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Multiple Developer Environments: The Key to Stable and Efficient Software Development

· 3 min read
Jan Umbach
Jan Umbach
Software Developer
Development and Production

Multiple Developer Environments: The Key to Stable and Efficient Software Development​

In today's world, where software plays an increasingly important role, stable and reliable applications are essential. As full-stack developers, we are faced with the challenge of programming complex systems that meet the requirements of our customers. This is not only about the software functioning, but also about it being robust, performant, and secure. A crucial factor in achieving these goals is working with multiple developer environments.

Imagine you are building a house. Would you move into the living room while the workers are still plastering the walls, installing the electrical wiring, and laying the pipes? Probably not! You would probably only move in when the house is finished and ready for occupancy. It's similar with software development.

Why multiple environments?

Software development is a complex process that goes through different phases. Different requirements are placed on the software in each phase. In order to meet these requirements and at the same time ensure a smooth process, it makes sense to carry out development in separate environments.

The most important environments:

1. Development environment (Development/Dev):

  • The development environment is where the actual development takes place. This is where developers write the code, test new features, and fix bugs.
  • This environment offers maximum flexibility and allows developers to experiment freely without jeopardizing the stability of the live system.
  • Often each developer has their own Dev environment that is individually tailored to their needs. This allows different developers to work on different parts of the software at the same time without getting in each other's way.

2. Production environment (Production/Prod):

  • The production environment is the "finished house" in which the software is put live and can be used by end users.
  • This environment must be absolutely stable and reliable, as failures or errors here can lead to significant problems.
  • Changes to the software are only transferred to the production environment once they have been thoroughly tested in the development environment.

Additional environments:

In addition to the development and production environment, other environments can be used depending on the project and requirements, for example:

  • Test environment: This is where the software is put through its paces by testers to uncover bugs and ensure quality.
  • Staging environment: The staging environment is a copy of the production environment that is used for final testing and acceptance by the customer.

Advantages of using multiple environments:

  • Risk minimization: Separating development and live environments minimizes risks for end users. Errors in the development environment have no impact on the live system.
  • Quality improvement: The use of multiple environments makes it possible to test the software at different stages and thus improve quality.
  • Increased efficiency: Developers can work independently in their own environments, which increases the efficiency and speed of development.
  • Flexibility: New features can be tested in the development environment without affecting live operations.

Conclusion:

The use of multiple developer environments is best practice in modern software development. It helps to develop stable, reliable and high-quality software and to deliver an optimal result to you as a customer.