How can you improve software usability and accessibility with programming languages?

From my experience over eleven(11) years, I strongly believe we can improve software usability and accessibility with programming language. These are some ways to achieve that: 1. Use the right language for the right job: Some languages are best for computation, number crunching among others. Other languages are better suited for other functionalities. Know what language does what best, and apply the best language. For example, Python will do better for any Machine learning project than PHP. 2. Follow the language's best practices 3. Have a deep understanding of the core/foundations of software engineering (SOLID principles), Design Patterns, Architectural Patterns, TDD, etc

The choice of programming language depends on the specific requirements of your project, your team's expertise, and the platforms you're targeting. No matter which programming language you choose, prioritizing user-centered design, incorporating accessibility best practices, and testing your software with users are critical steps to ensure usability and accessibility.

I would suggest that the conflation of ideas and concepts serves to confuse the space and places responsibility for analysis in the wrong place. Delivering a product has many objectives, and choosing to emphasize one objective over another carries risk. This article proposes concepts which increase risk in a possible attempt to over-engineer a part. Choose a language which meets your overall development needs. And let your requirements drive your features. Because, in general, your application will likely outlive the language in which it is written.

Though this is an important step, there is a tendency to carried away with their favorite, known languages or frameworks for building an application. Always choose langauge based on how your product will be scaled and looked up after few years. Also, main factor is community support for that programming language, this is crucial in terms of security upgrades, functional improvements and fixes at core.

Identifying detailed functional requirements and non functional requirements prior to creating something new is essential. It helps to narrow down the technology stack that will suit your needs. If you are a beginner, you can never go wrong with an Object Oriented Programming language. However, for founders who are validating their idea, they should go with the language that makes them build an MVP the fastest

Consistency in coding style not only improves code readability but also contributes to better usability and accessibility, as you've mentioned. Reduced Errors: it minimizes the chances of introducing errors due to inconsistent syntax or formatting. Clarity and Understanding: When all team members follow the same coding conventions, the codebase becomes more predictable and easier to understand. Collaboration: Consistency promotes smoother collaboration among team members Maintenance: Over time, codebases tend to evolve, and maintaining code becomes easier when it adheres to a consistent style. Accessibility and Usability is easy. Automation: Many tools and IDEs offer features that work best with consistent code.

For many people, a consistent style is important; for others, it's a nuisance. If you want to have a consistent style, make sure it is enforced automatically; your build should fail if the style is wrong; this way, the style is actually enforced, instead of 90% enforced.

Consistent style enables and reinforces code that can be read and understood easily. Code quality is very easily correlated with the readability and understandability of the code in front of you. Establishing a baseline of coding rules up front as a team really makes it so much easier to deliver quality code by removing questions.

Using a consistent coding style enhances software usability and accessibility. When developers adhere to a uniform style throughout the codebase, it promotes readability and comprehension. Employ clear and concise naming conventions for variables, functions, and classes. Maintain a consistent indentation and formatting approach. Comment your code judiciously, explaining complex parts to aid understanding, especially for accessibility-related components. Consistency simplifies debugging, reduces errors, and fosters collaboration among team members. By following a consistent style, you ensure that your software is accessible and usable to a broader audience, including those with disabilities, enhancing the overall user experience.

Consistency in coding style is paramount for software maintainability and accessibility. Adopting a uniform coding style enhances readability and predictability for developers, fostering collaboration. This consistency extends to naming conventions, code structure, and documentation. Accessibility in code goes beyond the user interface; it encompasses the overall clarity and coherence of the codebase, making it easier for developers, including those with disabilities, to contribute and understand.

Before Implement a user interface. We need to create and define the UI/UX. it's to make sure our applications are suitable for our users. We can use a design thinking framework: 1. Empathize: learn about the audience. 2. Define: construct point of view based on user needs. 3. Ideate: brainstorm and come up with solutions. 4. Prototype: build representative of the idea. 5. Test: test the idea. In terms of development, creating a components UI library will improve the standardization, consistency, and users experience in our application.

UIs are like jokes. If you have to explain them, they are not good. Important stuff should be one or two clicks away. There's a whole bunch of theories that explain how to build useful UIs. If you are to build one, get to know the theory.

In my extensive experience of building user interfaces, I have always been guided by the practice of “counting floors.” By floors I mean the number of levels of nesting of dialog boxes one into another. My rule is that a properly designed dialog box cannot have more than two floors! For example: if you have a text input field in your form (1st floor) and next to it there is a button that, when clicked, opens a modal window (2nd floor) with a list of text options, then this modal window should not have buttons leading to the following modal windows (3,4,5 floors)! If this is necessary, then this means that your dialogs are not designed correctly!

Focus on simplicity, ensuring clean layouts and intuitive navigation. Prioritize clarity in design elements, text, and icons. Use contrasting colours for readability, especially for users with visual impairments. Provide keyboard shortcuts and ensure keyboard navigation compatibility. Incorporate descriptive labels and alternative text for images to aid users with screen readers. Implement responsive design, accommodating various screen sizes and devices. Enable adjustable text sizes and contrast settings for users with visual challenges. Finally, conduct usability testing with diverse users to identify areas for improvement and refine the interface accordingly.

The user interface (UI) is a critical component in enhancing software usability. Prioritize user-friendly design principles such as simplicity, clarity, and intuitive navigation. Employ responsive design techniques to ensure a seamless experience across various devices and screen sizes. Accessibility in UI design involves providing alternative text for images, using contrasting colors, and ensuring keyboard navigation. Thoughtful UI implementation creates a positive and inclusive user experience.

Importance of Testing and Debugging: Quality Assurance: Thorough testing helps catch bugs and issues before they reach users, ensuring a higher level of software quality. Usability Enhancement: Testing ensures that user interfaces work as expected, providing a smooth and error-free user experience. User Confidence: Robust software builds trust among users and improves their confidence in the application's performance. Unit Testing: Write unit tests to verify individual components or functions of your code. Unit tests catch errors early and help ensure that different parts of your code work as intended.

The true value of unit tests is to provide confidence after expanding or refactoring code. As such there is an art to writing good tests that you won’t appreciate until you have done several expansions or refactors. Pay attention to how many fragile tests broke and why and don’t write them like that again. Also be don’t obsess over optimizing test code. I’ve seen engineers waste entire sprints on refactoring unit tests to save a minute or two. The ROI on that is very expensive. Lastly don’t strive for 100% code coverage. At some point the product code starts to serve the needs of the tests and not the other way around. Focus instead on the main logic and behavior of the component (especially it’s inputs and outputs).

Its important to always test your code, but deciding which parts of the system to test can be critical to a projects success, learn how to apply unit tests without focusing too much on implementation details that are prone to change in the near future, and use integration tests to prove that the modules of the software behave as expected but also that the limitations / restrictions are set in place and are respected.

For testing, take a loo at SDLC. It literally spells this out. Stepwise design nearly guarantees no code errors, also ensures modular construction and scalability. The AGILE/SCRUM process is far too dynamic to develop good solid code thatg runs and runs. that said, dedicated QA process, using test cases developed as part of the design for validation testing are a must. Don't let coders test at QA level, hire data entry folks, or use the exercise as "train the trainer" and end user documentation.

In the quest to enhance software usability and accessibility, thorough testing and debugging play a pivotal role. Rigorous testing helps identify and rectify bugs, errors, and vulnerabilities, ensuring the software aligns with user expectations. By embracing systematic debugging, developers can not only enhance functionality but also bolster performance and security. Utilizing programming languages with robust testing and debugging support empowers developers to refine their code, ensuring a seamless user experience for a diverse audience.

Having a clear understanding of your users will be helpful to understand their needs and what they expect from you, it's a good idea to use a framework or library that complies with your needs in terms of accessibility, this will reduce the time to implement new functionalities in your software but will also help you stay up to date with current guidelines.

For web based applications, a good understanding of HTML basics is necessary as lot of accessibility is covered by using semantic HTML. Does your button actually use button html element or a styled div? Using semantic html reduces the needed for adding keyboard support through code

It is imperative that we establish a persona that caters to accessibility requirements during the project planning phase and adhere to accessibility guidelines throughout the design process.

Don’t forget, accessibility in technology is required for all user interfaces, not just web pages. There are many overlapping laws and requirements which are often not enforced. However if you wait until you are called out, it will probably be a complete UI rewrite. It’s better to incorporate accessibility into your designs and processes from the start (even at a basic level) then to explain to the CEO why you can’t take that juicy government contract or why you are being sued.

Accessibility is code AND content. We often take for granted what we see, and navigating with a pointing device. Turn off the pretty styling and try using only a keyboard. Does your page make sense? Assisted users will enhance your company's presence, community, and sales. Dismissing this chunk of the population is a great disservice.

User feedback should be the most critical factor in the usability of software. At the end of the day, they are the ones who are going to use it. Proper feedback based on wireframes should be collected during the analysis and design processes so that the quality of the end product can be guaranteed. Information architecture and business flows should follow the designs and existing requirements.

Soliciting user feedback is a vital step in enhancing software usability and accessibility. However, it's imperative to approach this process thoughtfully to avoid compromising the user experience. Excessive popups can be disruptive and deter users from engaging with the software. To strike a harmonious balance, opt for unobtrusive methods of feedback collection. For instance, you can strategically time feedback requests, such as after users have completed a task or achieved a milestone within the software. Additionally, integrating feedback mechanisms that allow users to provide insights at their discretion, rather than being inundated with requests, can promote a more positive interaction.

Actively seek feedback from end-users, particularly those with diverse needs. Engage with user communities, disability advocacy groups, and accessibility experts to gain insights into the user experience. Regular feedback loops allow you to continually refine and improve your software's usability and accessibility. Embracing user input ensures that your software aligns closely with the needs and expectations of its intended audience.

I offered this for UI testing. This is where I usually team up with the stakeholder to create a small test group of the users who will work on the tool. I suggest to 3 to 5 people so the feedback and discussion can remain manageable and the developer can be responsive to requests. The users always appreciate being invited to the process. They become personally invested in the product and become the strongest advocates and SMEs within the stakeholder’s own team when the product finally releases and the UI belongs to them.

Feedback could be as early as possible such as user research phase and user testing before real implementation. This could be done using Figma prototype. In addition, indirect feedback such as user behavior and web traffic is helpful too. In practice, we can use Amplitude and/or Google Analytics to understand the user behavior such as drop off rates to get indirect feedback.

Remember to isolate systems so changes to one system don’t force enterprise-wide changes to unrelated systems. For example, the use of direct table queries within code ties data schemas to internal coding making expansion of successful data systems cost prohibitive but the use of stored procedures can provide exactly the same result as a direct query while isolating the code from expansions within the data structures. Stored procedures aren’t a bunch of fun but rebuilding systems and regression testing because someone needs a new column in a table is less fun.

There are a number of ways to improve software usability and accessibility with programming languages. Here are a few examples: Use clear and concise code Use consistent formatting Use descriptive error messages Use accessibility APIs

In addition to the core principles, consider internationalization and localization to make your software globally accessible. Features like high contrast modes and customizable font sizes accommodate users with visual impairments. Stay informed about emerging accessibility technologies and standards, adjusting your software accordingly. Collaborate with accessibility experts during the development process to gain deeper insights. Engage with user advocacy groups to understand the unique challenges faced by specific user communities. Regularly review and update your software to address evolving accessibility requirements and user expectations.

Ideally, accessibility and usability should be included in the roadmap from the get-go, so every choice made takes them into account. The tech stack might have the perfect support for them, but when the tools are used poorly everything could end up feeling like a "patch". When things are designed and implemented with user experience in mind, the results speak for themselves.