TL;DR style notes from articles I read today. I share these every weekday in my newsletter. You can sign up here to get these straight to your inbox.
Good developers are smart, not clever
- Smart developers keep it simple. “Good code is like a joke. If it has to be explained, it is not a good one.”
- They know when to improve code and they have clarity on the reasons behind doing it.
- They start by searching for solutions that are already present in the code, before starting to write new code.
- They are pragmatic. They don’t get enamored by tricks.
- They don’t believe in the promises of perfect shortcuts. They understand the tradeoffs.
- They are never shy to ask questions.
“Programming is not like being in the CIA, you don’t get credit for being sneaky.” - Steve McConnell
Full post here, 6 mins read
Programmers: make yourself replaceable
IMO, making yourself replaceable is the only way to scale up in a career.
- In the quest to be irreplaceable, developers end up stagnating in their careers.
- You damage relationships with colleagues by hoarding information.
- It leaves you pinned and isolated.
- As there is no replacement for you in your current role, you won’t get considered for other opportunities.
- To grow, you must constantly strive to make yourself replaceable.
- Use best practices from open-source even in your closed-source software by creating files with examples, explanations, and conventions so that your teammates can contribute easily.
- Share responsibility & access by rotating on-call jobs.
- Share knowledge and learn together with teammates.
- Push for using new and different technologies in new projects.
- Keep learning how to use new tools, technologies & practices, and actively identify pain points to resolve.
Full post here, 6 mins read
Strategies for long projects
- Budget your time well and tune up your attitude to succeed at long-term projects.
- Stay optimistic, even when it seems irrational.
- Expect the unexpected, and take your time to respond to new developments or information.
- Document your progress daily.
- Expect some regression with a new team as group dynamics take time to settle.
- Invest time in the early stages to develop tools that save you time later.
- Reframe your early efforts to build a memory base you can draw on during times of adversity.
- Be a fierce guardian of your own time and prioritize long-term projects.
Full post here, 8 mins read
Top comments (1)
@arpit Mohan, nice article, enjoyed reading it. Being optimistic when it's irrational that's tough to do. Usually I shy away from irrational situations or irrational people. But what you're suggesting in the article is optimism in the work environment even if it's irrational. That's just tough to wrap my head around at this time. Perhaps when I get work in the field I'll be able to understand and embrace that.