To avoid 'coding horror story' situations, start with good planning. Outline what your code should do and how different parts will interact. When writing code, break it into smaller, more manageable functions. This makes it easier to test and debug. Regarding dependencies, keep them updated and manage them carefully. Don't let your codebase become a mess of out - of - date or conflicting libraries. Also, engage in code reviews. Having another set of eyes on your code can catch potential issues that you might have missed. And don't forget about security. Ignoring security in the coding process can lead to some really scary situations down the line.
Use proper version control. For example, Git allows for easy branching and merging, which helps prevent overwriting others' work. Also, always write comments in your code so that others (and your future self) can understand what's going on.
First, make sure to have a backup system in place. Regularly back up your code to an external source. Second, follow coding standards and best practices. This includes things like proper naming conventions and modular code design. Third, when it comes to deployment, test in an environment as similar to production as possible. This can catch configuration issues early on. And finally, document your code well. A good README and inline comments can save a lot of headaches later.