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The Dual Nature of Seniority in Software Development

Jen Chan on July 12, 2024

Disclaimer: Like everything else coming from me, this thinkpiece is entirely my own opinion and doesn't reflect the views of my current or previous...
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david duymelinck

From a recent experience I took away that a team of developers is the best way to solve a problem. If you are a all in one problem solver you are a unicorn. Most people have their strengths and their weaknesses.

A senior developer for me is someone who acknowledges both parts of their capabilities. And leans on the strengths you provide.

I'm fortunate enough I'm do tasks that make me feel like a novice again. I fall into patterns I would never allow myself in a more comfortable environment. It is a fight you have to take on yourself to do the best in each environment, but most of the times you need a kick from someone else you respect to do better.

The main takeaway, in my opinion, is that people who are willing to do the job need to be encouraged to do the best they can. And if they are crumbling under the weight of the task they should be supported to become harder, better, faster, stronger.

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Jen Chan

Finding that novice take to something I've done before is definitely something I look for. For other things, beginners mindset...

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Steve Knoblock

I found that organizations do sometimes want to improve things and reduce technical debt but it’s not practical. I was on a team for four months that analyzed an old application and it was very difficult, and they changed code while we were documenting its functionality to meet immediate needs. It never was replaced.

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Jen Chan

Sounds like there were a lot of competing agendas or forces! Sometimes it's possible to change the wheels on the car while it's turning with incredible organizing and direction, other times it's total teethpulling.

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Roman K

Wow what a sad piece.. feels like wanting to be a rockstar and ending up like a bar musician or something, and then trying to justify it

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Drazen Dotlic

You could see it that way. For sure, those that do look for a rockstar position and expect that there's roughly equal number of those and "other" positions, are more likely to end up disillusioned and demoralized.

Or, you could realize that most positions, by nature, aren't of the "rockstar" variety and learn to recognize which is which, then act accordingly.

The article actually spells this out gloriously:

You're more likely to find innovation and technical growth in OSS, community initiatives, or personal projects you share with friends who have more experience.

IOW, work is... work, you get paid to do it, rarely to innovate and mostly to Get Shit Done (tm). Nobody is saying that it should be like that, it simply is.

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Martin Baun

I appreciate this take. Sometimes work is just work, as a founder I oddly relate to that sometimes.. and I feel many of us do too.

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Jen Chan

Everything is situational, I think I'm lucky tbh

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Drazen Dotlic

This was the best analysis of the state of affairs in our industry that I've ever seen. As a senior engineer myself, I nodded my head vigorously throughout. Kudos!

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Jen Chan

It means so much to hear this from someone who's been around longer! I feel I've stepped into a weird middle age man shaking fist at cloud but I'm stuck in a teen body or something.

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Shlomi Fish

Hi! Please make your user-pic-icon non-animated given animations gobble up CPU and capture one's attentiom.

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Troy

Ever seen office space ?

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drey

so much richness here!!! has me thinking lots about the journey and my why a lot. thanks for sharing these thoughts :))