What should developers avoid according to Guidewire best practices?

Using deprecated classes and methods is a crucial guideline to follow according to Guidewire best practices. Deprecated classes and methods indicate that they are no longer recommended for use and may be removed in future versions of the software. They may lack support, contain bugs, or not integrate well with newer features. Consequently, reliance on these elements can lead to issues such as decreased application performance, increased maintenance costs, or incompatibilities during upgrades.

By avoiding deprecated classes and methods, developers ensure that their applications remain robust, maintainable, and aligned with the latest enhancements and functionalities provided by Guidewire. This practice helps in maintaining code quality and longevity. In contrast, using newly created methods can be beneficial, as they are likely to be optimized and support the latest features. Writing extensive comments enhances code readability and maintainability, while creating UI operations is a fundamental part of application development. Thus, the emphasis is on avoiding deprecated elements to foster better coding practices.