The path to becoming a senior developer is not easy. Many emphasize the importance of soft skills to achieve this goal. However, the true difference lies in the experience gained in the field of software development. Today, we will explore how senior developers differ from junior developers and share the crucial lessons they have learned.
1. The Importance of Clarity
One of the most important things a developer can do is write code that is easy to read. This may seem obvious, but in reality, there is a lot of code that is difficult to read. Senior developers write code with the understanding that it will be read later, which is also crucial for easier debugging.
Aim to write code that requires no comments. If your code needs comments, it’s not clear enough. It’s better to rewrite the code to enhance clarity.
2. Avoiding Complexity
Avoiding complexity is crucial to creating good code. The key is to write simple and intuitive code. If every entity in your codebase is written to perform a single function, you only need to fix one thing when a change is needed.
Ensure that classes, methods, and functions do not do more than one thing. For instance, a method that retrieves user information should only perform that task, leaving data validation to another method.
3. Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
The Navy SEALs motto, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast,” also applies to senior developers. Rushing leads to mistakes, and the more you rush, the more likely you are to make errors. Senior developers know that taking the time to do things right the first time is ultimately faster.
When developing a new feature, don’t rush. Work slowly and carefully. It may take more time initially, but it will prevent potential problems down the road.
4. Enduring Short-term Pain for Long-term Gain
Every developer has experienced rushing to hack together a new feature over the weekend. However, this short-term pain is an investment for long-term gain. Senior developers know how to avoid these situations and minimize damage when problems arise.
Even in urgent projects, don’t compromise on quality. Working the right way helps prevent bigger issues later.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a senior developer involves not only soft skills but also lessons learned from experience. Maintaining clear and simple code, working slowly, and keeping a long-term perspective are key to becoming a senior developer. With these lessons, you too can become a better developer.