Group Software Development

TL;DR

Working on software with a team needs good planning and communication. Use version control (like Git), break the work into smaller tasks, test often, and talk to each other regularly.

1. Choose Your Tools

Before you start coding, pick tools everyone agrees on:

• Version Control: Essential for tracking changes and working together without chaos. Git is the most popular choice.
• Project Management: Helps organise tasks and see who’s doing what. Options include Trello, Jira, or even a simple spreadsheet.
• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or email – find a way to chat easily.
• Code Editor/IDE: While personal preference matters, ensure compatibility for code formatting and sharing.

2. Set Up Version Control (Git)

Git lets you track changes and merge work safely.

1. Create a Repository: One person creates the main project folder on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
2. Clone the Repository: Everyone else copies the project to their computer using

   git clone <repository_url>

   .

3. Branching: Create separate branches for each feature or bug fix. This keeps your main code stable.

   git checkout -b new-feature

4. Committing Changes: Save changes with clear messages.

   git add .

   git commit -m "Added feature X"

5. Pushing Changes: Upload your branch to the remote repository.

   git push origin new-feature

6. Pull Requests/Merge Requests: Ask others to review your code before merging it into the main branch.

3. Break Down the Work

Large tasks are hard to manage. Split them into smaller, independent pieces:

• User Stories: Describe features from the user’s perspective (e.g., “As a user, I want to be able to log in.”).
• Tasks: Break down stories into specific coding tasks (e.g., “Create login form”, “Validate username and password”).
• Assign Tasks: Clearly assign each task to one person.

4. Code Regularly & Test Often

Don’t wait until the end to test your code.

• Small Commits: Frequent, small commits make it easier to find and fix problems.
• Unit Tests: Write tests for individual parts of your code.
• Integration Tests: Test how different parts work together.
• Continuous Integration (CI): Automate testing whenever someone pushes changes. Tools like Jenkins or Travis CI can help.

5. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Talk to each other!

• Daily Stand-ups: Short meetings (15 minutes) where everyone shares what they did yesterday, what they’re doing today, and any roadblocks.
• Code Reviews: Review each other’s code for errors and improvements.
• Pair Programming: Two people work on the same code at the same time.
• Regular Check-ins: Discuss progress and address any issues promptly.

6. Handle Conflicts

Conflicts happen when multiple people change the same part of a file.

• Git Conflict Resolution: Git will mark conflicting sections in your code. You need to manually edit the file to resolve them.
  Look for lines surrounded by <<>>> and =======.
• Talk it Out: If you’re unsure how to resolve a conflict, talk to the other developers involved.