JavaScript Code Stabilization Tips

Stability or consistency in a JavaScript application is always a must. By enforcing stability in the application, developers can expect an application that will work well even under heavy use. Users on the other hand, will enjoy the application without having to deal with unpredictable behavior of the application.

Luckily, enforcing this practice is relatively easy for developers. Here are some tips on how you can stabilize your application without requiring extra resources from users or from the application itself.

• Declaring Variables

Variables can be easily read by JavaScript. The versatility of the programming language extends to the fact that variables could be read even though they are explicitly declared. While this is possible, you are giving JavaScript extra steps in figuring out if the code added is actually a variable.

Ensure stability in your application by declaring variables before you use them. This prevents confusion on JavaScript since the programming language will immediately recognize the variables. The information will then be easily streamed since JavaScript is full aware that it is dealing with variables.

• Consistent Indention

Indenting codes may look like an extra chore for developers but this is actually a very important task if you want to have a stable application. Indention will allow JavaScript to follow the flow of the codes and execute them as expected. Without indention, the hierarchy of the functions will not be identified by the programming language.

What could happen is that some functions will be executed first while there are also additional functions that will never be read at all. Indention is not that difficult. After consistently practicing indention, the practice will be natural.

• {} on if Statements

Like variables, if statements can be easily read by JavaScript even though they are not explicitly identified. But it will also suffer the same consequence of the unidentified variables. These statements should be enclosed by {}so that the right scope of statement will be identified.

It doesn’t even matter if you only have one line statements. Using {} is still very important since it will case the statement for better reading. Again, this is seen as an extra chore but a necessary one especially if the developer wants to stabilize the application.

• When in doubt, get a library

While manually coding your JavaScript code could make you a smarter developer, there are some functions that you can’t risk of implementing for security and functionality reasons. Instead of taking the risk of creating a buggy application; look for functions from different libraries that you can use immediately. But don’t just choose any library – look for libraries that are usually adopted by the developing community so that you can ensure stability. By adopting popular libraries not only will you be assured of a stable application, your application will also have a higher chance of being implement in cross browsers.

Creating a stable application could be a little bit challenging at first. But constant practice will ease these extra steps as they will naturally come to you in the future.