The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#1

Post by r4um » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 11:39 AM UTC

The Number One Trait of a Great Developer
tammersaleh.com

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#2

Post by w_t_payne » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 11:59 AM UTC

Yes, yes, yes, and thrice more yes.

We embrace complexity at our peril. Dullness is a virtue.

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#3

Post by waterlion » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:10 PM UTC

I never quite worked out what "rockstar" meant, but surely choosing new tech for the sake of it isn't it.

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#4

Post by arethuza » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:13 PM UTC

w_t_payne wrote: post #2

Yes, yes, yes, and thrice more yes. We embrace complexity at our peril. Dullness is a virtue.

"Dullness is a virtue"

It's not as simple as that though - it all depends on the context of the project. Sometimes it is perfectly OK to go crazy and use bleeding edge technology other times that would be daft - it all depends what you are trying to achieve mixed in, as the article says, with a heavy dose of judgement.

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#5

Post by leokun » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:17 PM UTC

Yes. Because good judgement requires understanding complex situations, and that requires skill. And judgement is improved by experience.

For example you see a bad thing in the code? If you can understand the problem and the risks and benefits, you can make a good decision. If you can possibly make it better, understanding the time available to you, and the risk to the product, you should make it better. Not put it off and let the bad thing become more entrenched technical debt.

Making that kind of decision, requires good judgement. It requires understanding your own skill, time management, risk, and more.

Being able to exercise good judgement comes with extreme rewards for any project, as there will be less costly mistakes, and more successes and better code.

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#6

Post by akent » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:21 PM UTC

Maybe it's just because the post is out of date now (2011) but I'm not sure why "new technology", "rockstar" and "produces unmaintainable code" are all conflated together.

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#7

Post by blisterpeanuts » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:23 PM UTC

A star, in my book, is someone who gets the job done quickly, methodically, and maintainably.

This is an old story, but I guess it has to be retold every few years, to inform newer developers and to remind older developers (and management).

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#8

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:26 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#9

Post by solve » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:26 PM UTC

Not too sure about the specific content, but that blog theme is beautiful. I wish there was a collection of more text-based web designs.

Re: The Number One Trait of a Great Developer

#10

Post by chris_wot » Tue, Sep 03, 2013, 12:28 PM UTC

akent wrote: post #6

Maybe it's just because the post is out of date now (2011) but I'm not sure why "new technology", "rockstar" and "produces unmaintainable code" are all conflated together.

Because rockstar programmers tend to use the latest technology in bizarre ways which makes for unmaintainable code?