10 Coding Practices Every Senior Developer Swears By

Want to code like a senior dev? Start with the habits they never skip.

10 Coding Practices Every Senior Developer Swears By

When you watch a senior developer work, it’s almost like magic. Their code feels cleaner, their systems more reliable, and their bugs — well, they often catch them before you even notice. But this isn’t magic. It’s the result of years of honing practices that might seem small, but compound into excellence.

If you’re serious about leveling up as a developer, these are the 10 coding practices you’ll want to not just know, but live by.

1. Write Code for Humans, Not Just Machines

Senior developers prioritize clarity over cleverness. They write self-explanatory code.

Bad example:

def a(x): 
    return x * 1.08

Better example:

def calculate_total_with_tax(price): 
    tax_rate = 0.08 
    return price * (1 + tax_rate)

If someone else can’t understand your code without a meeting, you’ve got work to do.

2. Think Before You Code

Jumping straight into code is tempting, but thinking saves time later. Sketching solutions, flowcharts, or even pseudocode can prevent costly mistakes.

Example Sketch (Pseudocode):

If user is authenticated: 
    If user has permission: 
        Allow action 
    Else: 
        Deny with message 
Else: 
    Redirect to login page

3. Prioritize Small, Releasable Units

Big features? Break them down. Small, working pieces are easier to manage.

Example:

Instead of building a full shopping cart in one go, start with:

1. Add an item to cart 
2. View cart contents 
3. Remove item from cart 
4. Checkout

Each of these could be a separate pull request.

4. Write Tests You Actually Trust

Tests are not an afterthought. They protect you.

A simple unit test in Python (pytest)

def calculate_discount(price, discount_rate): 
    return price * (1 - discount_rate) 
 
def test_calculate_discount(): 
    assert calculate_discount(100, 0.2) == 80

When tests are reliable, you can refactor without fear.

5. Automate Repetitive Tasks

Automate formatting, deployments, builds, even documentation generation.

Example: Auto-format code with black

black your_project/

Instead of fixing indentation manually, let tools do it — consistently and flawlessly.

6. Obsess Over Naming

Good names are the cheapest form of documentation.

Bad example:

def p(x): 
    return x ** 2

Good example:

def calculate_area_of_square(side_length): 
    return side_length ** 2

Clarity wins every time.

7. Stay Ruthless About Technical Debt

Refactor as you go. Don’t leave “TODOs” to rot.

Example: Small Refactor

Before:

def get_user_info(user_id): 
    user = db.get_user(user_id) 
    return {'id': user.id, 'name': user.name, 'email': user.email}

After:

def format_user(user): 
    return {'id': user.id, 'name': user.name, 'email': user.email} 
 
def get_user_info(user_id): 
    user = db.get_user(user_id) 
    return format_user(user)

Tiny changes like this reduce duplication and make code easier to maintain.

8. Review Code Thoughtfully (and Kindly)

Senior developers make code reviews constructive, not combative.

Example of Kind Feedback:

“I like how clean this function looks!
One thought: would renaming x to price_with_tax make its purpose clearer?"

A kind tone improves teamwork and code quality.

9. Always Have a Plan for Failure

Write code assuming things will go wrong.

Example: Handling API Failures Gracefully

import requests 
 
def fetch_data(url): 
    try: 
        response = requests.get(url, timeout=5) 
        response.raise_for_status() 
        return response.json() 
    except requests.RequestException as e: 
        print(f"Error fetching data: {e}") 
        return {}

Don’t crash. Handle problems thoughtfully.

10. Never Stop Learning

Tech evolves. Stay curious.

Simple Learning Habit Example:

• Read one blog post per week on something new
• Watch a 10-minute YouTube tutorial on a library you haven’t used
• Experiment with side projects

In tech, staying still is falling behind. Always be learning.

Final Thoughts

No matter where you are in your career, these practices aren’t a checklist — they’re a mindset.
Adopt them early, and you’ll find yourself writing better software, collaborating more effectively, and earning the trust and respect that every true senior developer carries.

At the end of the day, great development isn’t just about code — it’s about craftsmanship.