Ways to reduce bugs in software development

Software developers are often blamed for being the cause of many bugs. Defects can ruin any project before it even begins. In this article learn about simple ways engineers can use to avoid having ton of bugs in the software

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What is a bug?

Bugs in software development are faults that cause the software to fail or perform in an unintended manner.

A bug is that part of your code that you didn't write.

It’s a mistake, a glitch, an error and it can be found anywhere in your code - from the tiniest detail to the most complex function.

You might even call it a “problematic side effect,” because finding and fixing bugs is often more time-consuming and difficult than getting other aspects of your project right the first time.

There are all sorts of bugs - some prevent the software from running at all; others cause errors with data or computation; still others, though rarer, affect things like graphics or user interface elements.

Speaking in terms of definitions, an error, defect, or fault in the design, development, or operation of computer software that causes the program to generate an inaccurate or unexpected result or to act in a manner that was not intended is a software bug. The act of locating and fixing errors is known as “debugging,” and it often makes use of standardized approaches or specific tools to zero in on errors

There are many types of software bugs that can occur in the development process. Some of them are: logic errors, race conditions, and input errors.

Logic Errors

A logic error is an error in the program code that causes the code to not execute as expected. These happen when there is a logical flaw in the developer’s code. For example, a developer might be trying to check if two strings are identical but they accidentally typed “=” instead of “==,” meaning that they would never find out if the strings were equal or not.

Race Conditions

A race condition is a type of bug that usually occurs when multiple computations share data and these computations depend on each other for completion. This type of bug often happens because the timing between different processes causes one process to see data before another process has updated it yet. For example, there might be an application where two threads are trying to modify same variable. On value read, that might create a bug which is hard to find and fix

Input errors

Sometimes everything just breaks when user enters unexpected values developers didn’t create logic for. For example, famous bug with iOS when phones didn’t start because of specific symbols in the symbol table

Software without bugs. Is that possible?

Software bugs can have a huge impact on the customer experience, but they don’t need to be inevitable. Customers will not use the software again if they know it is riddled with bugs. We are living in a digital world, where software is an integral part of our lives. It’s not just about working, but also entertainment and other aspects of life. Developers want to deliver perfect code at all costs, but for this to happen there needs to be more focus on testing and quality assurance.

There’s no such thing as a bug-free program. Every program contains some sort of error. Whether it’s a typo, a missed variable, or a missing function call, there are always going to be errors in code. If there is an intention to write good code, develop cool products, you’ll need to make sure that these errors at least minor or even not present in the app

Software developers are not perfect. That is why they are called human beings and not machines.

Developers spend a lot of time trying to write bug-free code, but in the end, some bugs manage to escape the code review and make it into production.

As with any other form of software development, there are certain core principles that can help us to not let bugs slip through the cracks.

Is there a way to avoid bugs before they are in the software?

Bugs can be found in any software and can be caused by various factors, including lack of testing. The more bugs in the software, the less reliable it is

Testing helps ensure that a product does not have bugs, which allows for more reliability and better quality. There are a lot of testing types but you should use the type that your company needs most to ensure that the product is ready for release

One of the best ways to avoid a bug in software development is to identify the problem early on and fix it before it becomes a big issue. The main things that developers can do to avoid bugs in software development are: systematically checking, identifying and removing the source of bugs; designing procedures and protocols for reporting, reproducing and fixing bugs. One way to ensure that there is no bug in your software is by performing systematic checks. In addition, there are many kinds of automated tests that can also be used to detect bugs as they occur. Lastly, every developer should make sure they fully test their product before releasing it out into the world.

Common engineering ways to avoid bugs

Ideally, developers should be aware of the most common problems that may arise and be able to plan accordingly. This way, it’s possible for them to avoid bugs during development.

Determining the scope of a project is one of the best steps a developer can take to avoid potential bugs. Knowing what their program is supposed to do will help them zero in on what needs to be done. This will also allow them to eliminate those parts that are not necessary which will reduce the chance for bugs and save resources (time, money).

There are few things you can ask software team to do in order to mitigate risk of bug creation:

1. Test-driven development

Test-driven development (TDD) is an iterative design methodology commonly used with object-oriented programming languages. TDD involves writing automated tests before developing new code, thereby ensuring that the code meets its specifications. In addition to helping programmers develop good habits and practices, TDD helps them write maintainable code.

2. Iterative testing

Iterative testing is a quality assurance technique used to reduce defects and improve product reliability. One iteration is defined as the completion of one test run and a subsequent review of results. Iterations may be done once or many times throughout the project’s lifecycle. A variation on this strategy is called cyclical testing, where iterations are performed periodically.

3. Mock objects

Mock objects are fake versions of real objects used to isolate unit-tests from changes made by clients of those objects. When used correctly, mock objects allow developers to separate their code into smaller units, making testing easier to do, yet without having to worry about effects outside the scope of each individual unit test. Unit tests are easy to write when you create custom software. Read more about our custom software devevelopment services

4. Behavior-driven development

Behavior-driven development (BDD) is an agile software development method using domain-specific language (DSL), or natural language, to describe behavior. BDD is based on the idea that, if you have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish and how you expect users should behave, then you need only create the programmatic means to enforce these expectations.

5. Behavior-driven architecture

The term behavior-driven architecture (BDA) refers to an architectural style that incorporates patterns for modeling behaviors. These models are frequently implemented using design patterns. BDA is not a specific technology, rather it is a way of thinking and doing things. Developers use a number of technologies to implement BDA including Event Sourcing/CQRS, Domain Driven Design, Specification By Example, Continuous Integration, and others.

6. Feature-based testing

Feature-based testing (FBT) is a software quality control technique that focuses on identifying and verifying features in a system rather than individual components. FBT uses end user scenarios to identify and verify the entire system functionality and does not require manual coding. To execute this type of testing, for sure you will need Quality Assurance testing services

7. Acceptance tests

Acceptance tests are written to ensure that the software meets requirements and has been thoroughly tested. Tests are created at various points in the product lifecycle; however, acceptance tests are generally the last set of tests to be executed.

Summary

Bugs can be caused by various factors, including lack of testing. Developers can do a number of things to avoid bugs in software development. Identifying the scope of a project is one of the best steps a developer can take to avoid potential bugs. There are many kinds of automated tests that can also be used to detect bugs as they occur. Mock objects are fake versions of real objects used to isolate unit-tests from changes made by clients of those objects.

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