I had previously worked at a development agency, and many many many small companies. This taught me how to hit the ground running with at least a basic understanding of the product I was working on within several weeks or even days.
Here's how I do it.
- Get set up on the shared & local test environments ASAP.
- Learn how to create and use test data.
- Get set up the VPN & HTTP/S proxy.
- Learn the little bureaucratic processes and rules around getting access.
- Mosey around the code, the databases, the logs, and the user interface, etc.
- Read through the Requirements, wireframes, UI designs and flows, and key tickets for the project.
- Search Github for frequently used keywords to see how the functions & services connect together.
- Have short video call sessions with at least 1 member of each team - backend, frontend, mobile, and so on, to get to know them as a person & build rapport.
- Ask the people who've been on the team for the longest if they have any special tricks for navigating around the organisation you work for, and any productivity tips they might have.
- Do some ad-hoc testing. Try stuff out on the user interface or postman, and observe the UI & logs & the DB & the proxy to see what happens.
- Preference 'hanging out' in the office to 'doing work' in the office. You learn more about the team and product by talking to team members about how they do their work, and asking to see what they're working on, than sitting in a corner working on your ticket for the day.
- Buddy up with an established team member.
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