Observation & Attention to Details In Programming

While writing a piece on WordPress, I got to a place where I was required to write a line of code and although I did that, the code just didn't do what I was expecting it to do. It took me a while to figure out what the matter was and when I did, I realised it was just an ‘=’ that was bugging my code. I felt both stupid and relieved.

I remember reading something Donald Knuth said: "Computers are incredibly fast, but they are still only as smart as the programs that run on them. They need us to tell them what to do.”

A program is only as smart as the programmer(s) that write it. As much as knowing how to write code is important in programming, the soft skills of observation and attention to detail are equally important. They help in understanding what is being coded better and anticipating future problems.

Observation & Attention to Details

The ability to recognise recurring patterns, resolve abnormalities and take care of arising problems makes for an efficient and reliable programmer. An observant programmer is one who is able to understand the end user's needs, understand the environment within which their code runs and tackle problems as they arise, and many times, even before they do.

Some of the Importance

• Different types of errors usually arise in the development process. Careful observation and attention to detail helps one detect these problems early on. Very simple mistakes like the one I made in the code I talked about earlier can be avoided, too.

• Attention to detail ensures code consistency and satisfactory user experiences.

• High-quality codes are easier to maintain, read, and reuse. Observing standard coding principles makes for overall understandability even by other programmers.

• Observing different parts of the code helps the programmer rewrite inefficient algorithms.

• By observing and reviewing one's code efficiently, it is easier for other programmers to understand and collaborate with one better.

• Regularly recurring problems can be better tackled with standard solutions through observant pattern recognition.

Observation and attention to detail while coding improves quality of code, enhances maintainability and scalability, as well as improve the successful and timely completion of a coding project.

Some Quality Code Standards To Stick To That Show Observation & Attention To Detail

• Be consistent with naming conventions throughout and always stick to descriptive names.

• Comment as much as possible to enhance the readability of code as well as keep everything documented.

• Strive for a more modular code to increase reusability and keep the structure of codes well organised.

• Carry out regular code reviews and ensure that the different parts of the code are properly checked.

• Stick to the coding best practices taught.

Real Life Instances Where Observation & Attention To Detail Cost Dearly

• In 2012, a trading firm, Knight Capital Group, suffered major financial losses amounting to $445 million in 45 minutes due to an inappropriate code configuration. This was as a result of oversight and not properly reviewing the code before deployment.

• The 1999 NASA Mars Orbiter Mission failed as a result of inattentiveness and inconsistency in unit calculation.

• In 2018, a firmware update in Microsoft Azure caused a substantial outage that affected data centres in different regions.

How To Develop & Enhance These Critical Skillsets

As with everything, taking the time to deliberately practice on skills will lead to better performance. Below are some of the ways through which programmers can become more observant and pay more attention to details:

1. Partaking in code reviews. This will give one room to observe various coding styles and will expose one to different approaches and a broader understanding of best practices.

2. Debugging. One of the surest ways to become more observant is partaking in more debugging practices. Lines of code or a program may not always work, and the ability to detect what could be wrong with a piece of code can not be overemphasised.

3. Joining other programmers in coding or partaking in pair programming. A sure way to quickly grasp a concept, principle or practice is to watch those who do it well. Collaborating with other programmers exposes one to the thought processes and techniques of other programmers.

4. Adopting a mindful and more deliberate approach to coding. Through constant practice of this, one becomes more attentive and it ends up reducing how many mistakes are made.

Conclusion

As much of a logical and practical endeavour as is programming, many soft skills are still required to make a well-rounded programmer. Two of them are observation and attention to detail. These skills will not only help one produce quality code but will also help one identify patterns and anticipate future problems. Sticking to an attention-to-detail and observant approach, one can be sure to produce quality codes and programs while tackling problems most efficiently.