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Level Up Your Code: Essential Coding Practices for Programmers in 2025 (Part 2)

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In the fast-evolving landscape of software development, writing code that simply works is no longer enough. Readability and maintainability have become paramount for building robust, scalable, and collaborative projects. This article is the second in the Level Up Your Code series and delves into why these qualities are crucial and outlines essential coding practices for programmers in 2025, with a focus on TypeScript. You can read the first part of this series here.


Why Readability and Maintainability Matter

Readability refers to how easily other developers (including your future self) can understand your code. Maintainability, on the other hand, is the ease with which code can be modified, updated, and debugged over its lifespan.


The disadvantages of unreadable and unmaintainable code are significant:

  • Increased Development Costs: Difficulty in understanding code leads to more time spent on debugging, fixing bugs, and implementing new features.

  • Higher Risk of Errors: Complex and convoluted code is more prone to introducing new bugs during modifications.

  • Reduced Team Collaboration: When code is hard to grasp, collaboration becomes challenging, hindering team productivity.

  • Technical Debt Accumulation: Poorly written code creates technical debt, which will need to be addressed later, often at a higher cost.

  • Developer Frustration: Working with incomprehensible code can lead to frustration and decreased morale among developers.


By prioritizing readability and maintainability, you invest in the long-term health and success of your projects.


Essential Coding Practices for 2025


Here are some essential coding practices to enhance the readability and maintainability of your TypeScript code:


1. Use Descriptive Naming

Choosing clear and meaningful names for variables, functions, classes, and interfaces significantly improves code comprehension.


Bad Example:

typescript

let d = new Date();
function process(i: number): number {
	return i * 2; 
}


Good Example:

typescript

const currentDate: Date = new Date(); 

function calculateDoubleValue(inputValue: number): number { 
	return inputValue * 2; 
}

The good example clearly conveys the purpose of the variable and the function, making the code easier to understand at a glance.


2. Keep Functions Small and Focused

Functions should have a single, well-defined purpose. Smaller functions are easier to understand, test, and reuse.


Bad Example:

typescript 

function processOrder(order: any, sendConfirmation: boolean, updateInventory: boolean) {
  // Process order logic
  // ...
  if (sendConfirmation) {
    // Send confirmation email
    // ...
  }
  if (updateInventory) {
    // Update inventory database
    // ...
  }
}

Good Example:

typescript 

function processOrder(order: any) {
  // Process order logic
  // ...
}

function sendConfirmationEmail(order: any) {
  // Send confirmation email logic
  // ...
}

function updateInventory(order: any) {
  // Update inventory database logic
  // ...
}

The good example breaks down the complex processOrder function into smaller, more manageable units, each with a specific responsibility.


3. Format Consistently

Consistent code formatting makes it visually easier to read and understand the structure of the code. This includes indentation, spacing, line breaks, and the use of semicolons.


Bad Example:

typescript 

function calculateArea(length: number,width: number){return length*width;}if(calculateArea(5,10)>40){console.log("Large area");}

Good Example:

typescript 

function calculateArea(length: number, width: number): number {
  return length * width;
}

if (calculateArea(5, 10) > 40) {
  console.log("Large area");
}

Consistent formatting in the good example improves readability and reduces visual clutter.


4. Comment the Why, Not the What

Comments should explain the reasoning behind the code, especially for complex or non-obvious logic. Avoid commenting on what the code is doing, as that should be evident from the code itself.


Bad Example:

typescript

let counter = 0; // Initialize counter to 0
counter++; // Increment the counter

Good Example:

typescript 

let retryCount = 0; // Initialize retry count for API requests
retryCount++; // Increment retry count after a failed API call

The good example explains the purpose of the retryCount variable, providing valuable context.


5. Handle Errors Properly

Robust error handling is crucial for maintainable applications. Use try...catch blocks to gracefully handle potential exceptions and provide informative error messages.


Bad Example:

typescript 

function fetchData(url: string) {
  fetch(url)
    .then(response => response.json())
    .then(data => console.log(data));
}

Good Example:

typescript

async function fetchData(url: string) {
  try {
    const response = await fetch(url);
    if (!response.ok) {
      throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
    }
    const data = await response.json();
    console.log(data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching data:", error);
    // Optionally, implement retry logic or fallback mechanisms
  }
}

The good example includes error handling to catch potential issues during the API call and provides a meaningful error message.


Tools to Enforce Clean Code in TypeScript

Several tools can help enforce clean coding practices in your TypeScript projects:


  • Prettier: An opinionated code formatter that automatically formats your code to ensure consistency in style.

  • ESLint: A static code analysis tool that identifies and reports on problematic patterns in your JavaScript and TypeScript code, helping you adhere to coding standards and best practices.

  • TSLint (deprecated, use ESLint with TypeScript plugins): While TSLint was specifically for TypeScript, it has been deprecated in favor of using ESLint with appropriate plugins like @typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin and @typescript-eslint/parser.

  • EditorConfig: A file format for defining and maintaining consistent coding styles between different editors and IDEs.


Integrating these tools into your development workflow, often through linters and formatters in your IDE or as part of your CI/CD pipeline, can significantly improve the overall quality and maintainability of your TypeScript codebase.


Final Thoughts: Code Is for Humans 

Your code doesn’t live in isolation. Whether you’re working in a startup or open-source project, clean TypeScript code means fewer bugs, faster onboarding, and lower maintenance.  

Ask yourself: “If I didn’t write this, would I still understand it quickly?” 


By embracing these essential coding practices and leveraging the power of code enforcement tools, programmers in 2025 can write code that is not only functional but also a pleasure to read, maintain, and collaborate on, ultimately leading to more successful and sustainable software projects.


Clean code is a habit, not a one-time task — and it’s one of the best investments you can make in your software career. 


References:

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