Software development encompasses far more than mere syntax mastery. The real challenges lie in communication and strategic planning. Let me share a story that illustrates this point vividly.
We recently encountered a requirement that lacked a straightforward solution. Rather than immediately pushing back, we embarked on a journey to meet it head-on.
The requirement was seemingly simple: retrieve a child item of a parent where no direct 1-to-1 relationship existed. Initially, our solution involved returning the latest created child item. However, the first round of QA exposed that the logic wasn't that simple. We delved deeper, crafting more intricate solutions, only to face scrutiny during the subsequent QA round.
The new QA reviewer rightly questioned the convoluted logic, foreseeing its potential pitfalls and the inevitable maintenance challenges it posed. After consultation with the product team, we collectively agreed that the necessity of returning this child item was questionable.
If we had understood this earlier, we could have saved a lot of time. At this stage the logic was already used in several places, so it will take a few days to rip it out.
Reflecting on this experience, I realise several key lessons. Firstly, I must dedicate more time to understanding data sources thoroughly. Even seemingly straightforward scenarios can conceal hidden complexities, especially in cases lacking direct relationships.
Secondly, early engagement with the product team is crucial when complexities arise. Transparency about potential challenges facilitates collaborative exploration of alternative solutions. While our initial logic might have sufficed for most cases, it wasn't a sustainable solution.
Despite holding the title of senior engineer, this experience felt like an initiation rite, revealing the true breadth of responsibilities inherent in my role. Moving forward, I commit to thorough scenario analysis, even if it delays project initiation. By preemptively addressing potential issues, we can develop simpler yet robust solutions that deliver tangible value without succumbing to over-engineering.
Top comments (1)
Beautifully concluded, @programmingdecoded. I realise that teasing out a simple solution requires a few rounds of design, and doing it at the code level can be quick, but true, a few iterations of design up front and analysis can solve that problem without the need for code. We'll put.