🎯 Introduction
There are a lot of developer types, but this one is always a good fit for the most projects or companies.
Have you ever worked with a developer who just ‘gets’ the product? Someone who doesn’t just code but also thinks about the user experience, business impact, and long-term product vision? That’s what a Product-Minded Developer is all about.
We have many benefits having this type of dev in our team:
Users: Usually, they think about the user experience first, not just about tech.
Context: Mainly because this dev has a lot of context about all the product, it's easier to create new features in different parts of the app.
Communication: Normally, the product-minded developers have a good relation with non-tech people, probably because they make sure to have an understandable communication (E.g., if the API endpoint is down, they can explain it to the product owner not using technical terms).
Time: They can save a lot of time for the team, because they can understand the product better.
For now, we'll explore some ways to be a product-minded developer.
🧠 A little obvious, but: Understand the product
The first step to be a product-minded developer is to understand the product.
You should ask questions, and you should be curious about the product. Make sure you know what problem the product is solving, and how it's being used.
Try to answer questions like:
- What problem is the product solving?
- Who is the product for?
- How is the product being used?
- What are the main features?
Tip: take a deep look at the landing page product, usually we have a really good summarized version of the product there.
👥 Get to know the users
You should know who the users of the product are, and what they expect from the product.
Try to answer questions like:
- Who are the users?
- Normally, are they using the product on desktop, mobile, or both?
- What about the age? Are they already experienced or not?
For example, if the product you're working on is a CRM system, probably the device more used is desktop, so we don't need to care so much about the mobile experience.
❓ New features: a new opportunity to ask questions
When you're working on a new feature, you should ask questions about the feature.
Try to answer questions like:
- What problem is the feature solving?
- Why are we fixing this problem in that way and not in another?
- Who is the feature for?
💼 Consider business goals, not just tech ones
When you're working on a feature or a bug, you should consider the business goals.
Try to answer questions like:
- This piece of code is solving a problem, but is it solving the right problem?
- Is this feature helping the business to achieve the goal?
- Is this bug affecting the business?
- How are we adding value to the user?
We, as developers, are normally focused on the code and some topics like performance, architecture, and so on. But, sometimes, we have choices to make, and we should consider the business goals.
🤝 Your product manager is your best friend
Your product manager is your best friend. They can help you to understand the product better, and they can help you to understand the users better.
Your tech lead will review your code, but usually they are not the best person to ask about the product.
Before starting a new project, it would be nice if you schedule a meeting with the product manager to understand the product better and ask questions about the context/market/users/etc.
💡 Come up with suggestions
You should come up with suggestions about the product. Think about it: you're a developer in this project/product, but you're a user in another one.
Try to think as a user, and come up with suggestions about the product.
For example, I was working on a feature that the visual was a form and a preview in a grid template, if the user changes the form, the preview should be updated, something like that:
If the user tries to change a field below in the form, the preview is fixed at the top of the page, creating a bad user experience.
I've suggested to the team to make the preview sticky, so it will follow the user when they scroll down the form.
A simple improvement, but in a large-scale project, it can save a lot of time for the users and create a better vision for our product.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Product-minded developers go beyond coding—they understand the product, users, and business.
- Asking the right questions is crucial when developing features.
- Collaboration with product managers leads to better decision-making.
- Small UX improvements can have a big impact on the overall experience.
🎬 Conclusion
Being a product-minded developer is more than just writing great code, it's about understanding the bigger picture. When you deeply understand the product, its users, and the business goals, you become a more valuable team member, capable of making smarter decisions and delivering better experiences.
By asking the right questions, collaborating with product managers, and thinking beyond technical implementation, you can bridge the gap between development and product strategy. This mindset improves the quality of the product and makes your work more impactful and fulfilling.
At the end of the day, great products aren’t just built with great code, they're built with great perspective. So, be curious, stay engaged, and always think beyond the code! 🚀
How do you apply a product-minded approach in your work? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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