One of the most crucial, yet often overlooked, aspects of game development is documenting your code. Clear and concise documentation can make the difference between smooth development and frustrating, time-consuming debugging, regardless of whether you’re working independently or with a team.
This post explores why documenting your code is important, the best practices to follow, and how it can benefit both the development process and the long-term maintenance of your game.
Why Documenting Code Matters
At its core, documenting code refers to writing explanations and notes within your codebase to clarify the purpose of functions, variables, or algorithms. This documentation helps both you and other developers understand how the code works and why certain decisions were made.
Here are a few reasons why documentation is essential in game development:
- Improved Collaboration
When working with a team, clear documentation makes it easier for everyone to understand the logic and flow of the code. It reduces confusion and enhances productivity by allowing team members to quickly grasp what’s happening. - Easier Debugging and Maintenance
Over time, you may need to revisit your code to fix bugs or add new features. Without documentation, you risk wasting valuable time trying to remember what each section of code does. Proper documentation helps you navigate your codebase quickly and efficiently. - Future-Proofing Your Game
Game development is an ongoing process, even after release. Good documentation ensures that when you revisit your project, you’ll easily pick up where you left off, saving you time and effort during future updates or fixes. - Help for New Developers
As your project grows, new developers may join the team. Documentation streamlines the onboarding process, allowing them to quickly understand how things work and contribute to the project without unnecessary delays. - Professionalism and Industry Standards
In the game development industry, clean, well-documented code is considered a standard. It shows that you understand the importance of maintainability, which is essential for both solo projects and collaborative work.
Best Practices for Documenting Code
Now that we understand why documentation is vital, let’s look at some best practices to follow when documenting your game code.
Write Meaningful Comments
The most basic form of documentation is comments. These explain the purpose of specific lines or sections of code, making it easier for others to understand what’s happening. However, good comments require thought and precision:
- Be clear and concise: Avoid over-explaining things that are self-evident. Focus on why something is done rather than what’s being done, as the code should speak for itself.
- Explain complex logic: If your code implements a complicated algorithm or has intricate logic, use comments to clarify your thought process and decisions.
- Update comments as needed: Outdated comments can create more confusion than no comments at all. Always ensure your comments are kept current with any changes in the code.
Example:
// Check if player is within range to trigger enemy attack if (player_distance < attack_range) { attack_enemy() }
In this example, the comment explains that the attack happens when the player is close enough, which helps anyone reviewing the code quickly understand the logic.
Use Descriptive Naming Conventions
One of the simplest ways to make your code self-documenting is by using descriptive names for your variables, functions, and classes. For example, if you have a variable called score, it’s obvious what it represents. Similarly, functions like spawn_enemy() or update_health() make it clear what they do without needing additional explanation.
Example:
player_health = 100; var enemy_speed = 5;Descriptive names make it easy to understand the role of these variables at a glance, without the need for additional documentation.
Document Functions and Methods
Every function should use the JSDoc script comments to have code completion and show the function arguments in the code editor.
[This section is a WIP]
This function documentation explains what the function does, what parameters it takes, and what it returns, making it easy for anyone working with the code to understand how and when to use this function.
Use Inline Comments Sparingly
Inline comments are comments that appear beside a line of code. While they can be useful, they should be used in moderation. Overusing inline comments can clutter your code, making it harder to read. Only use them when the code needs further clarification.
Example:
health -= damage; // Subtract damage from player's healthIn this case, the comment is redundant; It’s clear what the function of the code is as we’ve named the variables descriptively.
Keep Documentation Updated
As development continues and your code evolves, make sure you keep documentation up-to-date. It’s important to document as you go so that by the time you finish coding, everything is already clear and accurate. Regularly revising comments ensures they stay relevant and reduces the risk of misinterpretation.
The Long-Term Benefits of Code Documentation
Documenting your GameMaker code might feel like an additional task during development, but the long-term benefits are invaluable. Well-documented code will save you time when revisiting your game later on, help your team collaborate more effectively, and ensure that new developers can quickly understand and contribute to the project.
Without clear documentation, maintaining and updating a game can become a nightmare, especially as the project grows. Code documentation helps keep everything organized, understandable, and future-proof, allowing you to focus on improving your game rather than struggling to decipher your past work.
Wrapping Up: Document Your Code for Better Development
In game development, where complexity and scope can grow rapidly, documenting your code is an essential part of the process. It improves collaboration, speeds up debugging, and ensures that your code remains manageable even as your project evolves.
By following best practices for code documentation, you’ll create a more maintainable game, reduce the likelihood of mistakes, and make future development smoother. Don’t wait until the end of the project—start documenting your code from the outset, and it will pay off in the long run.
Looking for more game development tips? Be sure to check out our other posts on game design best practices.