7 Ways Static Code Analysis Software Increases Productivity
Automating critical quality and security functions with static code analysis software helps Salesforce DevOps teams quickly produce reliable updates and applications.
Why It Matters: Human error is unavoidable. Any coding errors that make it through testing phases and into a live environment can have wide-ranging negative consequences.
- DevOps teams that experience numerous errors are forced to spend time rectifying those errors instead of advancing new projects.
- Drains on productivity decrease the potential ROI on every DevOps project, drastically reducing the organization’s benefits from their development efforts.
Here are 7 ways static code analysis software supports increased productivity for Salesforce DevOps teams:
- Early Detection of Errors
- Consistent Code Quality
- Reduced Manual Processes
- Reliable Data Security
- Elimination of Technical Debt
- Automated Documentation
- Integration with CI/CD Framework
1. Early Detection of Errors
Redoing previously completed work is a major drain on productivity. Getting things right the first time not only makes the testing stage go more smoothly, but it also eliminates redundant work.
Real-time scans of code enable developers to immediately fix errors, so they won’t need to be readdressed later in the DevOps lifecycle.
Debugging an update or application is a laborious process. Save your developers the hassle by giving them the tools they need to avoid moving errors through the pipeline and focus on new tasks instead.
2. Consistent Code Quality
Consistency enables DevOps team members to rely on each other for high-quality code that adheres to the organization’s standards and best practices. It becomes much easier to plan out timelines and project schedules when you can be sure everyone is on the same page.
Whether it relates to work by individual developers or projects as a whole, consistency reduces confusion so team members can focus on completing their work in a reasonable amount of time.
This leads to improved code readability and maintainability, making it easier for developers to understand and work with each other’s code.
3. Reduced Manual Processes
Manual code reviews are incredibly time consuming and prone to error. An application is liable to have thousands of lines of code.
Would you rather meticulously go through every one of them or click a button and have an automated tool do it for you?
Static code analysis automates parts of the code review process by flagging code that doesn’t adhere to predefined standards. This streamlines the process and allows developers to focus on more complex aspects of the code.
4. Reliable Data Security
Developers can’t deliver new updates and applications when they are busy putting out fires. A strong data security strategy reduces the need for quick fixes so your team members can focus on their work.
Static code analysis software flags security vulnerabilities so they can be fixed early in the development lifecycle, contributing to a stronger, more reliable system.
Strong updates won’t need to be readdressed later on, saving your team the hassle of reworking existing code and pushing new work.
5. Elimination of Technical Debt
Speed is occasionally prioritized over quality. An organization might have a desperate need for an update, so they push it through production. The idea is to go back later and fix issues as they pop up.
Technical debt guarantees you will have to rework an existing product, creating redundant work while at the same time posing a data security threat.
Identifying and fixing code issues early with static code analysis software prevents the accumulation of technical debt. Developers can address issues incrementally, avoiding a situation where a large amount of technical debt needs to be resolved all at once.
6. Managing Rollbacks
Compliance audits as well as internal reviews rely heavily on documentation. Gathering this information is cumbersome and takes your team members away from their usual duties.
Static code analysis software includes the ability to automatically create reports and dashboards that can be used to see a project’s progress over time and assist with compliance audits.
Reducing the burden on developers by automatically documenting statistics saves time while ensuring documentation remains current.
7. Integration with CI/CD Framework
There are numerous DevOps tools that will help developers reach peak productivity. Continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools automate a series of critical steps in the development pipeline, and static code analysis fits perfectly within this framework.
Static code analysis can be seamlessly integrated into CI/CD pipelines to perform automated code checks with each build and provide rapid feedback to developers.
Productivity doesn’t mean much when the products your team releases are buggy and riddled with errors. Static code analysis provides the automation your team needs to remain productive while confidently releasing high-quality updates and applications.
Next Step…
Static code analysis software is an integral aspect of a complete DevSecOps toolset. And now that you understand what you stand to gain, you might be wondering how to get started with one of these tools in your Salesforce DevOps pipeline.
Read our blog, 8 Best Practices for Integrating Automated Code Review Tools, to learn how to set yourself up for success with a new static code analysis tool.
FAQs
How frequently should developers run static code analysis, and at what stage of the development process is it most effective?
The size, complexity, and pace of development within a project dictates how frequently you should run a static code analysis. In general, static code analysis should be directly integrated within the development pipeline, ideally providing immediate alerts when an error is entered into the code repository. At the very least, code checks should be run with each code commit or as part of the continuous integration process. This ensures that issues are identified early, reducing the likelihood of bugs and vulnerabilities accumulating over time.
What can developers do to address the issues flagged by static code analysis tools?
Developers can leverage the tool’s feedback to understand the root causes of identified issues and update the code accordingly. Collaborative discussions and code reviews within the development team help share insights and best practices. Developers should also continuously update and adapt coding standards to align with evolving project requirements. Regularly running static code analysis and addressing flagged issues incrementally ensures a proactive approach to maintaining code quality, reducing technical debt, and fostering a more robust and secure Salesforce DevOps pipeline.
How does static code analysis help reduce technical debt?
Static code analysis plays a crucial role in reducing technical debt by identifying code issues so they can be addressed. As these tools detect potential bugs, violations of coding standards, and security vulnerabilities, developers can proactively fix these issues, preventing the accumulation of technical debt over time. Static code analysis also prevents the creation of additional technical debt by systematically addressing code quality issues during development.
