Top 10 Tips and Tricks for Senior SharePoint Developers to Boost Productivity

SharePoint has become an essential component of enterprise collaboration and management, and as a senior SharePoint developer, you play a pivotal role in optimizing this powerful platform for your organization. It's crucial to constantly improve your skills and efficiency to meet the increasing demands of complex projects. Here’s a comprehensive guide featuring 10 tips and tricks that will enhance your productivity and make you a more effective SharePoint developer.

1. Master the Art of Workflow Automation

Automating workflows in SharePoint can drastically reduce manual processes and repetitive tasks, freeing up more of your time for critical development work. Use tools like Power Automate to design sophisticated workflows that manage approvals, data collection, and notifications seamlessly.

• Identify repetitive tasks suitable for automation.
• Utilize SharePoint Designer or Flow to automate these tasks.
• Test and refine workflows regularly for efficiency.

2. Leverage SharePoint Framework (SPFx)

The SharePoint Framework (SPFx) is a powerful tool for building custom, client-side web parts and extensions using modern web technologies. This enables you to create dynamic and responsive user experiences.

1. Familiarize yourself with SPFx and its development environment.
2. Stay updated with the latest SPFx versions and features.
3. Explore community resources and contribute to open-source projects.

3. Optimize Page Performance

Page load speed is critical for user experience. As a senior SharePoint developer, ensure your pages are optimized by minimizing heavy scripts, using asynchronous operations, and leveraging Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).

• Compress images and scripts to reduce load time.
• Implement custom caching solutions for static content.
• Regularly analyze page speed and optimize accordingly.

4. Utilize REST API and CSOM for Advanced Functionality

The REST API and Client-Side Object Model (CSOM) provide extensive access to SharePoint capabilities that aren't available via the standard user interface. With these, you can execute complex operations and integrate with other systems effectively.

1. Learn REST API endpoints and their capabilities.
2. Use CSOM for operations that require managed code execution.
3. Secure your integrations and manage authentication effectively.

5. Implement Best Practices for SharePoint Security

Security in SharePoint is paramount, especially when dealing with sensitive data. Implementing best practices ensures your SharePoint environment is protected against unauthorized access and potential threats.

• Regularly update user permissions and access levels.
• Use secure web parts and couplings to minimize threat vectors.
• Conduct periodic security audits and refinements.

6. Know When to Use Out-of-the-Box Features versus Custom Development

SharePoint offers a multitude of out-of-the-box features that often eliminate the need for custom development. However, understanding when to use these features and when to build custom solutions is key to efficient development.

• Evaluate feature requirements and match them to SharePoint capabilities.
• Opt for configuration over customization whenever possible for easier maintenance.
• Use custom development only for highly specialized needs.

7. Stay Updated with SharePoint Online Changes

Microsoft often rolls out updates and new features to SharePoint Online. Staying abreast of these changes allows you to incorporate new capabilities into your development projects effectively.

1. Subscribe to SharePoint online update blogs and forums.
2. Test new features in a development environment before full deployment.
3. Communicate changes to stakeholders and provide training if necessary.

8. Build Responsive Designs with Modern UI Components

Creating a user-friendly and accessible environment is critical in SharePoint development. Ensure all your sites and web parts are built with responsive design principles to accommodate the broadest range of devices and screen sizes.

• Utilize the SharePoint look book templates for modern UI inspiration.
• Incorporate responsive frameworks like Bootstrap into your projects.
• Conduct usability testing to confirm user interface effectiveness.

9. Enhance Collaboration with Microsoft Teams Integration

Integrating SharePoint with Microsoft Teams enhances collaboration by providing a seamless connection between document libraries, lists, and Teams channels. Streamlining communication between these platforms optimizes teamwork efficiency.

1. Enable SharePoint document libraries within Teams.
2. Leverage Teams for real-time communication and file sharing.
3. Integrate SharePoint lists with Teams channels for task management.

10. Expand Your Knowledge with Continuous Learning

Finally, as a senior developer, adopting a mindset of continuous learning is essential. Engage with the developer community, attend conferences, and pursue certifications to stay ahead in the ever-evolving SharePoint landscape.

• Participate in online courses and webinars related to SharePoint development.
• Engage in forums and communities like Stack Overflow and Reddit.
• Pursue SharePoint-specific certifications for advanced credentials.