The naming challenge
At first glance, it seems simple, but reality shows that in order to find really meaningful names in your code, you need to understand the domain in depth. This important insight is emphasized by experienced developers and can also be found in leading works on software development: - In “97 Things Every Software Architect Should Know” (point 30: “Understand The Business Domain”) - In “97 Things Every Programmer Should Know” (point 11: “Code in the Language of the Domain”)
Clean code starts with the language
Clean code is characterized in particular by comprehensibility and maintainability. The first step towards this is clear, domain-specific naming of variables, methods and classes. Only if your identifiers reflect the technical language of the business area will the code be comprehensible for all those involved - current and future developers as well as technical experts.
Practical approaches for day-to-day development
How can you as a developer deepen your domain knowledge in your daily business? 1. read thoroughly: Take the time to read through user stories and requirements several times until all technical terms and correlations are clear. 2. communication: Discuss ambiguities directly with the product owner or experienced team members. 3. use internal knowledge databases: Valuable specialist knowledge is often documented in company wikis or on Confluence pages.
The long-term value
Clean code without technical understanding is impossible. Software is always developed for a specific business domain - and only if you understand this domain can you write code that is not only technically clean, but also technically correct and meaningful.
