this sector and affect work quality adversely.
About the author:
Andriy Haydash is a founder of PROGMAITQ web development company in Poland. He specializes in building websites for small business owners to help them build and grow their brand online.
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