There is a large variety of deck boards both hardwood and softwoods.
The majority of decks that I construct use softwood decking and typically I use of ribbed or reeded profile which can be seen as an alternative to the more common grooved and plain deck board profiles.
Deck boards with a grooved profile tend to accumulate dirt in the grooves and thus require more cleaning.
A smooth deck board is often viewed as being “slippy when wet” However it is easier to keep clean and more pleasant to walk in your bare feet!
Although in theory grooved deck boards will provide a greater measure of slip resistance than a comparable smooth deck board there is no such thing as a non slip deck board!
Given the right combination of conditions, build up of algae, moisture and frost all types of deck boards could create a slip hazard.
When laying ribbed deck boards I always endeavour to build a slight gradient or fall into the decking framework in the direction of the grooves. This has the effect of helping to drain any rainfall off the deck and preventing unsightly puddles forming on the surface of the deck boards. This reduces the chances of algae forming and helps to dry the deck after rainfall.
The other important point regarding deck boards is that I try and design the layout to minimise the use of unsightly butt joints (joints where two deck boards are laid end to end.) If butt joints are unavoidable they should be staggered to mitigate their effect.
As with deck joist all cut ends of the deck boards should be sealed with Thompson end grain preserver or similar approved