Naming Things: The Most Underrated Skill in Software Development
15 hours ago
- #clean-code
- #naming-conventions
- #software-development
- Naming things is an underrated yet essential skill in software development.
- Poor naming leads to confusion, delays, and increased costs in development.
- A personal example showed how a misleading name ('BillOfMaterials') caused widespread issues.
- Bad naming affects onboarding, communication, development speed, and can introduce bugs.
- Scientific studies support that meaningful names improve comprehension and reduce cognitive load.
- Good naming builds a shared language and acts as living documentation.
- A simple framework for naming includes clarity, descriptiveness, and stakeholder understanding.
- Feedback and collaboration are crucial for choosing effective names.
- Investing time in naming upfront saves significant time and effort later.
- Every name chosen impacts future development and team efficiency.