Real 10x Programmers Are SLOW To Write Code

Summary

This video script discusses the misconception of '10x programmers' being fast coders. It emphasizes efficiency over speed, advocating for writing less code through techniques like technological empathy, negotiating feature simplification, cross-technical insight, rejecting ambiguity, minimizing architectural complexity, and thorough documentation. The speaker shares personal experiences and advice on how to be a truly efficient developer without compromising on quality.

Takeaways

• 🔄 **Technological Empathy**: Make decisions based on the team's skills, not just personal proficiency.
• 🔧 **Negotiate Streamlining**: Work with product managers to simplify features, reducing code without compromising outcomes.
• 🌐 **Cross-Technical Insight**: Leverage exposure to various technologies to draw parallels and save time when learning new ones.
• 🚫 **Reject Ambiguity**: Don't proceed with unclear tasks; seek clarification to avoid rework and maintain efficiency.
• 🏗️ **Minimize Architectural Complexity**: Be cautious with introducing new patterns or abstractions that might complicate the codebase for the team.
• 📝 **Document Innovations**: Document any new patterns or techniques used to ensure others can understand and maintain the code.
• 🤝 **Team-Oriented**: Focus on team capabilities rather than individual speed to enhance collective efficiency.
• 📉 **Avoid Over-Engineering**: Writing less code can lead to being a true 10x programmer by avoiding unnecessary complexity.
• 🔍 **Clarify Requirements**: Before coding, ensure a deep understanding of requirements to prevent misalignment and rework.
• 💡 **Innovation with Support**: When introducing new ideas, ensure you're prepared to support the team with their implementation.

Q & A

What is the main point the speaker is trying to make about being a 10x programmer?

The speaker argues that being a 10x programmer isn't about writing code faster, but rather about being more efficient and getting things done quicker. This can sometimes be achieved by writing less code.

What is 'technological empathy' as mentioned in the script?

Technological empathy refers to the ability to make technology and coding decisions based on the team's needs rather than just one's own. It involves considering the skills and familiarity of the entire team when choosing the technology stack or approach to a problem.

Why did the speaker choose to use the .NET stack in the Austin company example?

The speaker chose the .NET stack because the company had nine other programmers who were familiar with it. Even though the speaker could have written code faster using a more modern stack, building with .NET was faster overall because it was familiar to the team, leading to better client satisfaction and future projects.

What is the importance of negotiating feature streamlining according to the speaker?

Negotiating feature streamlining is important because it allows programmers to propose simpler approaches to features that require less code, saving effort and time. However, it's crucial that the simplified approach still achieves the same customer outcome as intended by the product manager.

What is meant by 'cross-technical insight' in the context of programming?

Cross-technical insight refers to the ability to draw parallels between different technologies, languages, libraries, or frameworks that one has been exposed to in their career. This insight can help programmers solve new problems more quickly by leveraging their past experiences.

Why is it beneficial to reject moving forward on any kind of ambiguity in programming?

Rejecting ambiguity ensures that programmers fully understand the requirements before they start coding. This prevents the risk of having to recode or refactor later, which can waste time and negate any gains from being a faster programmer.

How can minimizing architectural complexity make a programmer more efficient?

Minimizing architectural complexity helps by avoiding the introduction of unnecessary abstractions or patterns that can complicate the codebase. This makes the code easier to understand and maintain, reducing the time spent on troubleshooting and onboarding new team members.

What role does documentation play in being perceived as a 10x programmer?

Documentation is crucial for a 10x programmer because it helps communicate innovations and patterns to the team, ensuring that others can understand and use them correctly. It also speeds up the onboarding process for new team members and reduces the likelihood of incorrect implementations.

Why might a programmer who writes fast but doesn't document their work not be considered a 10x programmer?

A programmer who writes fast but doesn't document their work may create code that is hard for others to understand or maintain. This can lead to frustration, miscommunication, and inefficiencies within the team, which contradicts the goal of a 10x programmer to multiply their impact positively on a project.

What advice does the speaker give to programmers who feel pressured to code fast?

The speaker advises programmers who feel pressured to code fast to consider joining a supportive community, like the Discord mentioned in the script, where they can discuss and advance their tech careers in a healthy way that avoids burnout and embraces more efficient programming practices.