What are the best ways to ensure readable and maintainable code in statistical programming?

Most companies have their own set of style guidelines that they adhere to. If not, this is your opportunity to help introduce one! Style guides are great for keeping developers on the same page despite what type of programming you are doing. I do find some of the mainstream guides a little opinionated at times, do realize they are "guides" and as long as you maintain consistency with some sort of style you are usually fine. Just make sure that it is something that makes code easy to read and understand and that everyone at the organization can get behind.

Giving meaningful names to code variables is crucial for effective debugging. Descriptive variable names not only clarify the purpose and usage of the variable but also assist in identifying and resolving bugs more efficiently. When variable names accurately reflect their content and role in the code, it becomes easier to trace their values during debugging sessions. This, in turn, streamlines the debugging process, reduces the time spent on identifying issues, and enhances overall code maintainability.

Descriptive names for variable, methods, functions and objects that provide context within the scope they are used, coupled with clear documentation when necessary, enhance understanding and facilitate future modifications. Additionally, maintaining readable formatting and encouraging code reviews foster collaboration and mitigate potential confusion. By prioritizing clarity and consistency in variable naming, codebases become more accessible, easing development, debugging, and knowledge transfer processes.

There is a debate about comments in code and their role. Some say that you shouldn't comment and I couldn't disagree more. However comments give you the "why". Meaningful names help your code explain the "how". Together they can lead to readable code that shows how and why something was done, the best of both worlds.

There are different perspectives to adding comments to code. It is crucial for enhancing readability, maintainability, and collaboration among developers. Comments should explain the why, not just the what, of the code, providing insights into the reasoning behind certain decisions or implementations. However, comments should be concise, clear, and kept up to date to avoid confusion and ensure their usefulness over time. Over-commenting can clutter the code, so it's essential to strike a balance between providing enough context and avoiding unnecessary verbosity.

How you organize code is going to be a mix of your personal style "your artistry" but also guided by your organization's standards and those who work with you. You will find that you will need to alter your structure a little bit for each project and for each job you take so do not fall in love with just one organizing and structure strategy. However, in general, you should always keep your code modularized into proper blocks, sections, files with appropriate indentation in line with style guidelines and you should be good to go. :)