Building foundations

Building Foundations
MITCHELL MATTHEWS

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SuprTEK Advanced Technology Group 2

• Version control
• Core documentation
• Project structure
• Code modularization
• Good frameworks and libraries
• Fast, simple builds
• Thorough testing
Components of a Successful Project

Version Control

• Project history
• Disaster prevention
• Reduced clutter
• Smaller footprint
• Faster navigation
The Benefits of Version Control

• Easy collaboration and contributions
• Ability to access your code wherever you have an internet connection
• Free backups
These sites are popular for hosting repositories:
• BitBucket
• GitHub
• GitLab
Host Your Repositories

• Help other developers figure out what you’re doing
• Good commit messages are:
• Short
• Descriptive
• Consistent
• Conventions vary by version control system
• Look them up and follow them
Commit Messages

• Maintains correct dependencies between projects
• Keeps a clear list of when fixes or bugs occurred
• Allows stable versions to be accessed with ease
Tagging and Versioning

The Basics

• A license file contains the text for the license your code is released
under
• Developers will not contribute to a project with no license
• Spend a few minutes (or more) to decide upon a license
• Licenses are often not compatible with certain projects; choose one that
makes sense for your current use
• You can read up on software licenses here: https://tldrlegal.com/
Create a LICENSE File

• README files are displayed by default by most repository hosts
• Developers will go to a readme file before anything else
• READMEs should include:
• Basic download/use instructions
• Compilation instructions
• Limitations or prerequisites (“Only runs on Windows” or “Requires JDK 1.8”)
• Other useful sections include:
• Project structure
• Links to more detailed resources (Wikis, FAQs, Issue Trackers, etc)
Create a README File

• When a project becomes large enough, a contribution guide sets a
standard for all developers to follow
• It should detail:
• Code style
• Branching and merging guidelines
• Naming conventions
• Anything else you feel contributors should know
Build a Contribution Guide

• Change logs are great for non-contributors
• Tracks features and bug fixes present in each release
• Can serve as a short-term roadmap for upcoming features
Keep a Change Log

• Make a design document available
• Provide a roadmap for short and long-term goals
• Use an issue tracker, checklist, the back of your hand to stay on
track
• Link to these documents/sites in the readme or contribution guide
Plan for the Future

Project Structure

Following conventions helps other developers familiarize themselves
with your code much faster.
Be particularly mindful of:
• Source folders
• Resource folders
• Test folders
• Dependency folders
Follow Language Conventions

• Place core documentation in the repository root
• These core files include:
• Readmes
• Change logs
• Contribution guides
• License files
• All other documentation should have dedicated folders
Separate Documentation

• Anything you build or compile should be hosted elsewhere
• Binaries add bloat to repositories
Don’t Include Binaries

• Modularizing your code makes it easier to find what you want in
larger projects
• It also helps in keeping reusable code in one place
Modularize Your Code

Modularizing Code

If your code is public:
• Keep your projects that work together in the same repository
• If necessary, create a library as a separate project and publish it
Keep it Together

If you have multiple applications that don’t depend on each other:
• Make these their own repositories
• If your project is large enough, consider starting a group or
organization on your repository host
If your code is private:
• Split major components into their own repositories
• Make sure they still build on their own
Keep it Apart

• These are areas of code that appear in multiple places
• Usually in the form of:
• Interfaces
• Abstract classes
• Plain data objects
• Helpers and utilities
• Database access layers
• Multiple common modules can exist if needed
Identify Common Functionality

• Utilize modules or sub-projects to separate code that’s common
across multiple areas of functionality
• For example:
• A ‘common’ module containing interfaces
• A ‘database’ module that implements the interfaces in the ‘common’ module
• A ‘server’ module that uses the ‘common’ and ‘database’ modules—the ‘database’ module’s
implementations are injected by the application server
Create Sub-Projects or Modules
Application
Server
Server
Module
Database
Module
Database
Module
Server
Module
Injected IntoInterfaces

Frameworks and Libraries

• Use well-known, popular frameworks and libraries
• Odds are, they’re popular for a good reason
• Other developers are more likely to be familiar with more popular
libraries
Go With the Flow

• Making developers learn new libraries slows their contributions
• These libraries may have obscure bugs or poor performance
• They may not be updated if future compatibility issues arise
• Bugs may never get fixed
Don’t Pick Obscure Frameworks/Libraries

• Sometimes a new or obscure library can fit your needs better than
anything else
• Try it out and see!
…Except When You Should

• Larger dependencies means longer downloads
• Large downloads are painful when working on a slow connection or one with
data caps
• Size limitations may exist on some targeted platforms
• An 11MB localization library may not be a lot until you’re limited to a 50MB
Android package
• The benefit of a library may not outweigh the extra space
• Consider if you need a library before adding it to your projects
Be Mindful of the Size of Dependencies

Packaging Dependencies

Don’t Do It!

• Keep them all in a single location, preferably near the root of your
directory structure
• Provide detailed instructions for installing them
• If your project targets multiple platforms, ensure the dependencies
are included for each platform
…But If You Must

• Dependency managers download and inject dependencies
automatically
• They enforce versions and sub-project inheritance
• You can get back to writing code faster instead of configuring paths
and build tools
Use a Dependency Manager

Make Builds Easy

• Only a few commands (at most) should be necessary to build a
project
• If this is not possible to do, consider creating scripts or using
different build tools
• Keep the time to download, build, and run a project for the first
time under 15 minutes
• Don’t require other dependencies to be compiled or installed—
especially outside of a project
• If other modules in the same project are required, include those in
the build process automatically
Keep it Simple

• A build should not require configuration outside the project
• Requiring outside configuration vastly decreases build compatibility
with other systems
• Sometimes this is unavoidable, depending on the language and
dependencies
• Attempt to minimize this configuration
System Configuration is Bad

• A build should produce a usable (runnable or deployable) artifact
when complete
• Requiring further manual steps to use an artifact wastes time and
frustrates developers
Create Something Useful

Testing Things Out

• Borrow a friend’s
• Ask a friend to try things out
• Fire up a virtual machine
• Use a free Amazon Web Services account
• Wait for complaints to accumulate in your issue tracker
Build on a Clean System

• If a project targets multiple platforms, perform a build on each one
• Follow your build steps precisely and update documentation when
needed
Test Other Operating Systems

• Many build tools automate testing
• Core functionality needs to be tested; other tests should be
optional
• Avoid platform-specific tests if possible
• Allow manual running of tests
• Run all tests (including optional ones) before performing a release
Include Tests in Build Process

• Don’t let a build pass when it fails tests
• This prevents accidentally releasing buggy code
• If the build process fails due to a bad test, fix it or remove it in a
timely manner
…And Fail the Build When the Tests Do

• Deploy or run projects on every platform it’s targeted for
• Ensure functionality is present and the same for each platform
• Document any extra steps taken for deploying
Deploy, then Deploy Again

Your repository should now be:
• Accessible
• Maintainable
• Well-organized
Pat Yourself on the Back for a Job Well Done

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