Identify dependencies
Identifying dependencies is a critical first step in establishing effective dependency management. This process begins with examining your codebase and determining which components should be officially recognized as dependencies.
Understanding your current dependencies
Your software project and its associated solutions already use various dependencies. The use of libraries and frameworks authored by others is a widespread practice in modern software development.
Types of dependencies:
- External dependencies: Third-party libraries, frameworks, and packages (e.g., NuGet packages, npm modules, Maven artifacts).
- Internal dependencies: Code components developed within your organization that are shared across projects.
- Development dependencies: Tools and libraries needed only during development (e.g., testing frameworks, build tools).
Identifying internal dependencies
Your current codebase may contain internal dependencies that need to be officially acknowledged as such.
Example scenario:
Consider a segment of code that encapsulates a specific business domain model. This code might be:
- Integrated as source code directly in your project
- Copied and used across different projects and teams
- Maintained independently by a dedicated team
This code should be recognized as a dependency and managed accordingly.
Steps to identify dependencies
Investigate your codebase
A thorough investigation of your codebase is necessary to pinpoint sections of code that should be classified as dependencies.
Questions to ask:
- Which code components are used across multiple projects?
- Which components have clear, well-defined interfaces?
- Which components change independently of the main application?
- Which components could benefit from separate versioning?
Analyze code usage patterns
Look for:
- Code duplication: The same code copied across multiple projects indicates a potential shared dependency.
- Shared libraries: Internal libraries that multiple teams rely on.
- Utility functions: Common helper functions used throughout your codebase.
- Domain models: Business logic that represents core domain concepts.
Review project references
Examine:
- Project-to-project references: In your solution files.
- Assembly references: In compiled languages like C# or Java.
- Import statements: In your source code files.
- Configuration files: Package manifests like
package.json,pom.xml, or.csprojfiles.
Categorize dependencies
Once identified, categorize dependencies by:
- Type: External vs. internal
- Scope: Application dependency vs. development dependency
- Criticality: Core functionality vs. optional features
- Volatility: Stable vs. frequently changing
Refining your components
This identification process calls for modifying how you arrange your code and construct the solution. Eventually, it will contribute to the refinement of your components.
Benefits of proper identification:
- Improved maintainability: Clear boundaries between components.
- Better versioning: Components can be versioned independently.
- Enhanced reusability: Components can be shared across projects.
- Reduced duplication: Eliminates code copying.
- Better testing: Components can be tested in isolation.