Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a systematic approach to decision-making in professional fields, including software development, that integrates the best available research evidence with practitioner expertise and client or stakeholder values. In development, it involves using empirical data, scientific studies, and validated methods to inform technical choices, process improvements, and problem-solving, rather than relying solely on intuition or tradition. This methodology aims to enhance outcomes, reduce risks, and increase efficiency by grounding practices in verifiable evidence.
Developers should learn and use Evidence-Based Practice to make informed decisions about technologies, architectures, and processes, especially in complex or high-stakes projects where poor choices can lead to failures or inefficiencies. It is particularly valuable in contexts like healthcare software, financial systems, or large-scale enterprise applications, where reliability and performance are critical, and in agile or DevOps environments to optimize workflows based on data-driven insights.