10 Basic Programming Principles Every Programmer Must Know

MakeUseOf

By Anthony Grant

Updated Nov 15, 2023

Your code should be clear and easy to maintain. Here are several other programming principles to help you clean up your act.

Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS): Write code that is as simple as possible. Avoid being overly clever and use clear variable names.
Write DRY Code: Avoid duplicating code; make use of functions, loops, and algorithms instead. DRY code is easier to maintain and debug.
Open/Closed: Write code that is open to extension but closed to modification. Prevent direct modification and encourage extension for more stable and maintainable code.