  In socio-environmental sciences, models are frequently used as tools to
represent, understand, project and predict the behaviour of these complex
systems. Along the modelling chain, Good Modelling Practices have been evolving
that ensure -- amongst others -- that models are transparent and replicable.
Whenever such models are represented in software, good modelling meets Good
software Practices, such as a tractable development workflow, good code,
collaborative development and governance, continuous integration and
deployment, and Good Scientific Practices, such as attribution of copyrights
and acknowledgement of intellectual property, publication of a software paper
and archiving. Too often in existing socio-environmental model software, these
practices have been regarded as an add-on to be considered at a later stage
only; in fact, many modellers have shied away from publishing their model as
open source out of fear that having to add good practices is too demanding. We
here argue for making a habit of following a list of simple and not so simple
practices early on in the implementation of the model life cycle. We
contextualise cherry-picked and hands-on practices for supporting Good
Modelling Practices, and we demonstrate their application in the example
context of the Viable North Sea fisheries socio-ecological systems model.
