Tips for more Enjoyable JavaScript

Coding can be one of the most rewarding and creative endeavors—but let’s be honest, it can also be overwhelming, demotivating, or even downright frustrating at times. Over the years, I’ve personally wrestled with boredom, task overwhelm, and the perfectionism rabbit hole. Whether you’re working on a side project, collaborating with a team, or tackling professional challenges, these tips are designed to help make coding more manageable, productive, and—most importantly—fun. While I’ll use JavaScript as the lens for these ideas, they’re universally applicable.

0. Split Projects Into Smallest Possible Deliverables

Start by breaking down your project into tiny, achievable pieces. Define the absolute minimum scope for each deliverable and focus only on the one in progress. Not only does this approach keep things from feeling overwhelming, but it also lets you celebrate small wins along the way as well as get insights from end users or stakeholders.

1. Write Types First

If you’re using TypeScript or a similar tool, defining your types first can serve as a roadmap for your code. Even in plain JavaScript, sketching out data structures or interfaces upfront can save a lot of time later. Additionally, these types can be used to generate mock data for tests, storybook stories, or directly while other parts of the system are being developed.

Those who prefer to use raw JavaScript over TypeScript could still write types in JSDoc:

/**
 * @typedef {Object} Task
 * @property {string} id - The unique identifier for the task.
 * @property {string} title - The title of the task.
 * @property {string} description - A detailed description of the task.
 * @property {boolean} isCompleted - Indicates whether the task is completed.
 */

/**
 * Adds a task to the task list.
 * 
 * @param {Task} task - The task to be added.
 * @returns {boolean} - Returns true if the task was added successfully.
 */
function addTask(task) {
    // logic to add the task
    console.log('Task added:', task);
    return true;
}

2. Use Test Titles as a To-Do List

Test-driven development (TDD) isn’t just about quality; it’s also a productivity booster. Write descriptive test titles that act as a checklist for your implementation—it’s like building your to-do list right into your workflow. For instance:

// File: user.test.js

describe('User Management', () => {
  it.todo('should create a new user');
  it.todo('should fetch a user by ID');
  it.todo('should update user details');
  it.todo('should delete a user');
});

This approach keeps you organized while providing a clear outline of what remains to be done.

3. Do What Brings the Most Value First

Start with the feature or task that will make the biggest impact. This prioritization can energize you and create momentum, especially when stakeholders or teammates immediately benefit from visible progress.

For example if the core feature of your app is video processing that's what you should concentrate on first. Users management can be added at a later stage and the website can be protected with a basic auth till then.

4. Write the Simplest Code You Can Think Of

Always write the simplest code that accomplishes what it needs to and nothing more. Code is meant to be changed and will naturally become more complex as requirements evolve. Trying to make it look smart or sophisticated initially often backfires. Smart code is drop dead simple—it’s easier to debug, review, and adapt over time.

5. Be Picky With Tools, Libraries, and Frameworks

Prioritize developer experience, project fit, and quality over popularity when choosing external dependencies. Have you heard the bearded joke about node_modules being the heaviest object in the Universe? Not only it's heavy; External code is often challenging to adapt or modify, so it’s crucial to vet and test tools thoroughly. It’s perfectly fine to write your own implementation if it’s more trustworthy or better suited to your project. At the same time, don’t be afraid to use external tools and libraries if they bring real benefits. Just ensure that your project doesn’t become so dependent on them that untangling them later would require a full-scale “napalm refactoring.”

6. Use Commits to Document Your Decisions

Treat your git commits as a logbook of your journey. Each commit should capture not only the code changes but also the reasoning behind them. This makes future debugging and collaboration so much easier. Consider adopting Conventional Commits to maintain a consistent and descriptive commit history. For example, prefixes like feat:, fix:, or chore: help clarify the purpose of each change and improve readability.

7. Refactor As You Go

Don’t save all refactoring for the end. Small, incremental improvements during implementation are less intimidating and help maintain a high-quality codebase. As a rule of thumb, if you can refactor right now without much impact to your current task—do it. Otherwise, leave a // TODO: comment, create a task, or find other ways to ensure you come back to it when time allows.

8. Self-Review Your Code Regularly

Take a step back to read and critique your code before considering it done. This habit catches inconsistencies and improves your work—it’s like proofreading an essay. The easiest way to do so is to have draft Pull Request open right after the first commit.

9. Ask for Feedback Early and Often

Don’t wait until your work is “done” to involve others. Pair programming is an excellent way to get immediate feedback and share knowledge, but even an early review from a colleague can save time and improve quality.

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And finally, the most important tip to keep in mind is that it's okay to not have a perfect code or perfect process. It's totally fine to write tests after some code or even later. It's normal to miss an occasional bug. Everything is permitted as long as your code and creations get better with time and you're having fun: after all, programming should be as rewarding as the solutions you create with it!

Which of these tips were obvious to you? Which ones you found insightful? Are there any tips you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments.

The draft of this article and the cover image were created with the help of AI

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