The Developer Journey: Key Lessons for Career Growth and Consistency
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The Developer Journey: Key Lessons for Career Growth and Consistency

Software developers face unique challenges throughout their careers. The Developer Journey podcast tackles these issues head-on. Hosts Michael Meloche and Rob Broadhead guide listeners through typical career milestones. Their show, “Building Better Developers,” just wrapped up its twenty-second season covering the Developer Journey. In the finale, they distill vital insights from their discussions throughout the season. These takeaways offer valuable guidance for developers at all levels. Let’s explore the lessons that can shape a thriving development career. The Importance of Consistency and Momentum in Your Developer Journey One of the most consistent themes throughout this season has been the need for regular, incremental progress. Rob emphasizes the importance of building habits that support your long-term goals, likening this to the... Read more

Ending Your Developer Journey: How to Leave a Lasting Legacy
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Ending Your Developer Journey: How to Leave a Lasting Legacy

In this episode of Building Better Developers, the host dives into a crucial topic—ending your developer journey. Whether you’re nearing the end of your career, transitioning to a new job, or closing down a side project, knowing how to wrap up your work properly is essential. The episode offers insights into how to leave things in good order, ensuring continuity for whoever comes after you. The developer journey: Preparing for the end Ending your developer journey can take many forms. Some developers may be nearing retirement, while others are simply transitioning from one role to another. For some, it might be moving on from a side hustle or shutting down a business. Regardless of the specific situation, the key message... Read more

Accounting Tips for Side Hustles: How to Manage Invoicing and Billing Like a Pro
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Accounting Tips for Side Hustles: How to Manage Invoicing and Billing Like a Pro

In this episode of the Building Better Developers podcast, the hosts discuss an essential aspect of running a side hustle or small business: accounting. For developers and entrepreneurs, maintaining proper financial practices is critical to ensuring long-term success, and this episode offers practical advice on managing your business’s finances, from setting up accounts to handling invoicing and billing. Accounting Basics: Separate Accounts and Software The first crucial point the hosts emphasize is the importance of separating personal and business finances. When starting a side hustle, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is mixing personal expenses with business transactions. The podcast stresses that every business needs a dedicated business checking account, no matter how small. This not only helps... Read more

Advocating vs Arguing: How to Drive Collaboration and Success in Software Development
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Advocating vs Arguing: How to Drive Collaboration and Success in Software Development

In the world of software development, disagreements are inevitable. Whether it’s about the tools to use, the architecture to build, or the best approach to solving a problem, developers often find themselves at odds with one another. The key to overcoming these conflicts lies in understanding the difference between advocating for the right solution and falling into the trap of arguing. This podcast episode explores the subtle but critical distinction between advocating vs arguing and how mastering this difference can help developers foster a collaborative, productive environment. Advocating vs Arguing: What’s the Difference? At the heart of the advocating vs arguing debate is intent. Advocacy is about championing a solution that will lead to the best outcome for the project... Read more

Estimation Essentials: How to Nail Pricing for Development Projects
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Estimation Essentials: How to Nail Pricing for Development Projects

This Building Better Developers podcast episode focuses on a crucial and often tricky aspect of the developer journey—pricing and estimation. As developers progress in their careers, they eventually move beyond short-term tasks and need to estimate project-level work. This includes their own time and the time of other team members, system requirements, and environmental needs. Understanding how to accurately price and estimate a project is vital to ensuring both the success of the project and a healthy client relationship. Why Requirements Matter in Estimation One of the first points highlighted in this episode is the critical role of requirements in pricing and estimation. In any development project, gathering as many requirements as possible before starting is essential. While agile methodologies encourage flexibility,... Read more

Coding Standards: Understanding Their Importance in Software Development
Posted on Developer Journey

Coding Standards: Understanding Their Importance in Software Development

In the fast-paced world of software development, coding standards play a crucial role in ensuring that projects run smoothly and effectively. These guidelines help developers maintain code consistency and quality, leading to better collaboration and more efficient workflows. Our recent podcast episode discussed the significance of using coding standards on our developer journey. What Are Coding Standards? Coding standards are best practices and guidelines that dictate how code should be written and organized. They cover various aspects, including naming conventions, file organization, indentation styles, comment formats, and the proper use of frameworks. By establishing these standards, teams can ensure that their code is readable and maintainable over time. The Necessity of Coding Standards The absence of coding standards can significantly... Read more