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    Article | Speed and reasonability: Keys to effective software development

    Effective software development relies on two fundamentals: speed and reasonability. Speed ensures solutions meet business expectations, while reasonable, readable code supports long-term maintainability. Together, they form a balanced approach that delivers reliable, scalable software able to grow with the business.

    Speed and reasonability are the cornerstones of crafting effective and impactful software development solutions. Speed enables teams to build trusted and effective solutions and stay competitive in fast-paced industries. Reasonability ensures that the code is easily maintained, scalable, and aligned with the company’s long-term strategy.

    When these two rule together, it creates an environment where software not only meets the needs of the business, but also lasts longer, reduces technical debt, and fosters innovation. This article explores why these two timeless approaches to delivering app development are essential for achieving sustainable success.

    The keys to the app kingdom

    Before gathering requirements or designing workflows, we first focus on the fundamentals. These two basic concepts are non-negotiable requirements and the keys to successful software development.

    1. The software has to work.
    2. The software has to work when you want it to.
    Software Development Solutions 1

    If an application fails to deliver functionality within an expected timeframe, it might as well not work at all. Imagine a real-time delivery app that sporadically skips notifications. Trust breaks down, and soon you’re manually checking the front door for packages—or worse, you find melted ice cream on the porch because your “real-time” app failed you. The lesson? Functionality and timely delivery are inseparable and essential.

    Speed: The king of software

    Ensuring software operates promptly is just as crucial as ensuring it functions properly. The software solution has to be fast enough to meet the business requirements. Software that operates too slowly for its intended purpose effectively doesn’t operate at all.

    One way to evaluate efficiency and performance is by using one of the first computer science concepts encountered by most programmers- Big O Notation. It is a mathematical tool that describes the worst-case efficiency for an algorithm. With Big O Notation, we can rank an algorithm against other alternatives in terms of efficiency - and, therefore, execution time.

    Big O Complexity Chart

    While this article won’t go into detail explaining how to calculate Big O notation, it is an easy skill to learn with a great reference at https://www.bigocheatsheet.com/. When creating a software development solution, you should have Big O in the back of your mind, as it will help you avoid pitfalls and guide you toward a better solution. If your solution meets performance requirements within a reasonable timeframe, chasing theoretical perfection might be unnecessary. Remember: it’s better to have something functional now than a “perfect” solution that misses the deadline.

    Reasonability: The queen of software

    If speed is the King, reasonability is the Queen. Reasonable code is code that is easy to read, understand, and maintain—no matter who wrote it or when. Even if you’re the only developer on your team, you’ll be glad you prioritized clarity.

    Let’s consider a scenario we’ve all faced. A production bug surfaces, and you dive into the code only to find an indecipherable mess. To your horror, you realize—you wrote it. Seventeen months ago. Now, instead of fixing the bug efficiently, you’re stuck deciphering your chaotic thought process from months ago.

    Had you originally created reasonable code and prioritized clarity, this problem would have been an easy fix. Luckily, there are several quick wins to make our code more reasonable.

    Tip No. 1: Use descriptive names

    Use descriptive function and variable names that make things obvious. Avoid cryptic variable or function names. Let names tell a story.

    Tip No. 2: Comment with purpose

    Use comments to explain why, not how, things are being done.

    Code Example 1

    Tip No. 3: Keep related functions together

    Keep functions that interact with each other near each other when possible. Let proximity reinforce logical connections.

    Tip No. 4: Use pure functions

    Use pure functions to reduce side effects and make testing easier.

    Tip No. 5: Exit early

    Simplify control flow and avoid excessive nesting. Exit early from functions to avoid deep nesting faster and more efficiently.

    Code Example 2

    Reasonable code reduces cognitive load, minimizes bugs, and streamlines debugging. By prioritizing readability, we create a foundation that enables future optimization. All of these practices will reduce bugs and time spent debugging or refactoring the code in the future.

    Speed and reasonability: A royal pair

    In software development, speed ensures your solution meets business expectations, while reasonability ensures maintainability and clarity for years to come. Together, they form a royal pair — a powerful strategy for software development. As the legendary American Software Engineer Kent Beck said: “Make it work. Make it right. Make it fast.”

    Prioritize these principles, and you’ll build functional, transformative, optimized software that can continue to be refined as your business grows.

    | Author: Samual Thorson, Software Engineer

    Ready to build software that’s fast, reliable, and built to last?

    Request a free 30-minute consultation with our experts.

    Speed and reasonability are the foundation of effective software delivery. With the right approach, you can reduce technical debt, improve performance, and create solutions that scale with your business.

    If you’d like support designing sustainable architecture, improving code quality, or accelerating development cycles, our full-stack team is here to help. Request a free 30-minute consultation and start building software that performs today and endures tomorrow.

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