The Daily Developer

The Daily Developer Substack explores various aspects of software development, emphasizing the importance of tool familiarity, communication, code maintainability, teamwork, and the impact of development methodologies. It shares insights on effectively handling projects, learning from mistakes, and the significance of different coding approaches.

Software Development Tools Team Communication Code Maintainability Project Management Professional Development Coding Practices Workplace Culture

The hottest Substack posts of The Daily Developer

And their main takeaways

People use the tools they know

39 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
💼 Business Productivity Efficiency Delegation
  1. When faced with a challenge, people generally resort to using the tools they are familiar with.
  2. Sometimes, trying different tools or approaches, like hiring someone else, can be more efficient and cost-effective.
  3. Being aware of the tools you know and how they impact your work is important for productivity and success.

Why are non-DRY specs more maintainable?

2 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Code Quality
  1. Non-DRY specs prioritize duplication over the wrong abstraction, promoting simple code with locality over complexity.
  2. Locality in code refers to its ability to be easily understood without relying on larger context, making it more maintainable.
  3. Compression in code, which requires understanding context, is seen as the wrong abstraction, leading to complexity and less maintainable code.

"My favorite colleague"

19 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Professionalism Communication Teamwork Leadership Self-Improvement
  1. Describing someone as your favorite colleague is a significant compliment as it reflects trustworthiness, professionalism, and skill.
  2. Proactively updating colleagues on your progress can elevate how they perceive you, improve your preparedness, and set a good example for the team.
  3. Taking the initiative to communicate with your team members will not only earn you more respect but also enhance collaboration and productivity.

Watch those external services

19 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Software API Data security
  1. Always double check external services, especially when dealing with production data.
  2. Don't assume a sandbox environment is foolproof - mistakes can still happen.
  3. Proactive communication and owning up to mistakes early on is appreciated in the workplace.

Naivety

0 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Programming Innovation Tech industry
  1. Naivety can sometimes lead to innovative solutions because you're not aware of the challenges and limitations.
  2. Taking on complex projects without realizing their difficulty can be beneficial as it allows you to figure things out without being discouraged.
  3. The story of Jobs and Woz building the Apple 1 exemplifies how a bit of naivety can lead to groundbreaking ideas and creations.
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Be like Wilson

0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Work ethic Positivity Professionalism
  1. Be cheerful and patient when someone interrupts you with an issue; it's an opportunity to improve your work.
  2. Listen actively to others' problems and show empathy by smiling and taking notes.
  3. Maintain a positive attitude and willingness to help others even when faced with interruptions.

Working hard

0 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
💼 Business Career development Productivity Software Development
  1. To have a significant impact, you must be prepared to work hard.
  2. In the world of software development, hard work and sacrifice are necessary for success.
  3. Embracing humility, seeking feedback, and fostering a growth mindset can help navigate challenges in the tech industry.

Balanced Tension

0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Perspective Debate Balance
  1. Tension is necessary for creating something remarkable. When differences in opinions, perspectives, and passions collide, a diverse pool of ideas is generated.
  2. Balancing opposing forces, akin to erecting a circus tent, is crucial. If tension is not evenly distributed, the result may not be successful.
  3. Debates and disagreements at work can be beneficial when approached with the intention of finding a balance in tensions.

Use more version control

0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Development
  1. Using version control system like Git can help improve code quality and productivity.
  2. Making small and frequent commits can reduce cognitive load and increase code clarity.
  3. Observing and adapting the behavior of experienced developers can lead to beneficial outcomes in coding practices.

The Long Term

0 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Programming Community Career Development Tools
  1. Programming languages shape our thinking and community influences our choices.
  2. Challenge yourself to make better technical decisions by questioning trends and considering long-term tradeoffs.
  3. Embrace the evolving nature of programming languages and frameworks, be open to learning new ones to stay relevant.