6 Tips To Make Your Web Development Process More Efficient

With the increasing demand for high-quality website and web app development, it is essential that developers have access to the best tools and techniques to ensure the process runs smoothly. From planning and design through coding and testing, each step requires careful consideration. But, with the right strategies in place, companies can make the workflow more optimized and save time in the long run. In this article, we explore some of the most effective tips for making your web development process both efficient and pleasant!

Use an advanced code editor

It is a powerful tool for writing cleaner and more organized code. Such editors usually come with a syntax-highlighting feature that makes it easier to identify and fix errors, as well as an auto-completion system for common programming tasks. They also come with integrated development environments (IDEs) that allow developers to review their source code from multiple angles and quickly switch between different languages. They typically provide support for version control systems such as Git or Subversion to help keep track of the changes.

Some popular IDEs with these features include:

• VSCode: A free, open-source editor with a vast library of extensions and a strong community support.
• JetBrains PhpStorm: A paid IDE with features such as intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error checking, and debugging.
• Sublime Text: A fast and customizable text editor offering syntax highlighting, multi-caret editing, and command palette.
• Atom: A free, open-source text editor developed by GitHub, with a modular design that allows users to install packages to enhance its functionality.

Use version control software

Version control software allows developers to keep up with changes made in their code over time: by keeping track of all the additions, deletions and modifications, VCSs make sure that the project remains stable and secure. Additionally, they also allow multiple specialists to collaborate on the same project without stepping on each other’s toes. They provide an easy way to go back to a previous version if something doesn’t work as expected so they save team’s time and effort by quickly identifying which versions are affected by any errors or issues that occur during the process.

Centralized VCSs use a central server to store all the file versions, like Subversion (SVN) and Perforce.

Decentralized VCSs allow users to have a complete copy of the project’s history on their own computer, and changes are easily synchronized between different users’ copies, like Git and Mercurial.

VCS is not utilized by IT specialists only: it would be a good solution for anyone who works with files that change regularly, such as documents, images, and videos.

Set up a development environment that mirrors the production server as closely as possible

It is key to ensuring that your code runs optimally in the production environment. This includes making sure the software and hardware requirements are met, such as having the same operating system, web server and database versions installed. Additionally, if you are using any third-party libraries or frameworks such as JavaScript or PHP libraries, make sure to use the same version of each library in both environments.

Be sure to test your code in the DE before deploying it to production to catch any potential issues early on, so that they don’t cause unexpected problems when your website is live. Follow this checklist to ensure any changes will not cause unintended consequences:

1. Determine the production server’s hardware specifications, including the operating system, CPU, RAM, and storage capacity.
2. Choose a DE that matches the production server’s specifications as closely as possible. This could be a virtual machine or a local machine running the same operating system.
3. Install the same software and dependencies that are present on the production server. This includes any programming languages, databases, web servers, and other applications required for your application.
4. Clone or download a copy of your application’s code repository and configure it in your DE.
5. Set up a database in your DE and import a copy of the production database.
6. Test your application in the DE to see if it behaves in the same way as it does on the production server.
7. Repeat the process for each environment (development, staging, production) you want to mirror.

Take advantage of online resources

There are plenty of forums, websites, and blogs that provide helpful advice from experienced specialists around the world. Additionally, there are open source libraries and frameworks created by the community that will totally save you time and effort when building your project. Many online tools such as automated testing services or syntax validators also reduce the amount of time needed for testing and debugging.

If you are ever stuck trying to solve a particularly challenging problem, don’t forget that there is often someone out there who has encountered the same issue previously and may provide valuable tips and ideas that you may not have thought about.

These resources will help you to build your skills, find answers to specific questions, and connect with people from your industry:

• Stack Overflow: A popular Q&A site where visitors ask and answer questions related to programming.
• GitHub: A platform for hosting and sharing code, and a community of developers collaborating on open-source projects.
• Reddit: The r/webdev subreddit is a great place to ask questions, share resources, and stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends.
• Codecademy: An online platform that offers interactive lessons and projects to help you learn something new.
• W3Schools: A comprehensive resource for tutorials and reference materials.
• Udemy: An online learning platform that offers a variety of courses and tutorials.
• freeCodeCamp: A non-profit organization that offers a comprehensive curriculum for learning programming for free.
• Dev.to: Lots of articles, tutorials, and other resources.
• Meetup: A platform for finding local web development groups and events in your area.

Use automated testing tools

ATTs are essential for quickly and accurately evaluating the product’s performance. By automating the process of running tests, developers save time and effort while also ensuring consistent accuracy across multiple platforms. Additionally, thanks to ATTs, there is no fear of introducing new bugs or breaking existing features, programmers are confident that their code is functioning as expected before they deploy it to production.

Here are the examples of popular ATTs:

Selenium

Pros:

Widely used and well-supported

Supports multiple programming languages (Java, Python, Ruby, etc.)

Can test on different platforms (web, mobile, desktop)

Large community of users, making it easier to find advice

Cons:

May be complex to set up and use for beginners

Requires good knowledge of programming

May be slow, especially when running tests on large applications

JUnit

Pros:

Simple and easy to use

Good for unit testing

Widely used in Java development

Integrates well with other tools such as Maven and Ant

Cons:

Limited to Java language only

Does not support testing of graphical user interfaces

TestNG

Pros:

Provides a number of advanced features, such as data-driven testing and parallel test execution

Integrates well with other tools such as Maven, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA

Good for both unit and integration testing

Cons:

Steep learning curve for beginners

Limited to Java language only

May require additional setup for parallel test execution

Cucumber

Pros:

Tests can be written in plain language, making them easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand

Supports multiple programming languages

Good for behavior-driven development (BDD)

Cons:

May be slow for large test suites

Steep learning curve for beginners

Not suitable for testing performance or low-level functionality

Optimize your workflow by using shortcuts and productivity-enhancing plugins

Optimization ensures that common tasks are done in the most efficient way possible, improving both quality and speed: with proper optimization, developers can often cut down on the amount of time needed for certain tasks and focus their energy on more important tasks. Streamline your process with a website proposal to maximize efficiency and increase the effectiveness of your workflow. 

Shortcuts allow you to quickly access commonly used commands or functions, allowing you to work more efficiently. Productivity-enhancing plugins can add new features or improve existing ones, giving you the ability to customize and tailor the workflow for maximum efficiency. Here are a few examples of such plugins for web developers:

For web browsers:

Web Developer Toolbar

Firebug Lite

Responsive Web Design Tester

Webpage Test

For text editors:

Visual Studio Code:

Live Server

IntelliSense

Code Runner

Sublime Text:

HTML-CSS-JS Prettify

Emmet

Bracket Highlighter

For version control systems:

Git:

GitLens

Git blame

Gitgutter

For task management and project management:

Trello:

Butler

Card Color Titles

Power-Ups

Asana:

ReportBot

Asana Power-Up

Conclusion

By taking mentioned steps, you streamline the workflow and reduce headaches going forward. Start by utilizing a code editor with helpful features on hand. With version control software, you can keep track of all changes made in the project and isolate stages of web development with ease. Mirrors of your production server should also be created to ensure web development environment is as unified with production environment as possible.

Utilizing online resources such as forums or blogs can also assist in quickly solving programming or website security issues when they arise. Automated testing tools will come in handy too for verifying that your code fulfills desired functions prior and after submitting it for review.To further improve workflow, time should be taken to learn shortcuts and download productivity plugins meant to save time on certain tasks that often take a lot longer without them. By taking all these steps, any web development company can expect fewer errors and better results.

Andrej Fedek

Andrej Fedek is a digital marketer. He recently started his own blog about digital marketing called InterCool Studio. His passion is to help startups grow and thrive in a competitive environment.