When it comes to maximizing efficiency and increasing the quality of work that you’re able to accomplish in the software development process, ephemeral development environments are undoubtedly one of the best tools that you have access to.
In an era that has long since ended, software development took place in a more or less monolithic fashion. The entire application would be built to completion, and only then would things be tested to make sure that they were ready to meet the expectations of end users.
Now, thanks to best practices like the use of ephemeral environments, things have changed. Feature sets can be tested in real-time in a setting that mimics a live production environment. Issues can be troubleshooted, and small issues can be addressed before they have a chance to become bigger ones that impact the entire time. This brings with it a wide range of different benefits, all of which are more than worth exploring.
The Use of Ephemeral Environments
By its nature, an ephemeral environment is temporary. Rather than staging a feature set in a live production environment, a developer can see how things look and feel in a space that mimics those characteristics. This can be a great benefit to the overall software development process.
For starters, the work that a developer is doing can be realized in a way that does not impact any other member of the team. That way, they are free to experience issues and address problems without hindering the productivity of the larger group. Every member of the team can also complete the essential work that they’re doing without worrying about the “ripple effect” – that is to say, they don’t have to worry about making a mistake that halts the larger project in any way.
This type of environment also allows for better collaboration across teams, which is often needed in the software development process. Individuals are still free to work on a daily basis, but in real-time they can still see how their efforts contribute to the larger objective. The importance of this is something that cannot be overstated.
Code Editors, Collaboration Systems and Beyond
Another one of the most important tools for maximizing productivity in software development comes by way of a code editor. These types of tools are essential because they are intended to allow people to edit the source code of an application directly.
Essentially, what you’re working with is a text editor that is designed to help individuals write code. It provides the tools necessary to make this task easier than ever before. So rather than writing code directly, individuals can do so in a tool that is designed for this purpose. It offers more advanced features that allow them to get a “rough draft” version of the code out to completion, before then being compiled into the larger product in a way that allows all feature sets to gel in the way that they are intended.
But above all else, one of the best practices for maximizing productivity in terms of software development will always involve utilizing the power of collaboration to your advantage.
While it is true that individual developers will always work in a silo, they need to understand how their efforts contribute to the larger goals of the project. A feature set is, in and of itself, just one small part of a much larger story.
To get to that point, you need to encourage people to work not only as individuals, but as a collective as much as possible. You should encourage them to check in with one another and build upon the work that they’re doing. Version control systems are a big part of this, as people can see what others are contributing in a way that not only allows them to check their own work, but that also enables them to continue with that essential momentum moving forward.
This is especially important during an era when more software developers are working remotely than ever, given everything that is going on in the world right now with the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. People can easily become laser-focused on a specific task without paying too much attention to how their work impacts others.
Because of that, any opportunity you have to make people feel like they’re a part of something larger than themselves is something worth taking advantage of. Even if you simply hold a meeting on Zoom or Discord once a week, it’s still important to remind people what this is all about. Not only will it lead to a more collaborative environment, but it will also help lead to a higher quality piece of software at the end of it all as well.
In the end, remember that every software development project is unique unto itself. There is no “one size fits all” process to follow in terms of maximizing efficiency. Having said that, there are simple steps that you can take in order to help people become the best versions of themselves as much as possible. Not only will this lead to a better quality product that satisfies the needs of end users, but it will also help empower your collective development team as well. That will in turn allow you to better prepare for the challenges ahead of you for future clients, which will pave the way for future success as well.