New engineers are often bombarded with information and advice, from pursuing expensive courses to taking up small projects or freelance work. However, the key to success in this field lies in a simple principle:
gaining firsthand experience by building great products for customers at scale.
This is valid for several reasons:
Accelerated learning: Building great products from the start allows developers to learn and adapt quickly, accelerating their growth and understanding of software development.
Real-world challenges: Working on significant projects exposes developers to real-world problems, complexities, and scenarios that they may not encounter in courses or smaller projects.
Collaboration: Building great products often involves teamwork, which helps developers learn to collaborate, communicate effectively, and contribute to a shared goal.
Customer focus: Developers who prioritize creating valuable products will naturally develop a strong customer focus, learning to consider users’ needs and desires when making decisions.
Scalability: Working on large-scale projects teaches developers how to build scalable solutions that can handle increasing user demands and adapt to changing requirements.
Comprehensive skill development: Building great products requires developers to acquire and apply a wide range of skills, including coding, testing, problem-solving, and project management. There are simplified version of getting all of this – Game about software development
Efficient time management: Focusing on creating valuable products helps developers avoid distractions and learn to allocate their time and resources effectively.
Portfolio building: By working on high-quality, large-scale projects, developers can create a strong portfolio showcasing their skills and accomplishments, which can help them secure future opportunities.
Industry credibility: Developers who consistently deliver valuable products will gain credibility and respect within the industry, leading to networking and collaboration opportunities with other professionals.
Adaptability: The experience gained from building great products helps developers adapt to new technologies, methodologies, and industry trends, making them more resilient and adaptable in a constantly changing field.
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