SQL can be intimidating, but using Object Relational Mappers (ORM) allows you to work with objects in memory instead of worrying about SQL intricacies.
Abstraction in software, like using ORM, lets you hide the complexity of data management and focus more on coding comfortably.
There are many ORM options available for various programming languages, each with cool names, making it easier to work with databases without diving deep into SQL.
You work on more than just the technical code — the system includes users, support, competitors, and the market, and missing that context can make your work irrelevant, wrongly specified, or badly prioritized.
AI is lowering the cost of development, so developers are shifting from hand-coding everything to managing tools and judging agent outputs, which requires higher-level skills beyond writing code.
Spend time learning the greater system and move up the stack; understanding users, support, and market forces helps you build the right thing and make better tradeoffs.
Show respect for the accomplishments of the people who built the system you work on.
Appreciate that the system you work on exists and has provided you with a job, despite other systems from the same era no longer being functional.
Recognize that every job or contract related to maintaining or replacing a system signifies finding a quality solution to a real problem and building a business around it.
Deadlines can make developers feel rushed and stressed. It's common to make quick fixes that won't last, leading to more work later.
Developers often don't see the bigger picture of a project. They might not understand why a 'bad' version of a product is needed to learn what works best.
Not every project needs to be perfect from the start. Sometimes you need a rough version to figure things out before building something better.