How to make developers follow coding standards? [closed]

Answer 1

If it's really a big deal, you're going to have to prove to them why they're wrong.

They catch and suppress Throwables

It shouldn't be very hard to come up with some test input that causes a catastrophe.

return nulls

This isn't as serious as suppressing Throwable, but can still cause problems. Show them where their code is causing NullPointerException to be thrown. You should also show them what to return instead of null (empty array, Null Object, etc.) and how much easier it is to work with in the calling code.

concatenate Strings in large loops

This isn't nearly as bad. If it were me, you'd have to show me that the loop in question was the bottleneck in the system and that the concatenation was slowing things down significantly. Benchmark the application and find out.

For any practice that you see as a problem you need to be able to demonstrate two things:

1. Why it's wrong.
2. The right way to do it.

If you can't do both, then you're not giving them enough reason to change their habits.

Answer 2

Talk, talk, talk to them, i think if you know that is a good programmer you cant loose him/she. Is not easy to chance the way that your write code, is ease to forget the new standard when you are more worry about to write down your idea.

Answer 3

Have you tried a wooden ruler across the knuckles? Worked for me in school :P

Seriously though, standards are there to be followed, if they're not being followed and you're in a position to follow through with training and disciplinary action, then follow disciplinary procedures. If you're not, and you can't convince your higher ups that this should be followed then it seems you have two options:

• Suck it up and make the best of it
• Start looking for another job

Answer 4

Use an intelligent code formatter and probably an analysis tool to check if the standards are followed.

Use some sessions to introduce the standards.

Introduce a kind of an award for the programmer with the best compliance for the standard each month.

And if all fails, get rid of them.

Answer 5

Technical Solution if you're using Team System you could use checkin policies to enforce it. Other versioning systems no doubt support similar things. You'll need the TFS Server Power tools for this.

Non-technical Aside from a technical solution you might want to explain the reasons you're requireing these coding standards (quality, legal etc.). They might feel the policy is overly restrictive or simply do not understand the necessity. If you can convince them of the need to do this, you no longer will have to force them.

Answer 6

Edit: There are just about 10 developers in my team. They're over pressurized and do not take the time to put comments and do the code neatly since there's more pressure to complete the product from our management.What would be the solution for this?

In my experience, it takes a very strong individual to "train" upper management on how software development actually works and to stand up to them. It's obvious that you're very frustrated with your situation, but unfortunately it might be impossible to fix. You probably won't get the resources or the cooperation that you need. I've worked in that type of environment and my solution was to find another job.