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GeneralRe: Laptop pioneer John Ellenby dies Pin
Beginner Luck28-Aug-16 20:00
professionalBeginner Luck28-Aug-16 20:00 
GeneralRe: Laptop pioneer John Ellenby dies Pin
Herman<T>.Instance28-Aug-16 21:45
Herman<T>.Instance28-Aug-16 21:45 
GeneralRe: Laptop pioneer John Ellenby dies Pin
Member 1168325129-Aug-16 1:34
Member 1168325129-Aug-16 1:34 
NewsExperimental web IDE brings power of data notebooks to JavaScript Pin
Kent Sharkey28-Aug-16 10:23
staffKent Sharkey28-Aug-16 10:23 
NewsMozilla launches free website security scanning service Pin
Kent Sharkey28-Aug-16 10:20
staffKent Sharkey28-Aug-16 10:20 
GeneralRe: Mozilla launches free website security scanning service Pin
Beginner Luck28-Aug-16 19:46
professionalBeginner Luck28-Aug-16 19:46 
NewsHow to actually reduce software defects Pin
Kent Sharkey28-Aug-16 10:08
staffKent Sharkey28-Aug-16 10:08 
AnswerRe: How to actually reduce software defects PinPopular
Destiny77728-Aug-16 10:34
Destiny77728-Aug-16 10:34 
As a Software Developer for nearly 39 years, There is NO silver bullet on reducing software defects.

You cannot write bug free software.

However there are ways to greatly reduce software defects.

I have written software on a variety of software platforms in that nearly 39 years. Currently writing software for Windows PCs, so my details below assume that you too are using Windows... However if you are programming for a different Operating System, then adjust my instructions below to accomodate that Operating System.

Here's what I suggest:

1. When writing software, make the labels, buttons, etc that you use on Windows Forms or WPF Forms not use the DEFAULT names such as label1 or button1. Change the names to describe how you intend to use those items (objects) in your code behind such as lblErrorMessage or btnSave before you use those objects. That way it helps self document your code.

2. Use variable names that describe what they will be used for instead of using things like x, y, and z. Reading code that uses something like "x = y * z * a" doesn't help you understand what that does... However using "CalculatedInterest = PrincipleAmount * DailyInterestRate * DaysOfInterest" actually helps you understand what is going on.

3. When writing subroutines / functions use descriptive names. Once again this will help self document your program.

4. Document your source code with loads of Comments that describe things such as what the code does and on subroutines / functions tell what is coming into that code and what is returned.

5. Test your code over and over and over. Don't forget to use "Try...Catch..." Blocks to prevent your code from crashing unexpectedly. Test valid and invalid data to make sure that your code works like you want it to work.

6. Take time to test your executable code and not just rush it out the door. Have other people help you test your resulting executable code. Then make code fixes as needed and repeat this step as many times as it takes to make sure your code works as expected.

7. If your program needs to have a Software Installer, create the installer and test it on say Windows 7, Windows 8.0, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. If there are problems with any of those versions of the Operating System, go back and fix your program and / or the software installer.

Hope this helps someone write better software,
Bill G.
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Destiny77728-Aug-16 10:48
Destiny77728-Aug-16 10:48 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Sander Rossel28-Aug-16 11:16
professionalSander Rossel28-Aug-16 11:16 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Sander Rossel28-Aug-16 11:14
professionalSander Rossel28-Aug-16 11:14 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Matt.L28-Aug-16 12:11
Matt.L28-Aug-16 12:11 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Mycroft Holmes28-Aug-16 20:11
professionalMycroft Holmes28-Aug-16 20:11 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Destiny77716-May-17 12:41
Destiny77716-May-17 12:41 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Sander Rossel16-May-17 20:45
professionalSander Rossel16-May-17 20:45 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Destiny77725-May-17 10:54
Destiny77725-May-17 10:54 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Sander Rossel25-May-17 12:02
professionalSander Rossel25-May-17 12:02 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Garth J Lancaster28-Aug-16 16:04
professionalGarth J Lancaster28-Aug-16 16:04 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
KarstenK29-Aug-16 1:43
mveKarstenK29-Aug-16 1:43 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Stephen Gonzalez28-Aug-16 12:56
Stephen Gonzalez28-Aug-16 12:56 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Beginner Luck28-Aug-16 15:13
professionalBeginner Luck28-Aug-16 15:13 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Bernhard Hiller28-Aug-16 21:19
Bernhard Hiller28-Aug-16 21:19 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
PeejayAdams30-Aug-16 2:15
PeejayAdams30-Aug-16 2:15 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
#realJSOP29-Aug-16 0:00
mve#realJSOP29-Aug-16 0:00 
GeneralRe: How to actually reduce software defects Pin
Marc Clifton29-Aug-16 4:57
mvaMarc Clifton29-Aug-16 4:57 

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