You wanna know what makes for a great Software Engineer?
You might have your own list. I came up with mine after working with great people for over 20 years.
Here are my top 10.
A thread 🧵 ⬇️
You might have your own list. I came up with mine after working with great people for over 20 years.
Here are my top 10.
A thread 🧵 ⬇️
1⃣ Great Software Engineers are humble and self-motivated to learn.
They understand the importance of growing their skills. They are willing to leverage existing solutions, listen to others, and keep challenging the status quo to make things better every single day.
They understand the importance of growing their skills. They are willing to leverage existing solutions, listen to others, and keep challenging the status quo to make things better every single day.
2⃣ Great Software Engineers know when to write code and when to avoid it.
The best code is the one that was never written, and great Software Engineers understand the trade-offs involved in writing code. They think before writing, never the other way around.
The best code is the one that was never written, and great Software Engineers understand the trade-offs involved in writing code. They think before writing, never the other way around.
3⃣ Great Software Engineers never stop sharing.
They constantly look for ways to make the team around them look better by finding areas where others struggle and supporting them. They teach and lift others. They understand this is the way they can multiply their value.
They constantly look for ways to make the team around them look better by finding areas where others struggle and supporting them. They teach and lift others. They understand this is the way they can multiply their value.
4⃣ Great Software Engineers have an insatiable curiosity about what they don’t know.
They never settle before reaching to the bottom of things. They question assumptions and they never stop or get complacent.
They never settle before reaching to the bottom of things. They question assumptions and they never stop or get complacent.
5⃣ Great Software Engineers run towards problems, not away from them.
They aren’t afraid of failure. They look forward to solving difficult challenges as soon as they arise. They never back away from problems, and instead, find ways to put themselves right at the front line.
They aren’t afraid of failure. They look forward to solving difficult challenges as soon as they arise. They never back away from problems, and instead, find ways to put themselves right at the front line.
6⃣ Great Software Engineers have a strong commitment to meet deadlines.
They make sure deadlines are both achievable and understood by them and their teams. They help those around them get across the finish line if necessary.
They make sure deadlines are both achievable and understood by them and their teams. They help those around them get across the finish line if necessary.
7⃣ Great Software Engineers take a lot of pride in the quality of their work and aren’t willing to compromise it under any circumstance.
They know how to manage competing priorities to deliver the best possible solution within the available constraints.
They know how to manage competing priorities to deliver the best possible solution within the available constraints.
8⃣ Great Software Engineers have a "get stuff done" mentality.
They are eager to build things, and they don’t stop until they finish them. They understand the importance of results over the process to achieve them.
They are eager to build things, and they don’t stop until they finish them. They understand the importance of results over the process to achieve them.
9⃣ Great Software Engineers are passionate about software and use it as a vehicle to change people's lives.
Developing software is more than a job for them. They care deeply about it and the change in the world they can make.
Developing software is more than a job for them. They care deeply about it and the change in the world they can make.
🔟 Great Software Engineers criticize ideas on merit alone and never the people who hold them.
They believe that ideas should stand or fall on their own merits and never engage in personal attacks. And before deciding their side, they listen.
They believe that ideas should stand or fall on their own merits and never engage in personal attacks. And before deciding their side, they listen.
I'm missing a ton, but I had to pick the one that I value the most.
What would you add to this list?
What would you add to this list?
