When I look back at my journey as a software developer, I realize just how much the landscape has changed over the last 15 years. From the days of endless tutorials to the point where shipping code took precedence over writing flawless work, every step has been a lesson in itself. The one piece of advice that I would stress most to my younger self is this: there is no substitute for doing. Tutorials, books, and coding bootcamps all have their place, but the real learning begins and ends with getting your hands dirty in code. As BiteCode_dev pointed out, “Less tutorials, more coding.” Over time, the act of doing, failing, and repeating is what molds us into proficient programmers.
Quality over quantity is another lesson that young developers often miss. BiteCode_dev’s notion of shipping even the ‘dirty’ and ‘bad’ code is not as blasphemous as it sounds. Perfection can be paralyzing for beginners who are obsessed with best practices. This doesn’t mean you should write bad code intentionally, but rather, don’t let the pursuit of perfect code stand in the way of your progress. The key is to focus on rapidly delivering functional code and learning from your mistakes as you go along. Remember, the feedback you receive from less-than-perfect code is incredibly valuable. It teaches you which mistakes are costly and which are inconsequential, shaping your judgment for the future.
Understanding the impact of your decisions is crucial. In an industry where new technologies spring up like mushrooms after rain, it’s easy to get distracted by the ‘new hotness.’ Yet, as graypegg succinctly noted, ‘The users don’t care about the tech. They care about the result.’ Whether you’re using the latest framework or an age-old solution doesn’t matter to the end-user; what matters is that your application solves their problem efficiently. The wisdom here is to prioritize the result and the user experience over the tools used to achieve it. This aligns with the oft-repeated advice to ‘focus on results rather than tools,’ something younger developers would do well to remember.
Programming isn’t just a battle against code; it’s a battle against complexity. The more complex a system becomes, the higher the likelihood of introducing subtle, hard-to-find bugs. BiteCode_dev aptly mentioned, ‘Programming is a battle against complexity.’ When you find yourself in a scenario where explaining why something is difficult becomes a challenge, it’s likely a sign of incidental complexity that needs addressing. Simplifying complex problems is an invaluable skill that will save you countless hours of debugging and headache. Neal Ford’s quote, ‘Developers are drawn to complexity like moths to a flame, often with the same outcome,’ should serve as a constant reminder to keep things as simple as possible.
Collaboration and asking questions cannot be overstated. One of the recurring themes in these pieces of advice is the importance of seeking help and collaborating with your team. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to solve everything on your own, but this can often lead to wasted hours. As vitus mentioned, ‘Claiming that it reduces your overall time from several hours to < 5 minutes is maybe a bit exaggerated, but it’s still worthwhile even if you end up investigating for 30 minutes instead of 3 hours.' Especially when starting out, never underestimate the value of a second opinion or the collective wisdom of a team.
Lastly, the importance of contextual awareness in development is priceless. Developers often miss the forest for the trees, focusing too much on technical perfection and too little on the business context. As roughly pointed out, ‘you’re hired to solve problems for the business, not to solve technical problems.’ Understanding the broader business implications of your work can help you make better decisions and communicate more effectively with stakeholders. This business acumen can often set a good developer apart from a great one. It’s not just about writing code; it’s about adding value to the enterprise and making sure that your work aligns with the company’s goals.
Reflecting on these lessons has reaffirmed my belief that experience is the best teacher. Yet, it doesn’t hurt to have a few pointers along the way. From valuing the process of doing and learning from feedback, to tackling complexity head-on and collaborating within your team, these pieces of advice could dramatically shorten the learning curve for any budding developer. Much like a seasoned traveler might advise on the best paths to take, these insights serve as guideposts, helping navigate the often tumultuous yet incredibly rewarding journey of software development.
Leave a Reply