If you're anything like me, you dreaded group projects in college. The awkward communication, stepping on each other's toes, and dealing with skill gaps – it felt like a mess. This is where my bad habit began.
I'd rush through my portion of projects, completely missing the learning opportunity. I was the 'solo developer' – building websites and solving LeetCode problems in isolation. I convinced myself I was too skilled to 'waste time' collaborating with others.
Then I met someone who shattered my ego.
This developer was leagues ahead: Git mastery, production-ready projects, advanced design patterns – they had it all. I lucked into a group project with them, and it was a wake-up call. The gap between us wasn't just skill – it was perspective.
Working alongside them transformed my development:
- My PRs needed fewer revisions
- My architectural decisions became more thoughtful
- My code grew more maintainable
- My Git workflow became cleaner
- My understanding of real-world development deepened
Had I clung to my ego and kept coding alone, I'd still be writing mediocre code and using my LeetCode success as a coping mechanism.
The truth? Being the antisocial developer is a huge blunder to your potential.
Even if your technical skills surpass your teammates', there's always something to learn:
- Different approaches to problem-solving
- New tools and workflows
- Better ways to structure code
- Improved communication skills
- Real-world project management
Today, I'm building Crux to help developers avoid my mistakes. It's a platform where developers at all levels can find teammates and build together because the best growth happens through collaboration, not isolation.
Ready to break out of the solo developer mindset?
Here's my challenge to you: Post a project on Crux this week. Find a teammate or two who'll push your skills further, just like I did.
Break the solo habit: https://cruxapp.xyz/
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