UiPath Coding Best Practices
Writing clean and efficient code in UiPath improves the performance and maintainability of your automation projects. Here are some best practices to consider:
Use Clear Naming Conventions
Name your variables, arguments, and workflows in a way that clearly shows their purpose. Instead of using “var1,” use names like “customerEmail” or “orderNumber” so it’s easy to tell what they’re for.
Modular Workflow Design
Try to break complex processes into smaller, reusable workflows. This makes it easier to debug and reuse parts of your project. For instance, you could create a separate workflow for data extraction and use it in multiple places.
Error Handling and Logging
Make sure to include error handling (like Try-Catch activities) and log useful error messages. This makes troubleshooting easier and helps you catch any problems early on. For example, if a file’s missing, log the file’s path in your error message.
Optimize Selectors
Use stable selectors for UI elements. Avoid hard-coding and use variables or wildcards when you can. This helps keep your automation working even when the UI changes.
Avoid Hard-Coding Values
Instead of hard-coding things like file paths or URLs, use configuration files or Orchestrator Assets. This makes updates easier without needing to change the code itself.
Comment and Document Your Code
Add comments and annotations to explain why you’ve designed workflows a certain way, especially if they’re complex. It’ll be helpful if someone else looks at your project or if you come back to it later.
Use Version Control
Even though Orchestrator has version control, using something like Git gives you more control. It lets you track changes, collaborate better, and roll back to earlier versions if needed. Plus, you can take advantage of features like branching and merging.
Maintain Consistent Formatting
Keep your formatting (indentation, spacing) consistent. This makes your workflows easier to read and less likely to have errors.
Perform Data Validation
Always check your data before processing it. For example, make sure a DataTable isn’t empty before you try to loop through it.If your data includes numeric fields, verify that they contain valid numbers, and if there are datetime values, check that they follow the correct format. This helps prevent errors and ensures your automation handles unexpected inputs.
Limit the Use of Delays
Avoid using hard-coded delays unless absolutely necessary. Instead, use activities like ‘Element Exists’ or ‘Wait Element Vanish’ for better performance.
Manage Dependencies Carefully
Check your dependencies regularly to make sure you’re not including unnecessary libraries. This keeps your project lean and reduces the chance of conflicts.
Use Reusable Components
Take advantage of libraries for tasks you do often. Reusing components saves you time and helps keep things consistent.
Keep the Number of Arguments Low
Try not to overload your workflows with too many arguments. Keeping them simple makes your workflows easier to manage and reduces the risk of mistakes. If you need to work with a lot of data, consider using a data structure like a DataTable or a Dictionary to group related data together. This way, you can pass a single argument instead of multiple arguments, simplifying your workflow while still keeping all the necessary information.
Avoid Oversized Workflows
Break large workflows into smaller ones. As a workflow increases in size, it becomes more likely that you will encounter various errors. Additionally, larger workflows can make debugging and testing take longer, which can lead to more difficulties in identifying issues.
I hope these best practices help you in your UiPath projects. You can also improve your code quality by using the Workflow Analyzer and developing custom rules.
I’ll be writing more detailed articles about the Workflow Analyzer in the future, so stay tuned. 
Happy automation! 