How do you follow HMI programming standards and guidelines?

HMI programming is a skill that requires attention to detail, creativity, and user-friendliness. You want to create interfaces that are easy to use, reliable, and secure. But how do you ensure that your HMI code is free of errors, bugs, and vulnerabilities? How do you follow HMI programming standards and guidelines? In this article, we will share some best practices for HMI testing and debugging that will help you improve your HMI development process and deliver high-quality products.

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1 Choose the right tools

One of the first steps in HMI testing and debugging is to choose the right tools for your project. Depending on the platform, language, and framework you are using, you may need different tools for designing, coding, testing, and debugging your HMI. For example, you may use a graphical editor, a code editor, a simulator, a debugger, a code analyzer, or a testing framework. You should select tools that are compatible with your HMI environment, easy to use, and offer the features and functions you need.

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2 Follow coding standards

Coding standards are a set of rules and guidelines that help you write consistent, readable, and maintainable code. They also help you avoid common errors, bugs, and security issues. Coding standards may vary depending on the organization, industry, or project you are working on, but they usually cover aspects such as naming conventions, indentation, comments, syntax, structure, and documentation. You should follow the coding standards that are relevant to your HMI project and use tools that can help you check and enforce them.

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3 Test your HMI functionality

Testing your HMI functionality is a crucial part of HMI development. You want to make sure that your HMI performs as expected, meets the user requirements, and handles different scenarios and inputs. You can use different types of testing methods, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, or user acceptance testing, to verify your HMI functionality. You should also use tools that can help you automate, manage, and report your testing activities.

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Laura Rodriguez, PMP

PMP-Certified Mechanical Designer Driving Technical & Project Success @ Premium Oilfield Technologies
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Testing is a critical component in ensuring the quality of any project. Although it might seem redundant at times, frequent testing throughout different phases—whether in traditional or agile methodologies—is invaluable. Regular testing helps identify when adjustments or alternative techniques are needed and provides ongoing customer feedback, fostering continuous improvement and alignment with user requirements. There is nothing more satisfying than testing your entire HMI system and witnessing how it has successfully met your target end product.

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4 Debug your HMI errors

Debugging your HMI errors is another essential part of HMI development. You want to identify and fix any errors, bugs, or anomalies that may affect your HMI performance, usability, or security. You can use tools that can help you monitor, trace, and diagnose your HMI errors, such as debuggers, loggers, or profilers. You should also use tools that can help you prevent, detect, and resolve potential security issues, such as encryption, authentication, or authorization.

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5 Review your HMI code

Reviewing your HMI code is a good practice that can help you improve your HMI quality, efficiency, and reliability. You can use tools that can help you analyze, refactor, or optimize your HMI code, such as code analyzers, code beautifiers, or code optimizers. You should also use tools that can help you collaborate, share, or compare your HMI code with other developers, such as version control systems, code repositories, or code review platforms.

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6 Learn from feedback

Learning from feedback is a key practice that can help you enhance your HMI skills, knowledge, and experience. You can use tools that can help you collect, analyze, or act on feedback from different sources, such as users, clients, testers, or reviewers. You should also use tools that can help you measure, evaluate, or improve your HMI performance, usability, or satisfaction, such as metrics, benchmarks, or surveys.

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Laura Rodriguez, PMP

PMP-Certified Mechanical Designer Driving Technical & Project Success @ Premium Oilfield Technologies
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Feedback is a crucial element in the success of your project. Gathering insights from both your team and the customer is essential, but the contributions from actual end users are invaluable. By understanding their challenges, you can develop solutions that truly meet their needs, ultimately enhancing the overall effectiveness of your HMI system.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you follow HMI programming standards and guidelines?

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1 Choose the right tools

2 Follow coding standards

3 Test your HMI functionality

4 Debug your HMI errors

5 Review your HMI code

6 Learn from feedback

7 Here’s what else to consider

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