Coding differences influence program capabilities

Developing software has become more complex over the years as new devices and intensive demands emerge that must be met by the programs. While some tools like the HTML5 widgets are evolving on the mobile front, there are numerous other considerations that application builders must factor in when creating their product. As the languages expand capabilities, it will be necessary for decision makers to decide what their goal is and leverage the codes to achieve these aims.

When something goes wrong in an application, users are often quick to point fingers, but the situation is often not as simple as people may think. Data Center Knowledge contributor David Mavashev noted that when alleviating one performance bottleneck, more often appear in other locations, which make it more difficult for IT staff to address all problems at once. These issues can be the cause of delayed rollouts and will need to be resolved in order for the program to work as it's meant to. Mavashev suggested that if the system doesn't have the capacity to handle the required functions, or the coding has bugs, these could be the sources of complications. To avoid this situation, programmers should think through their application and design it with employees in mind.

"This seems like common sense – and it is," Mavashev wrote. "And a plan must be put in place to ensure that end-to-end visibility is available so that when a problem occurs, and it will the necessary insight into the details and cause is available for rapid diagnosis and remediation."

Getting used to language barriers
Whether developers are working with HTML5, using ASP.NET controls or leveraging a different program entirely, they must realize that their coding skills will not necessarily transfer over between different languages. In some cases, certain coding abilities will be more beneficial than others, making it necessary to understand what each language entails and what advantages it can bring. InfoWorld contributor Paul Venezia noted that the unique characteristics of the codes have their own rules — Python implies that there is more than one way to accomplish a task while Ruby on Rails complies with a strict set of rules. While these programs both have essentially the same job - creating a successful piece of software - their traits will determine how the developer arrives at the final product.

"If and when it breaks, the many layers between the developer and the low-level code complicates the troubleshooting process," Venezia wrote. "When I write a database modification function, at least I know exactly what it's going to do, down to the queries themselves. If it breaks, I know exactly why, nearly instantly."