Welcome to this week's Top 7, where the DEV editorial team handpicks their favorite posts from the previous week.
Congrats to all the authors that made it onto the list 👏
“Why Do You Code?” - A Surprisingly Hard Question
Sylwia Laskowska ・ Dec 30 '25
@sylwia-lask reflects on the deeper motivations behind being a developer, moving past standard answers like money or passion to explore the joy of problem-solving. The author encourages readers to find their own "why" to maintain long-term fulfillment in their careers.
First steps towards Codeberg
Thomas Künneth ・ Dec 31 '25
@tkuenneth shares their journey of migrating repositories to Codeberg, highlighting the benefits of supporting a non-profit, community-driven platform. The post guides us through the setup process and offers a practical comparison for developers looking for alternatives to commercial Git hosting.
Software Engineering in 2026: A View From the Server Room
Brian Ting ・ Jan 1
@tyu1996 argues that the true value of a software engineer in 2026 lies in system design and operational excellence rather than just writing code. With AI handling the bulk of generation, they emphasize that maintaining reliable distributed systems and mastering "what comes after deployment" are the new critical skills.
My 2026 Tech Stack is Boring as Hell (And That is the Point)
NorthernDev ・ Jan 2
@the_nortern_dev advocates for reliability over hype by showcasing a "boring" tech stack designed for stability and long-term maintainability. They argue that in a rapidly changing landscape, choosing proven technologies is the smartest move for sustainable development.
The 30-Minute Security Audit: Onboarding a New Codebase
Ofri Peretz ・ Dec 31 '25
@ofri-peretz shares a streamlined approach to conduct a security audit within the first 30 minutes of onboarding to a new codebase. The post provides a checklist of high-impact areas to investigate, helping developers identify vulnerabilities without getting bogged down in complexity.
How Governance and Compliance Saves The World... lolwut?
Ben Link ・ Jan 1
@linkbenjamin takes a humorous yet insightful look at the often-dreaded topics of governance and compliance, arguing for their crucial role in ethical software. The author explains how these frameworks actually protect users and developers alike, turning bureaucratic hurdles into safety nets.
How to Create Never-Ending Fun (🎢RollerCoaster.js + React Three Fiber + AI)
Web Developer Hyper ・ Dec 29 '25
@webdeveloperhyper walks us through creating an infinite 3D rollercoaster experience using React Three Fiber and AI-generated assets. The tutorial demonstrates how to combine physics engines with creative coding to build immersive, interactive web applications.
And that's a wrap for this week's Top 7 roundup! 🎬 We hope you enjoyed this eclectic mix of insights, stories, and tips from our talented authors. Keep coding, keep learning, and stay tuned to DEV for more captivating content and make sure you’re opted in to our Weekly Newsletter 📩 for all the best articles, discussions, and updates.
Top comments (11)
Thanks for publishing on DEV @sylwia-lask, @tkuenneth, @tyu1996, @the_nortern_dev, @ofri-peretz, @linkbenjamin, @webdeveloperhyper ❤️
Really happy to be included alongside such great articles. Thanks to the editorial team for the pick!
Thank you so much! And as always, I totally recommend checking out the comments - there are so many amazing stories there. Big congrats to everyone else mentioned too! 😊
This week’s compilation is actually kinda cool 👍🏼
Thank you so much for featuring my post! I never imagined I could make it into the top 7. 😭 Also, thank you to all the readers who checked out my post. And congratulations to the other top 7 writers. I’ll keep improving myself so I can create even more fun projects and posts! 😆
Congratulations man!🥳
Thank you! Next time, let’s go for it together. 😀
Woohoo sure!🍻
Congratulations to all the featured authors! 👏
It's great to see such interesting texts highlighted. A well-deserved success for all the authors in this Top 7.
@jess thank you and the DEV Team!
I just published a post on my LinkedIn about the achievement!
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ofri-peretz_writing-community-devto-activity-7414330612775596032-Tq-1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAB6qEtMBA-aFg0oVXLoxX_4rBl5X0T82Vno
Congrats all! Definitely some fun reads!! Well deserved.
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