That quote is one I will never forget even as a senior. Writing code is like writing any other piece of literature. There’s different styles, different verbage… different ideas being displayed into a textual representations to represent a whole. Because each human being is a unique individual, no two writings will be the same – and that holds true for codes as well.
Don’t get me wrong – individualism is one of the definitions of what makes us human. However, in times where we need to bring in all of these individual ideas to fit a common goal, it’s also important that we’re all on the same level of communication and vision. In terms of coding, this is where coding standards come into play as one of the most crucial aspects of software development.
When everyone is on the same page, that’s as close to harmony as you can get, especially when working on a team. Coding standards allow a team to type and work the same, even if they all have different ideas. Having a coding standard lets the team members convey their ideas in a manner where everyone can understand it relatively easily, rather than having to do unnecessary explanations.
On top of that, having a coding standard definitely makes learning how to code much easier. You recognize patterns, ways of writing code that you get familiarized, get used to doing things a certain way that it becomes muscle memory. If you search online how to code a specific script, you might come across hundreds of different variations. Maybe even get stuck. Who knows. It’s a scary world out there. Let the light of coding standards guide you.
It’s difficult working in a team, but it’s needed in this field. Teamwork makes the dream work, and without teamwork, you simply cannot get things done. Having a coding standard is a first step in that direction.