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Not long ago, the Covid-19 pandemic took the world by a disastrous and pattern-changing storm. Mankind was forced to adapt to a lifestyle that was new to us. This marked many significant changes in history that altered the way we do things permanently. One of these things was the rise in the concept of remote working. Lockdowns forced companies to adopt the WFH strategy and it turned out that this strategy actually proved beneficial to many firms and businesses. Therefore, when the pandemic lost its peak and the lockdowns subsided, many firms chose to continue with the remote working environment for their employees. Whether you are a remote developer currently working from the peace of your home office, or whether you are a team leader who is struggling to find means to manage your remote development team, our carefully curated list of best practices for remote developers will definitely help pump up the performance of all remote developers out there.
Best Practices for Remote Developers
Create an efficient workplace
For remote developers, creating an efficient workplace is crucial. Establish a space in your home that is solely for work. This area needs to be clutter-free, organized, and distraction-free. Make a financial commitment to high-quality hardware, such as a dependable computer, sharp monitors, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, and noise-canceling headphones. An adjustable chair and a standing desk are two examples of ergonomic furniture that can improve comfort and reduce strain. To prevent eye strain and maintain a productive environment, make sure the illumination is adequate. Maintain a clutter-free desk while adding items that excite you to help you concentrate.
Adhere to a Routine
Maintaining a regular work schedule promotes productivity and a healthy work-life balance. Just as you would in an office setting, establish a regular work plan and follow it. Set boundaries for your workday and let your employees know when they begin and end. Create a morning routine that puts you in the appropriate frame of mind for work and follow it every day. Exercise, meditation, reading, or any other activity that gets your mind ready for the work ahead, could be included in this. Predictable routines can help you structure your day to increase focus and reduce burnout.
Effective Communication is Key
Effective communication is essential for remote work. Stay open to feedback and continually communicate with your team by using a variety of tools. Platforms for instant messaging, such as Microsoft Teams or Slack, are excellent for short updates and casual interactions. Face-to-face contact is facilitated through video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, which strengthens team cohesiveness. Jira and Trello are two examples of project management tools that assist in task tracking and project visibility. To let your coworkers know when you're available, keep your availability status on these platforms updated. Participate fully in team meetings and one-on-one catch-ups to keep everyone on the same page and foster relationships.
Effective Project Management
To stay organized and fulfill deadlines, remote developers require solid project management procedures. Project objectives, goals, and deliverables should all be clearly stated. Create work lists, assign roles, and track progress with project management software. Git and other version control tools make collaborative development possible and facilitate effective code change management. Divide large jobs into more manageable, smaller chores. Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize projects by taking into account both their urgency and importance. This strategy keeps you concentrated on high-impact work and keeps you from feeling overburdened.
Collaborative Coding
Remote development frequently entails working on codebases with coworkers. Git in particular allows numerous developers to collaborate on the same project at once while tracking changes. Regular code reviews should be conducted to maintain code quality, identify flaws, and promote knowledge sharing among the team members. During code reviews, offer helpful criticism while also being receptive to it. Make sure your code is completely documented so that others can access it. Colleagues can better comprehend your codebase with the help of clear comments, documentation files, and READMEs, which facilitates more effective teamwork.
Best Tools for Remote Developers
Let’s have a look at the best tools for remote developers out there that would help them streamline their work.
1. Git - The Code Time Machine
Imagine Git as a time machine for your computer code. It helps you work with others on coding projects without messing things up. It saves every change you make, so you can go back if something goes wrong. It's like magic for remote developers because they can all work together on the same project without causing problems. Websites like GitHub and GitLab make it even easier to share code and work together.
2. Slack - The Team Chat Room
Slack is like a special chat room for remote teams. It's where you talk about work stuff and ask questions quickly. You can talk one-on-one or in groups, just like when you talk with friends online. It's like your own private hangout spot where everyone can chat and share ideas, even if they're not in the same place.
3. Zoom - Let's Video Talk
Zoom is a tool that helps you have video meetings. It's like a way to see your coworkers' faces and talk to them like you're all in the same room. You can show your computer screen to explain things, just like drawing on a whiteboard. This tool is great when you want to have important discussions or show things to your team.
4. Jira - The Task Organizer
Jira is like a virtual to-do list for your team. It helps you keep track of all the things that need to be done. You can see who's doing what and when it's due. It's like a big chart that shows the work everyone is doing. This way, everyone knows what they should be working on and when it needs to be finished.
5. Confluence - The Info Hub
Confluence is like a big book of knowledge for your team. It's where you put all the important information, like how things work and what the rules are. Everyone can read it to understand what's going on. It's like a library where everyone can learn and share what they know.
Hire Remote Developers with Blue Coding
In this fast-paced era, there are more remote developers jobs and less skilled remote developers. With the many programming languages and development skills now, finding and recruiting the top developer for your team can be extremely challenging. But don’t you worry! Blue Coding is here for you. We are a pro nearshoring agency that specializes in custom development and staff augmentation. We connect our clients with the best talent from LATAM! To learn more about us, hurry up and contact us now.
