What is your approach to code documentation and commenting?
Theme: Software Development Role: Software Engineer Function: Technology
Interview Question for Software Engineer: See sample answers, motivations & red flags for this common interview question. About Software Engineer: Develops and maintains software applications. This role falls within the Technology function of a firm. See other interview questions & further information for this role here
Sample Answer
Example response for question delving into Software Development with the key points that need to be covered in an effective response. Customize this to your own experience with concrete examples and evidence
- Importance of Code Documentation: Code documentation is crucial for maintaining and enhancing software projects. It helps in understanding the codebase, collaborating with team members, and ensuring maintainability and scalability
- Documentation Standards: I follow a standardized format for code documentation, which includes the following key elements:
- Function/Method Documentation: - A brief description of the function/method's purpose and functionality - Input parameters with their types and descriptions - Return value with its type and description - Any exceptions or error conditions that can occur - Examples of usage and expected output
- Class/Module Documentation: - A brief overview of the class/module's purpose and functionality - Public methods and their descriptions, including input parameters and return values - Important properties and their descriptions - Dependencies and relationships with other classes/modules
- Variable/Constant Documentation: - Descriptions for important variables/constants, especially if their purpose is not self-explanatory - Data types and any constraints or assumptions - Examples of usage or scenarios where the variable/constant is relevant
- Code Commenting: In addition to code documentation, I also use comments to provide clarity and context within the code. Key points include:
- Commenting Best Practices: - Comments for complex or non-obvious code sections, explaining the logic or intention - Comments for code that may need future improvements or optimizations - TODO comments for unfinished or pending tasks - Avoiding excessive commenting for self-explanatory code
- Maintaining Documentation: I believe in keeping documentation up to date throughout the development process. This includes updating documentation when making changes, refactoring code, or adding new features. Regular code reviews and collaboration with team members also help in maintaining accurate and comprehensive documentation
Underlying Motivations
What the Interviewer is trying to find out about you and your experiences through this question
- Communication skills: Assessing how well you can explain complex code and concepts to others through documentation and comments
- Collaboration: Evaluating your ability to work effectively with other developers by providing clear and concise code documentation
- Code quality: Determining if you prioritize writing clean, maintainable, and self-explanatory code by using appropriate comments and documentation
- Attention to detail: Checking if you pay attention to documenting edge cases, assumptions, and potential pitfalls in your code
Potential Minefields
How to avoid some common minefields when answering this question in order to not raise any red flags
- Lack of documentation: Not mentioning the importance of documenting code or having a disorganized approach to documentation
- Over-commenting: Stating that every line of code needs to be commented, which can indicate a lack of clarity in the code
- Outdated documentation: Not mentioning the need to update documentation as code evolves, which can lead to confusion and errors
- No documentation standards: Not discussing the use of consistent documentation standards, which can make it difficult for others to understand and maintain the code
- Ignoring non-technical documentation: Not considering the importance of documenting user guides, API documentation, or other non-technical aspects of the code
- Lack of collaboration: Not mentioning the importance of collaborating with team members to ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation