When building DIY software, define its purpose and limitations to prevent unnecessary features. Use visual programming tools for GUIs and menus, and carefully code file input/output functions. Keep the code simple for easy error detection and future functionality additions.
One benefit of building do-it-yourself (DIY) software is that, typically, it will only be used by the person writing it for some very specific task, i.e. amount of error-checking code, smooth layouts, and captures per input contingencies can be minimized. Before you start writing DIY software, though, it’s important to define exactly what the software is intended to do and decide what it won’t be able to do to prevent coding features that will never be used. Using visual programming languages or tools that take much of the repetitive work out of creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and menus can make coding much faster while still providing stable, immediately usable results. If the do-it-yourself software you create will only be used on one or two computers, you can use shortcuts such as encrypted directories, window sizes and other predefined settings, since the operating environment and parameters are already known.
The most important part of creating your own software is knowing exactly what function the program will perform. Defining program boundaries can help make your code clearer and the entire design process easier. Writing DIY software without this clear definition can lead to a bloated project with options that are never implemented or never used.
When you start programming, it can be helpful to use integrated development environments (IDEs) that have visual editing tools for the GUI. This will allow you to visually place windows, menus, buttons and other elements where they are convenient; the code for what each element does can be added later. For most DIY software, you don’t need to use complex layout managers for a GUI, because the program might only run on one or two computers, and using absolute positioning within a window can make a lot of easier GUI layout design.
While some shortcuts can be taken when building DIY software, some areas of the program should be coded very carefully. Whether a program keeps track of a tool inventory or a bank balance, the file input and output functions must be written carefully to ensure they don’t malfunction and erase important data. Likewise, the code should be kept as simple as possible at all times so that errors or bugs can be discovered and fixed quickly, and any additional functionality can be easily inserted as needed.
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