Writing Clean & Readable Code
By MSMAXPRO • Best Practice Series • 2026 Edition
📌 Prerequisites: Mindset of a Pro
Before you write a single line of code, you must understand one fundamental truth: Code is read much more often than it is written.
To follow this guide, you should have:
- Basic knowledge of any programming language (Python, JS, etc.).
- A code editor (like VS Code) with a good linter.
- The willingness to delete and rewrite your own code.
🏷️ The Power of Naming Conventions
As seen in our cover image, naming is everything. x = [i for i in u_t] tells a human nothing, while flagged_transactions = [t for t in user_transactions] tells a story.
Rules to follow:
- Be Descriptive: Use
is_user_logged_ininstead ofcheck. - Use Consistent Cases: Choose
camelCase(JS) orsnake_case(Python) and stick to it. - Avoid Magic Numbers: Instead of
if (status === 8), useif (status === STATUS_COMPLETED).
⚠️ Messy Code Habits to Break
- Long Functions: If a function is more than 20 lines, it's likely trying to do too much. Break it down!
- Over-Commenting: Don't comment what the code is doing (the code should say that). Comment why you chose that specific approach.
- Deep Nesting: Avoid the "Pyramid of Doom" (if inside if inside if). Use Guard Clauses to return early.
🔄 The DRY Principle
DRY stands for "Don't Repeat Yourself." If you find yourself copying and pasting code three times, it’s time to create a reusable function or component.
Clean code reduces technical debt and makes your software easier to scale globally.
🎯 Mini Task: Refactor Your Script
Take one of your old Python or JS files and do the following:
- Rename every single-letter variable (like
a,b,x) to a descriptive name. - Find a section of code that is repeated and move it into a function.
- Add a
README.mdto that project explaining how to run it.
📚 Recommended Global Resources
To become a "Clean Code" master, follow these authoritative sources: