The Ultimate Guide: Dos and Don'ts for Senior SharePoint Developers

As a Senior SharePoint Developer, your role involves not just creating applications but also ensuring that the solutions are robust, scalable, and maintainable. This guide will walk you through the critical dos and don’ts to help you navigate the complexities of SharePoint development. Whether you are leading projects or mentoring junior developers, understanding these best practices can significantly impact your success and that of your team.

Understanding the SharePoint Ecosystem

Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to understand the SharePoint ecosystem. SharePoint is a powerful platform used for collaboration, document management, and content management system (CMS) solutions. Familiarity with its features, like lists, libraries, workflows, and web parts, is crucial. An in-depth knowledge of how these components interact is the foundation for building effective solutions.

Dos for Senior SharePoint Developers

1. Emphasize Architecture and Planning

Do: Spend considerable time in the planning and architecture phase. A well-designed architecture is critical to the project's success. Ensure that all business requirements are understood and align with the technical capabilities of SharePoint. This approach reduces the need for custom development unless absolutely necessary, thus saving time and resources.

2. Follow Best Practices in Development

Do: Adhere to best practices in your development work. Utilize SharePoint’s built-in features rather than custom solutions where possible. Leverage features such as SharePoint Framework (SPFx), Power Automate for workflows, and Power Apps for custom forms. This ensures your solutions are easily maintainable and upgradeable, reducing future technical debt.

3. Automate Deployments

Do: Use automation tools for deploying your solutions. Automation not only speeds up the deployment process but also minimizes human error. Utilize tools like PowerShell scripts, SharePoint Patterns and Practices (PnP) PowerShell, or Azure DevOps for CI/CD pipelines to ensure that deployments are consistent and repeatable.

4. Prioritize Security and Compliance

Do: Security should be top of mind in any SharePoint development project. Ensure that you implement the principle of least privilege and conduct regular security audits. Understand compliance requirements relevant to your organization and incorporate them into your development and deployment processes.

5. Document Everything

Do: Provide thorough documentation for all developments. This includes code documentation, architectural decisions, configuration settings, and user manuals. Documentation aids in future maintenance and onboarding new team members quickly.

Don'ts for Senior SharePoint Developers

1. Avoid Over-Customizing

Don't: Over-customize SharePoint solutions. Customizations should only be implemented when out-of-the-box solutions do not meet business needs. Excessive customization can lead to maintenance challenges and complicates upgrades.

2. Don't Ignore Performance Optimization

Don't: Neglect performance considerations. Poorly optimized solutions can lead to a frustrating user experience. Regularly monitor performance benchmarks and implement improvements like indexing, optimizing queries, and using Content Delivery Networks (CDN) for public-facing sites.

3. Avoid Siloed Development

Don't: Work in isolation on development projects. Engage with stakeholders, project managers, and other developers to ensure alignment on requirements and expectations. Regular communications help catch potential issues early and foster a collaborative environment.

4. Don't Overlook User Experience

Don't: Underestimate the importance of user experience (UX). A sleek, intuitive interface can significantly impact user adoption. Collaborate with UX designers to ensure that your solutions are user-friendly and meet usability standards.

5. Avoid Scope Creep

Don't: Allow scope to expand beyond initial agreements without proper evaluation. Scope creep can derail timelines and inflate budgets. Manage expectations by setting clear project boundaries, and when changes are necessary, ensure they go through a formal change management process.

Conclusion

Being a Senior SharePoint Developer comes with its unique set of challenges and rewards. By focusing on the dos, you can build effective, efficient, and sustainable solutions. Similarly, avoiding the don'ts will prevent common pitfalls that can hinder project success. Stay updated with the latest trends in SharePoint development and continuously adapt your strategies to meet evolving organizational needs. With diligence and the right practices, you can enhance your impact as a Senior SharePoint Developer.