Do you notice that your business needs grow more rapidly as it expands? What about more computerized and automated software processes along the departments?
I understand and acknowledge those things.
Software and the like are not only for our departments, anyways…
You can see other departments like accounting and finances using software to conduct their job desc. The purchasing departments also use different versions or sets of software to manage their vendor databases.
Many other departments also need software for various purposes. I would like all of us to say thanks to software developers for making these entire things exist.
At the same time, here’s the bad news: Many software developers make mistakes that can affect the ways they put code into software that everybody else uses. Newbies tend to make mistakes more than their more senior counterparts.
Here, I wish to invite all of you to avoid these biggest newbie software developer mistakes. By avoiding the mistakes, you can shine in developing the greatest software for every department!
Mistake #1: Refusing to learn in anyways
I see most newbies at work tend to think their works are “just works”. Software developers who are just starting their careers are no exception.
Since they believe in work for the work’s sake, they often complain about no time for learning.
Reality: It’s just an excuse for not learning their jobs’ essences. Believe me. The results: They don’t take the whole feedback.
Such things make them misinterpret the revisions they should make on their codes, which leads them to have even more major revision rounds, delayed software deliveries, or even replacements with other developers.
Since most newbies refuse to learn while working, I also observe another reality about them, and that reality lies in their lack of anticipation measures.
Great software developers usually realize the software processes that they’re in control of our subject to unexpected damages, natural disasters, and more. So, they must also prepare the SOP for maximizing the software operations while in chaos.
Another thing I witness in great software developers is that they use learning resources around them to make their software creations better. Online courses, books about software programming, podcasts, videos, and online programmer communities, are some examples of these resources.
Such things don’t only save time and energy for software revisions. Using these resources also makes these developers keep up with the recent technologies.
So, be like these software developers who give examples of how to live as lifelong programming learners.
Mistake #2: Ignoring the human elements in the software creation
Another mistake I tend to notice in entry-level software developers lies in their obliviousness to the human element.
The obliviousness includes poor communication and an inability to understand the group’s purposes and connect with other group members. From what I see, these mistakes often stem from Mistake #1: Refusing to learn.
Micromanagement is one of the most evident issues that can arise from any mistakes that fall into this Mistake #2 category.
So, I guess, this issue is why big names don’t tend to employ newbie software developers.
You can imagine the chaos if people who ignore the human elements are in charge of the software creations… For the sake of meeting deadlines.
Generalizing the requirements is one of the roots of such problems. Focusing too much on accomplishments is yet another newbie-classic struggle that can lead to further sights from the actual achievements.
These two things can also produce bullwhip effects on teamwork. Essentially, those effects are the effects when the end users can’t operate the software because two or more parties misheard or misinterpreted what other parties are conveying.
The key to getting out from bullwhip effects (and other undesirable things that come from ignoring human elements) is thorough communication between team members.
I guess, it should be clear who’s doing which parts of the software, who will handle the relevant costs and purchases, who makes the primary SOP, and more.
Only then the project deliveries and evaluations will be timely and objective.
Mistake #3: Being passive to ask questions and test the software
While it’s true that we should refer to the requirements and instructions before asking, I see nothing wrong with asking things that are still unclear.
There are ways to reframe the questions and give impressions to your users and supervisors that you’ve (at least) read the instructions well.
Rather than simply asking, “What does this terminology mean?” Or even repeated “I don’t know,” sentences, it’s nice, to begin with, questions like, “I’ve read part number X in the first instruction manual. I have tried the software and saw the menu Y. Does it mean I’m going the correct way if I do Z to the Y menu?”
The first ones are too general and look like the newbies are not paying attention to the instructions. The second one shows the users and supervisors that you have “read” and “tried” them.
Speaking about trying, and relating the word with software development aspects, we think about software testing.
This process is not only essential before the teams launch the software…
…Rather, it is a process that takes months (or even years), and it has at least three different testing phases. Sometimes, there can even be more than ten testing phases.
Software testing processes are important because we want to ensure each in-software element works according to its functions. Plus, we wish to determine the directions for updates, bug fixes, and more in the future.
Unfortunately, not ignoring the whole software testing process is something that all newbie software developers need to pay attention to.
Today, I implore you, to stop being like those newbies.
Final words
Newbies in software development industries make more mistakes than their superior counterparts. Nonetheless, their mistakes tend to lie in three essential things: Not using learning resources around them, ignoring the human element, and being hesitant to ask questions and test the software.
I would say that the “Take It Slow” slogan applies to software development industries. Being mindful of the slogan saves us from three big mistakes that new software developers tend to make.
