Achieving Script Maintainability

Script maintainability in JavaScript is a very elusive task for developers for two reasons:

• Humans will always be looking for ways to bend the rules and;
• JavaScript could be configured in many forms.

Developers that are aiming to maintain a good script is often faced with the challenge since developers do not really have to follow the specific scripting to render a webpage.

JavaScript is a “free for all” programming language that almost anything could be configured without following a specific script. Browsers just follow a certain formula for JavaScript that as long as they are followed, the application could be easily implemented.

When the application is handed on to another developer, maintaining the application is often tedious and difficult. As JavaScript could be personalized, developers have to confer continuously with the former developer in maintaining the application.

Sometimes, developers would just work on the application again just to save time. But it only creates another cycle once a new set of developers take over the assignment.

Short is not always Sweet

A common problem developers have to face is the shortcut method employed by many developers. By using shortcuts, developers could build an application in no time at all. But this creates a huge problem once they are taken over by new developers.

Developing applications through shortcuts is practically a nightmare for other developers because they often leave a trail of challenges not only in coding but security problems. Basic functions that should be covered by security measures are not really observed.

The problem is realized when an attack happens. Developers might be able to install or add simple security measures but they do not cover the security flaw in coding. The problem is again realized when an upgrade is needed.

Combining Tasks

The other side of the coin is also a nightmare for developers who have just taken over a very long scripting for an application. The original developers would usually build an application with a very long coding. All functions are combined in a single frame that execution would only work for that specific setting.

But when an upgrade is needed, new developers would have a hard time separating the functions that they practically have to build the application from the scratch.

Extending the functions and its parameters is only applicable for smaller applications but once an upgrade is needed, the coding is no longer feasible.

Loading Images through JavaScript

As much as possible, JavaScript should receive the least amount of tasks if developers want to achieve scripting maintainability.

Small images could be loaded in the client side through JavaScript but when it comes to websites that requires images constantly, CSS should be employed instead of the programming language.

Through CSS, images could be streamed without too much effort from the client side. The server would have to take up most of the load to properly implement them in the browser. In terms of maintainability, CSS requires a more standardized coding compared to JavaScript. Through CSS, images could be easily manipulated. The performance is still the same and could even improve while achieving maintainability.