Avoid These 5 Mistakes as a Web Developer
Save Yourself the Stress ......
Let’s be honest—being a web developer isn’t as glamorous as Twitter makes it look. Some days, it’s like you’ve got this—pushing clean code and feeling on top of the world. Other days? You're staring at a blank screen, wondering why nothing’s working, and feeling like you’ve missed some secret dev handbook. Trust me—you’re not alone. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there.
Here’s the truth: The mistakes you make aren’t signs you’re failing—they’re just part of the journey. But some mistakes? They’ll stress you out more than they should. So let’s talk about the ones you should avoid, so you can code with a bit more peace of mind.
1. Skipping Documentation? Na Wahala Be That!
You know that feeling when you open an old project and have no idea what your past self was thinking? Yeah, that’s what skipping documentation does. Future-you deserves better. Write it down—even if it’s just some quick notes.
Real Talk:
Use comments where it counts (don’t overdo it, though—nobody likes reading essays in code).
Maintain a solid README for future contributors (or yourself).
Save yourself the headache with tools like JSDoc or Swagger for APIs.
2. Overcomplicating Simple Code (Who Are You Trying to Impress?)
Look, it’s tempting to write clever one-liners that make you feel like a wizard. But guess what? When you or someone else revisits that code, you’ll both be cursing under your breath. Readable code > clever code, always.
Fix It:
Break big functions into smaller ones—it’s easier to debug.
Stick to simple patterns like DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
Code is written for humans, not machines. If your teammates can’t understand it, what’s the point?
3. Ignoring Security Like Hackers Are On Holiday
You might think, “Nobody’s going to hack my little side project.” That’s exactly when it happens. Whether it’s SQL injections, CSRF attacks, or leaking sensitive info—you can’t afford to be careless.
Do This:
Sanitize every input like your life depends on it.
Use environment variables for anything sensitive (stop hardcoding passwords, please).
Stay on top of dependencies—one old package, and you’ve opened a door you can’t close.
4. Not Testing? It’s All Fun and Games Until Something Breaks in Production
Testing isn’t glamorous. It’s annoying. But you know what’s worse? Getting that “it’s broken” message at 11 PM. Trust me—you don’t want to be the one deploying bugs on a Friday.
How To Avoid It:
Start small: Write unit tests, then work your way up to integration and end-to-end tests.
Use tools that fit your stack—Jest for JS, PHPUnit for PHP, Cypress for full-stack.
Testing isn’t just about perfection—it’s about peace of mind.
5. Falling Behind on Trends (Or Chasing Too Many)
The tech world moves fast, and it’s easy to feel left behind. But chasing every new trend is just as dangerous—it’s like trying to catch water with your hands. Mastering the fundamentals will always serve you better.
Keep It Simple:
Subscribe to a few trusted newsletters (no FOMO—pick wisely).
Set aside learning time, but don’t burn out.
Focus on skills that stand the test of time—HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and strong problem-solving.
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Final Thought: It’s OK to Mess Up—Just Don’t Give Up
Look, whether you’re working from a Lagos apartment or a London café, these mistakes are part of the process. We’ve all been there. But the goal isn’t to be perfect—it’s to keep showing up, to keep learning, and to keep building, one line of code at a time.
Remember: Na who give up, fuck up. Mistakes will happen, but as long as you’re still in the game, you’re already ahead.
Oh, and if you want to connect with other devs on the same grind, join my new Discord community—34 awesome folks already on board, and we’re working on a community eCommerce project! Join here 🚀.
Nice write up, very educative