What are the qualities and things needed to be a great Software Developer?

We all are software developers. Me, you, people going to pubs after work. All of us do software development, but not all of us are great.

So in this article, I will show you what you can do or learn in order to be a better software developer, if not the best.

Have Persistence and Patience

One thing every developer needs is persistence and patience. I admit software development is not easy. There can be issues or bugs that can be tough to solve. Or some new feature, that you find hard to implement.

At the end of the day, you may find yourself sitting and drinking water to cool down, as your blood pressure and stress are rocketing to the skies. You may feel irritated. And that is because you find it hard to implement that new feature or a new bug.

But the thing is, how can it be solved if you lost your patience, or if you are not persistent? You need to have the Guts to Never Give Up. Find everything you have, all the resources. And then try to compile all of them to find the solution.

So, you need to be persistent and patient in order to find a solution to that bug or a way to implement that feature.

Learning things

Learning in software development is the most fundamental thing anyone can do. And nowadays, things are improving and upgrading. So you must keep upgrading yourself too in order to stay ahead.

Keep reading books or blogs, keep watching videos, and keep making projects.

Teach the things to others that you have learned.

Understanding the System that you are building

So, let’s say you are about to build a web portal using React. The application needs to have so many modules, services, assets, and components.

And you want the ensure the code is as simple as possible. You have to manage the codebase in such a way that it’s easy to read for a newcomer.

So what will you do in such a case? How will you build up that portal?

And you cannot do that unless you understand what you are building. And by understanding, I mean how each component will work, how to services will be handled, how modules will be managed so that there is no lag in the system, or how the assets will be loaded. You need to have a clear understanding of the system to build the architecture using the best practices possible.

Be a Team Player

No one can build a bridge alone. It will take so much of your time and energy. And the result might not be even good.

The same comes with the software, or to be specific, big software. Software with many different roles, such as Front-End, Back-End, Quality, Management, DevOps, UI/UX, and all. And there are multiple of each of these in one single big project.

Let’s say you are on Front-end. You cannot make everything alone. You need teammates. Teammates that you can work with in conjunction and in harmony. They are learning from you, and you are learning from them.

So, being a team player is also important. To understand the team and work with them, not alone.

Make Videos or Write Blogs

One of the things I love to do is write blogs and compile a video on some topics. I just love it. It not only makes me feel happier but also content. And there is learning involved, so that’s a plus. You read about something, you wrote a blog on the same or even made a small video. This will solidify your expertise in tech and raise your learning growth to the skies.

Read code written by other people

Yes, that’s correct. If you see how other people write code, you will see it from their perspective, from the eyes of another developer. How they think, why they think like that. Why did they use that function there or that variable there?

There are so many good open source repositories present on Github that you can read and learn to see from a different angle. So, reading code is also important.

Get out of your Comfort Zone

Nothing ever came from a tree that stays in shade. Well, that’s bad for the tree, but you are not one.

If you are in the shade, move. Move away from there. Find someplace that is somewhat harsh. Find some work or a project that makes you get out of your comfort zone.

If it is easy, finish it. But if it is tough, finish it with a smile. Take higher responsibilities, don’t just be satisfied with what you have. Ask for more, and it will be an amazing catalyst for your software development growth.

But that doesn’t mean that keep working all the time. Take breaks. Go on a vacation. Take a chill pill. You are a person, not a machine.

But when you work, just work out of that shade.

Be a good communicator

This one is pretty important. One should have good communication skills in order to be a good developer.

You need to know how to ask a question from your manager or answer a question to your subordinates, or the people working under you. Write clearly, and speak your motives clearly. And also understand what they are saying.

Let’s say some junior asked some questions. If you don’t have proper communication skills, you won’t be able to answer them properly.

And it will also help you in other areas of life, like making a girlfriend, or asking her dad.

Have a Growth Mindset

If you don’t want to grow fundamentally, no one can help you.

It’s not some syrup that you can drink to get these skills overnight. You need to have a desire for growth. You need to have that drive to be better. You need to have that fire inside to do better than yesterday.

Also, compete with others, not compare. Ask for feedback, and give honest ones when asked. Implement them.

If you fly in the sky at 10000 meters height, there will be always a person far higher than you, who works harder and smarter. Don’t think you are all there is because that’s not true. Don’t be egotistic, be a person who understands and wants to grow.

And keep growing.

Ask for Help

Development is not an easy thing. We all are stuck somewhere, even mid-level developers, or even the senior ones. And nobody is perfect, nobody knows it all.

Let’s say you are solving a problem, and you can’t figure out something properly. In such cases, there is no shame in asking for help from someone. I am speaking from experience. The same will follow when you are learning something.

Keep asking, and keep learning. This world is your library.