Common Programming Mistakes to Avoid in C#, SQL, and PHP

It takes a particular mindset and motivation level to become a skilled programmer, but for those who find appeal in the mix of weaving together structured logic and design creativity, there’s a certain magic in the process.

Of course, a lot can go wrong, too—from minor typos that throw a wrench in your program’s performance, to design oversights that cause havoc further down the line when you attempt to compile and run.

Troubleshooting is a huge part of programming, so it’s helpful to know what trip-ups to avoid. Whether you’re learning how to code for the first time or you’ve been at it for a while, these articles from the Hiring Headquarters—Upwork’s resource for businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs—offer tips to help you avoid common programming mistakes in several popular coding languages.

Dodge Digital Snafus in C#

As far as programming languages go, C# is one of the most widely used across numerous industries. It’s great for coding everything from business apps and websites to video games and more. Although C# is an accessible object-based language, it still has many subtle nuances to it that can trip you up if you’re not careful.

“10 Common Mistakes in C# Programming and How to Avoid Them” identifies many hurdles that programmers face with this language, and details tips to work around them while writing clean, efficient code. The article includes specific code examples that highlight different ways to approach designing your code. Here’s a look at three C# tips for avoiding common pitfalls.

1) Dispose of your objects. Leaving unwanted objects lingering around beyond their intended use can cause troublesome memory leaks, so structuring your code to use the Dispose method will clean up any stragglers.

2) Log any user errors. Troubleshooting bugs is much easier when you’re armed with detailed information about what’s happening under the hood. Using a third-party logging tool or custom in-house solution will save you tons of time.

3) Avoid overusing “var”. While using “var” is helpful, defining the data type when you know what it will be can improve your code readability, making life easier for other programmers who might work with your code down the line.

Avoid Sticky SQL Situations

The inherent simplicity of Structured Query Language (SQL) makes it easy to learn, but things can still get out of hand when dealing with large-scale data sets and massive tables. Efficiency becomes key in these situations, which is why implementing best practices from the start will help keep everything flowing smoothly.

“10 Common SQL Programming Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” explores ways code mismanagement and design shortcuts can cause big problems for programmers working with SQL. It breaks down lots of specific issues to steer clear from, while detailing tips to help you in the process. Here are three recommended suggestions to follow.

1) Carefully manage data redundancy. Table data sets should be unique and not repeat across multiple table locations. Instead, query the data through primary and foreign keys when needed.

2) Don’t forget primary keys. It’s always a good idea to follow standard SQL requirements by ensuring you have a primary key in your table. This will help avoid costly performance issues.

3) Watch out for cursor loops. Cursors let you loop through tons of records, but they kill performance and should be avoided as best practice in SQL.

Overcome PHP Pitfalls

A welcome addition to any web developer’s toolbox, PHP can be embedded into HTML and is commonly used in the world of web design. As a language, it shares many similarities to C and Java, which can make it easier to learn if you already have some base coding knowledge. Newcomers to PHP, however, should take note of the most common mistakes that can cause problems ranging from security issues to funky design quirks.

“6 Common Mistakes for PHP Developers to Avoid” offers a deep-dive into handful of tricky spots to watch for when you’re coding with PHP. Here are three potential “whoopsies” to watch for in your code.

1) Not securing your SQL. Hackers love to use SQL injection attacks, which is why it’s important to use preferred statements and parameterized queries to close any weak spots in your code that could lead to security breaches.

2) Mixing up assignment and comparison operators. It’s a simple mix-up, but using “==” instead of “=” when you’re assigning a value (or “=” instead of “==” when comparing) can cause major bugs.

3) Not running daily backups. Getting lax with your backup practices can be a nightmare if you run into a critical error, potentially costing you tons of time and forcing you to re-code sections from scratch.

Looking for more programming tips and insights? Head over to the Hiring Headquarters for more insider articles about development.

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