Three Secrets to Becoming a Successful Software Developer

Fine-tune your attention to detail, daily notes, and communication abilities to become a sharper, more effective professional.

What distinguishes a mediocre software developer from a successful software developer?

Ordinarily, a software engineer will just work on the task at hand, and you shouldn’t expect him to provide high-quality deliverables. A successful software developer, on the other hand, would not only execute the task at hand but would also make certain that:

• There are no bugs in the code.
• There is sufficient unit test coverage to verify various scenarios.
• There is a significant quantity of branch and line coverage.
• The code adheres to coding standards and best practices.
• It’s simple to read and manage.
• From the standpoint of integration, it’s been confirmed.

Successful software developers are also constantly prepared to:

• Assist your teammates.
• Take on additional responsibility.
• Take up new tasks.

Certainly, a software developer’s mindset and aptitude are what distinguishes them as effective software engineers. Such people are a valuable asset to project teams. Now, let’s look at the three secret approaches that a good software developer should employ.

These tricks and techniques are based on my learning, knowledge, and experience.

TRICK #1: Cultivate a Detail-Oriented Approach

Taking on jobs with a keen eye for detail not only aids your understanding but also aids your development. When you’re given a task in your project, be sure you understand it completely and know exactly what you’re supposed to do.

If something isn’t apparent, it’s best to ask questions upfront to ensure that you understand the assignment completely. In addition, by asking pertinent questions concerning the specified assignment, you might increase your tech lead’s trust in you.

Finally, don’t limit yourself to the task you’ve been given. Take it a step further and try to figure out how the project fits into the bigger picture and what value you can bring to the table.

If you’re learning any new thing, dive into the details until the concepts are absolutely clear to you and you can easily explain them to others.

TRICK #2: Develop a Habit to Write Daily Progress Notes

Write out a list of bullet point notes outlining the tasks you completed each day if you’re working on any specified activity. Make your daily to-do lists as specific as you can.

Did you, for example, try three different techniques to discover the best answer to one of the challenges in your allocated task? Did you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option? If that strategy assisted you in finding the ideal solution, make a note of it.

You’ll forget the essential knowledge you learned while figuring out the ideal technique if you don’t make it a habit to write your daily progress notes. You can forget how and what you assessed in a few days. As a result, it’s critical to develop the practice of taking daily progress notes to record these crucial details.

Spending a few minutes each day on this writing will be one of your most valuable investments, and you’ll gain a wealth of information over time.

This trick will help you put your thoughts into words and will drastically improve your writing skills.

TRICK #3: Learn the Art of Effective Communication

If you use Trick #2 and keep track of your development daily, you’ll have a good notion of:

• How much work have you done thus far?
• What you’re working on now and where you’re stuck
• What are the next steps to take?

This is exactly what software developers are expected to provide in daily scrum calls as status updates. Your scrum master is always on the lookout for succinct and unambiguous status reports. You’ve learned the art of efficient communication over time with your daily notes.

This trick is an art that will help you climb the ladder of success in your software developer career.

Final Thoughts

No one will be able to stop you from becoming a successful software engineer if you use these three approaches in your daily professional life.

As a software developer, do you use any of these methods? If not, would you practice them in the future? Please email me at info@bestarion.com with your views and suggestions on it. It would be much appreciated!