Brian’s 10 Rules for how to write cross-platform code

Posted by : Brian Wilson, CTO at Backblaze

I’ve had a lot of success in my 20 year software engineering career with developing cross platform ‘C’ and ‘C++’ code. At Backblaze, we just released the Mac beta version of our online backup service, so I thought it an apt time to discuss my 10 rules for writing cross-platform code. We develop an online backup product where a small desktop component (running on either Windows or Macintosh) encrypts and then transmits users’ files across the internet to our datacenters (running Linux.) We use the same ‘C’ and ‘C++’ libraries on Windows, Mac, and Linux interchangeably. I estimate it slows down software development by about 5 percent overall to support all three platforms. However, I run into other developers or software managers who mistakenly think cross platform code is difficult, or might double or triple the development schedules. This misconception is based on their bad experiences with badly run porting efforts. So this article is to quickly outline the 10 simple rules I live by to achieve efficient cross platform code development.




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What is Code?

Software has been around since the 1940s. Which means that people have been faking their way through meetings about software, and the code that builds it, for generations. Now that software lives in our pockets, runs our cars and homes, and dominates our waking lives, ignorance is no longer acceptable. The world belongs to people who code. Those who don’t understand will be left behind.

This issue comprises a single story devoted to ­demystifying code and the culture of the people who make it. There’s some technical language along with a few pretty basic mathematical concepts. There are also lots of solid jokes and lasting insights. It may take a few hours to read, but that’s a small price to pay for adding decades to your career.

—Josh Tyrangiel


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