Source Code Management Best Practices

Source code is, of course, the foundation of any software development practice. Managing that source code is the first task tackled by modern software development pipelines, with all subsequent stages of the pipeline dependent on the source code for their success and functionality. Thus, it is critical that source code is properly managed without introducing bottlenecks or defects into the delivery pipeline. To do so, there are some best practices to follow when interacting with source code.

Regularly Commit Changes

While this may seem obvious, commits often are done sparingly, as most developers tend to commit only after a significant change. The commit frequency depends on the workflow and it is acceptable to commit only after major modifications if that commit triggers another task.

However, it is better to commit changes—even minor ones—regularly. It not only keeps an auditable history of changes but also enables easy comparisons between commits for troubleshooting and ensures that the code is up to date with the version control system (VCS). However, it does not mean that users should make commits for every small change; instead, adapt a development style that includes frequent commits as part of the workflow. Even if there are many commits, most VSCs provides users with the option to combine multiple commits to a single commit using a rebase for better management.

Always Ensure That the Repository is Up to Date

Most of the time, development is a team effort with multiple developers working on a single codebase. Thus, there will be frequent updates to the source code. So it is always advisable to use git pull or fetch to obtain an updated copy of the code before making any changes. This practice not only mitigates merge conflicts but also helps users to avoid errors while pushing the code, such as ‘failed to push some refs to‘ errors which occur when the local copy of the repository is behind the remote.

Create Detailed Commit Messages

Commit messages should be meaningful and include the ability for anyone reading the message to grasp the reason behind the commit quickly. It does not mean that users should create lengthy commit messages; instead, they should describe the commit in a concise yet meaningful manner. The commit message should include why the code was committed and not how it can be identified by comparing the files.

A good commit message can include details such as bug fix ID or requirement ID, which reference the specifications of that code change in project management platforms like Jira and Azure Boards.

Review Changes Before Committing

Always make sure to review the code before making commits—this is imperative if you are committing to a shared repository. Typically, code reviews are a part of the delivery pipeline before merging code with the master branch or a specific repository via a review system or a pull request.

Code reviews put a second set of eyes on code modifications and help detect any issues in the code. It also acts as a quality control mechanism that helps organically improve the overall code quality while helping to increase the awareness of each code change.

Implement a Proper Workflow

A proper workflow with standardized practices must be implemented across the development team even while using a source code management (SCM) tool. Some considerations for a standardized workflow:

• Decide on a branching strategy and branching best practices like naming conventions for specific development types. For example, using a prefix to indicate the type of development feature or bugfix
• Ensure proper use of scopes to decide who has access to each repository
• Make sure the review workflow includes which users have the final say in the review process and proper authorization to merge the changes.

A properly defined workflow describes the complete source code management cycle from creating new branches to making changes and, finally, merging the code to the master branch after review. This process helps organizations simplify the overall code management by pushing users to follow a specific workflow. This can also help easily onboard new developers.

Implement Proper Security Practices

This practice goes hand-in-hand with proper workflows, as security will be one of the primary considerations when defining the workflow. It should start from developer authentication and authorization, which controls who has access and what areas of the source code they have access to. Additionally, security practices should provide visibility into all the user activities with auditable trails to pinpoint any unusual activity in the source code.

Security practices coupled with a good backup and disaster recovery strategy are vital for the continuous operation of the development pipeline.

These best practices can help developers manage their source code securely and efficiently. A properly implemented source code management system will lead to fewer issues in the preceding stages of the pipeline and ensure smoother operation in the long run.