Justin Francis Self-Portrait

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Overlooked Developer Qualities

There is a lot more to a developer than ability to write code, or even to design software. I want to emphasize some non-technical qualities that do not normally get the recognition they deserve, but that I have noticed increase the value of a developer. They are, in no particular order:

  • Code Memory
  • Debugging Skills
  • Attention to Detail and Thoroughness

At my job, we have a very open, spontaneous environment, and developers will routinely raise their voice and ask a general question like "did anybody change this recently" or "what was that issue we had last week"? What amazes me is that not many developers remember how they designed something or how they solved a problem last week, let alone six months ago. It is a critical asset, therefore, to have a developer on the team with fantastic "code memory".

A developer with good code memory knows everything about how the system works, the current feature set, and current problems. In addition, they can remember how all those things have evolved over a period of months. This saves time when debugging recurring problems, answering questions from users and answering questions from developers. Every team should have this librarian-like keeper of knowledge, though ideally, this would be redundant across the entire team.

Another great quality to have as a developer is good debugging skills. To be able to quickly identify, isolate and fix problems is supremely valuable both during development of new features and during maintenance of a running system. There is nothing worse than having development slow to a crawl because you are plunging down a rabbit hole that may not be related to the problem at hand. On a running system, this skill is especially valuable as it means less downtime. Problem solving skills and code memory combine to vastly enhance this skill.

Finally, attention to detail and thoroughness make a big difference in the quality of a developer. Thia quality fundamentally allows a developer to be self-sufficient. Often, this skill is the difference between an intermediate developer and a senior developer. Without being able to think the entire feature through in all its detail and being sure that those details are covered by the solution, a developer cannot run projects, or even develop new features without support from someone who does have this quality.

These non-technical skills are based largely on fundamental learning abilities that ought to be taught to everyone starting in elementary school. These skills are not as easily quantifiable as languages known or coding ability, but deserve to be recognized for their indispensable value on a dev team.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later

Robert said...

I also benefit from learning the assessments, but learn that alot of people ought to stay on essay to try and add worth in the direction of the authentic weblog release. convert psd to wordpress

John said...

abercrombie and fitch
oakley sunglasses
ed hardy clothing
beats by dre
ray ban outlet
louis vuitton outlet stores
instyler curling iron
louis vuitton outlet
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors outlet
uggs on sale
abercrombie and fitch
michael kors outlet
abercrombie
canada goose
nike air max
nike roshe run
michael kors bag
cheap oakley sunglasses
supra shoes
louis vuitton bags
replica watches
uggs for men
jordan retro
canada goose outlet
ugg boots
coach factory outlet
ugg boots for men
hollister jeans
michael kors handbags
canada goose jackets
hollister uk
canada goose outlet
air max 90
lebron 12
canada goose jackets
louis vuitton handbags
marc jacobs
ray-ban sunglasses
toms shoes
20151219yuanyuan

nillo said...

Thankyou for this wondrous post, I am glad I observed this website on yahoo.

Unknown said...

timberland outlet
toms shoes
ugg outlet
mont blanc pens
timberland boots
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet store online
moncler uk
oakley sunglasses
michael kors handbags
20172.7wengdongdong

Jenson said...

This developer (I'm guessing a graphic designer of some sort) DESPERATELY needs to team up with someone who can code. This is what you want Set up study reminders, countdown to your upcoming exam, and test your understanding of athletic performance enhancement like never before.

eat after read said...

Fixed a crash bug which could occur if a movie being used in one of the scenes was deleted. download warez Share your lists with fellow tailgaters by emailing the list or Bluetooth transfer to their devices.

Unknown said...

If you like our app please give us a positive review in the App Store. downlodable games - New image skew tool to correct image perspective for scanning.

Unknown said...

Now create the perfect high heels in your dream with Coco High Heels. download games From EK Studio: Paid version is available for more functions.

Unknown said...

"In these cards, Id like to show you how to recover the silent voice of your integrity and find inner peace. downlodable pdf With one level submenus you can group different files/folders under one main menu item.

Unknown said...

A whole month worth of activities is right in front of you. epson tm t88v linux driver PAY FOR ITEMS: You want to buy a food, how much coins should you pay.

millenium said...

If you don't see the aircraft you want, then simply reach out to us through the Request function within our store and tell us what you want to see. Click here! Files in favorites sorted by filename- bug fixesContent rating: Everyone.

Unknown said...

We would love to hear your feedback, and make sure this app fits your spelling game needs in your classroom. topdownloadfreetorrent.net The Version column was removed as it wasn't very useful.

AMELIA77 said...

From WebLantis: Squeeze pages are a proven way to build a list of hungry leads, but there is a better way. keygensonline.me What we love about A Space Shooter are the tons of weapons upgrades.

Unknown said...

Each one has different game items and thus a different strategy for feeding the monkeys and bears. awesomedownloadfilesarchive.us Pay Bills using Bill Pay Pay your bills from anywhere and search for recent and schedule payments.

Unknown said...

PLAY OVER 300 level variants as you advance through the game. Web page. We will be updating the app from suggestions and reviews from users.

Unknown said...

Glicko Rating system is used to rate Players online. dpdownloadreview.top Turn teamwork into team-play with brainstorming sessions on notes or PDF documents.

millenium said...

4) FAVORITES: Mark any photo as a FAVORITE and return to it whenever you want. downloadshareware.top I wish I had some easy way to make draw a layout and stick it up inmy tweets or my blogs.

AMELIA77 said...

2) Select picture you want to upload to flickr on iPad. downloadsharewares.top Exclusive Interiors Marketplace with comprehensive retail listings.

Unknown said...

cheap ray ban sunglasses
supreme uk
cheap jordan shoes
michael kors
canada goose jackets
ugg outlet online
ralph lauren outlet online
michael kors
kate spade outlet online
michael kors outlet online
mt1225

Rusram radjapov said...

See only your Close Friends photos floating in the 3D carousel and discover their latest posts. download videos Settings Change some of the settings within the app, like push notifications and customize it to your liking.

Unknown said...

qzz0428
fitflops
coach factory outlet
true religion jeans
ralph lauren uk
nike factory store
oakley sunglasses
nike outlet
mbt shoes outlet
mulberry handbags
air max 90

Unknown said...

The most enduring symbol of the Norse - titanium arts
› tj-metal-arts › 1xbet korean tj-metal-arts The most enduring symbol mens titanium wedding bands of the Norse - titanium jancasino.com arts · The most enduring symbol of the Norse - titanium arts · The most enduring symbol herzamanindir.com/ of the Norse - titanium arts.