Training Toolkit

Six ways to build a better developer

Matthew Osborn Builder.com

Published: 07 Aug 2002 12:06 BST

No one is born a great developer. Most successful programmers got that way by listening and learning from other developers.

If you're interested in helping budding programmers do well, I recommend these critical success factors -- courtesy of Builder.com columnist Jonathan Lurie and yours truly -- for developing programming excellence.

Never stop learning.
To constantly keep your skills fresh, join a users group or "indulge" in self-study. Do whatever it takes to keep your skills -- and your attitude -- from going stale.

Reuse, reuse, reuse.
Code reuse is a core tenet of object-oriented programming. For more on how to reuse code, read "The reuse environment is more about culture than technology" by Builder.com contributor Tom Mochal.

Understand the business side.
You don't have to get an MBA, but a solid grasp of basic concepts like ROI and the fundamentals of accounting can help you communicate with the business drivers on the other side of the fence.

Get a mentor, or be one.
Look for a mentor or senior programmer who can help you refine your technique and make your coding more mature. If you already have a truckload of experience, offer to act as a mentor for a less-experienced developer.

Don't be afraid to critique your code.
No matter how good you think you are, never cut corners when it comes to assuring the quality of your code.

Be nice to nontechies.
Try to avoid dropping jargon and talking over the heads of your less-technical business colleagues.

With these simple tips, and perseverance, you can help your experienced and inexperienced team members become better engineers and more involved in the organisation.

Created by developers, for developers, Builder.com brings software developers fresh, real-world perspective on topics from programming to architecture to management. Builder.com will improve the way developers work with the information, tools, and services to help them conquer the challenges they face everyday in real-world development.

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