There's a question that had been with me for a long time: am I a mediocre developer?
The world of software development is populated by a motley fauna, and over time I have learned to recognize the people who cross my footsteps. And it is also thanks (or through their fault) that this state of mind has matured.
I decided to share what I discovered in order to put myself in a mirror, made with other people, in order to verify if someone else has lived the same vicissitudes as me, and maybe to be able to find an answer to this question thanks to them.
4. A small premise
* It's about my experience, my history
* They're almost all personal opinions
I expect you don't agree, that you feel bored, annoyed or
that you think I'm really a loser...
And that's okay! : )
Just a courtesy: don't keep it for you, let’s talk about it!
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
5. My mediocrity, real or presumed
The way I perceive other people,
especially the “good ones”
There are two issues that concerns me:
11. Some time ago, I used to think I was good at it
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
12. Then I changed job and realized that I wasn't...
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
13. Dunning-Kruger effect
When you're so incompetent, you don't even
know how incompetent you are.
Wikipedia — Dunning-Kruger effect
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
18. Real good ones
* 👍 Those to welcome with open arms: intelligent, prepared,
persevering, generous, brilliant
* 👎 Those to be wary of: individualistic, impatient, toxic
The good ones but only ‘cause…
* They works in the same company since decades
* They prevent anyone from approaching their "castle"
* They sacrifice themselves for the cause
* Maybe they don't have a private life…
26. They’re in the same place since years
* They know the domain
* They know all the secrets, caveats, details
* Jealous holders of tacit knowledge
* Outside their world, they are in trouble
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
29. The good ones by contract
* Analysts, solution architects, and other mythological
figures imposed by someone
Let's be clear: there are
people with those titles
who are really good at it,
but I just think these
imposed figures are
more often than not a
dysfunction within the
team.
35. The 4 knowledge categories
* Things I know that I know
* Things I know that I don't know
* Things I don't know that I know
* Things I don't know that I don't know
Bonuses
* things you think you know, but you don't...
36. * Dunning-Kruger effect
* Imposter syndrome
How good you really are
How good
you think
you are *
*
*
*
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
37. Think well about how to invest your resources
* You can't learn everything...
* Choose the things with the highest value
* Learn what you can't easily search on the
internet
* Learn the basics
* Keep it simple
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
38. Be a T
«I-shaped»
Expert at one thing
«Generalist»
Capable in a lot of things,
Expert at any
«T-shaped»
Capable in a lot of things,
Expert in one of them
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
42. Empty silos
* Work with them, learn, involve, empty them
or at worst knock them down
* Talk to the people who run the company (they’re a problem!)
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
43. Defeat the guardians
See «I terribili “guardiani della codebase” - Paolo D’Incau» https://vimeo.com/259162101
44. Save the heroes
* Heroes usually dies in battle...
* If you are always in emergency, nothing is an emergency
anymore
@jesuswasrasta #AVBZ
47. And those who work more
than they have to?
I have a secret for you…
Working long hours
is CHEATING
48. But if these people are not a
problem for the company...
* If these situations are not perceived and addressed
* If they're not a problem for the company's managers, on the
contrary, "it's a good thing that there’s <put your name here>
that always saves us!"
Get a new job!
55. They're a gift.
Enjoy them!
* Work with them, look for confrontation,
try to learn as much as possible
* Ask them all the questions you can
* Explain the things you know to them.
You'll understand what you really know.