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Process

Slow is Smooth; Smooth is Fast

“Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.”

This adage is a cornerstone in military training and precision sports. It encapsulates the principle that meticulous and deliberate actions, learned through repetition and deliberate practice, lead to swifter and more successful outcomes in the end. It champions the notion that fostering patience and delving deeper into understanding a task can expedite the journey to achieving it, steering clear of the pitfalls that haste often brings in its wake.

In software development, this wisdom reverberates with equal significance. The frenzied pace of progress can sometimes eclipse the fundamental principles of smooth, fluid, and predictable execution. Yet, adhering to quality and precision from the very outset often propels us towards our goals faster than a hurried approach would. This ideology nudges us to value excellence over sheer speed, recognizing that a seemingly slower route often manifests as faster and more reliable results over time.

To integrate this philosophy into software development, teams should invest in:

  1. A Clear, Shared VisionNothing slows you down more than going fast in the wrong direction.

    Establish a clear and unified vision before the onset of the project. This involves understanding the “why” and the “what” of the end goals, distinguishing essential features from those that can be deferred, and achieving team alignment prior to diving into execution.

  2. Automation and Rapid Feedback Cycles – The earlier you catch it, the cheaper it is to fix.

    Embed a culture of automation and feedback from the first day of development. Use tools that facilitate swift feedback loops, enabling bugs to be identified early in the “assembly line”. Use monitoring, alerting, logging, A/B testing, canary deploys, and feature flags to find issue in production before your customers do. Conduct QA acceptance testing to stop defects from ever making it to production. Use robust test code coverage to catch bugs in CI/CD stages, before they make it to the QA team, or even to other developers. Provide developers a robust, prod-like developer bench-testing environment so that they can ensure their code functions properly before it even gets to CI. Use modern IDE tools that can catch bugs and issues in real time as you type before you ever try to run it. With tooling, test coverage, deployment automation, non-prod environments, and other tooling, you can prevent a slew of costly setbacks down the road and ensure smoother progress toward the end goal.

  3. Code Quality PracticesMake it easier to do the right thing that it is to take shortcuts.

    Allocate time to implement static analysis tools such as linters, complexity analyzers, open-source dependency scanners, security scanners, and style/convention enforcers early in the process. Establish practices like draft pull request, PR templates, required peer code reviews, and ADRs (Architecture Decision Records). Although stopping to lay these foundations might extend initial timelines slightly, they reap dividends in the long run by fostering a culture of quality and efficiency, ultimately saving time and resources.

💡 It’s important to recognize that certain elements of project development flourish when approached as calculated investments in smoothness and consistency of execution, rather than hastily attached solutions in response to urgent crises or market forces pulling you in all directions. An early focus on ‘smoothness’ can preclude the necessity for rushed, reactionary steps later, thereby optimizing both time and resources.

👋Need help achieving excellence in execution? Contact Facet Digital today to find out how we can help you refine the fundamentals and start firing on all cylinders again.

Optimizing Standup Times for Distributed Engineering Teams

In the modern age of software development, where remote work has become more of a rule than an exception, managing co-located and distributed software engineering teams comes with its unique set of challenges. One of the most debated topics is: When’s the ideal time for a daily standup?

Software engineers are an eclectic breed. They’re often deep thinkers, introverted, and sometimes have schedules that deviate from the typical 9-5 mold. Their peak productivity might be at midnight or at dawn, and distractions, especially meetings, can be a bane to their workflow.

So, what’s the best time for a standup?

Prospective Time Slots (in US Pacific Time) and Rationale:

  1. 9:00 AM:
    • Pros: It’s the start of the conventional workday on the West Coast. Engineers have fresh minds and can set the tone for the day.
    • Cons: For East Coast teams, this is lunchtime, and for the West Coast engineers who are night owls, this might be too early – especially if they want to get some exercise in before work.
  2. 11:00 AM:
    • Pros: Still morning on the West Coast, with enough time to get warmed up and into action, and early afternoon on the East Coast. It’s a good midpoint, with enough time after lunch for the East Coasters to get their brains back in action and take a focus break during the traditional mid-afternoon lull.
    • Cons: It may interrupt the flow of work, especially for those who have started their day early.
  3. 1:00 PM:
    • Pros: Post-lunch on the West Coast and late afternoon on the East Coast. A good time to regroup after a break for the Westies.
    • Cons: For those on the East Coast, the day is almost over, and for those who had a productive day, it may feel like quitting early while they’re trying to squeeze out a bit more code before the end of the day.

Considering the diverse nature of our engineers, their varied peak productivity times, and the need to accommodate multiple time zones, it’s imperative to strike a balance.

Our Stance at Facet Digital:

At Facet, after considerable deliberation and trial, we’ve settled on 11:00 AM (Pacific Time) as the ideal time for our projects to hold daily standup meetings. Here’s why:

  • It’s a good middle ground, ensuring no one’s day starts or ends with a meeting.
  • For our West Coast team, it allows a solid workblock in the morning and then another after the standup.
  • For our East Coast team, it’s early afternoon, allowing them to provide updates while still having a chunk of their day left.

In conclusion, while there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’, it’s essential to understand the unique characteristics and preferences of software engineers. A standup should empower, not hinder. Hence, select a time that minimizes interruptions, respects individual work rhythms, and fosters collaboration across time zones.

Top 10 Software Developer Productivity Killers

If you’ve recently found yourself trapped in a catacomb of chaotic code or entangled in a web of woefully unclear requirements, fret not! Bob’s journey through the perilous pitfalls of developer productivity is the adventure you’ve missed. Over the past two weeks, we’ve run a daily series of blog posts about the most prevalent software developer productivity killers we, at Facet Digital, often see in the engineering teams we are hired to assess. Some of these have do to with the technical team and their decisions, and some of them have to do with the business support around them.

Here’s a quick recap:

01Useless MeetingsBreaking up the Maker’s focus time
02Open-Plan OfficesNoise and visual distraction disrupt concentration
03Technical DebtShort cuts now make innovation take longer later
04Dead CodeHours wasted maintaining or searching through garbage
05Too Many Status ReportsTalking more about work than doing the work
06Unclear RequirementsSpending too much time guessing at the wrong intent
07Poor Branching StrategyWorking in too large of chunks and not getting feedback quickly
08Unrealistic / Arbitrary DeadlinesDemoralizing and stifling creativity
09MicromanagementNot letting the brains you hired use their brains to the fullest
10Poor DocumentationMaking the next dev guess and explore without a map

Familiar foes? If these productivity antagonists have been causing chaos in your dev-life, contact us for some superhero assistance.

🙋‍♀️ Encountered another productivity villain we missed? Share in the comments which dastardly devils resonate with you and any others lurking in the shadows!

The Micromanagement Menace

Software Developer Productivity Killer #9: Being Micromanaged

Oh, Bob. We’ve seen him weather the storm of unclear requirements, battle the beasts of artificial deadlines, and navigate the treacherous paths of poor branching strategies. But, as he sits at his desk, diligently tapping away at his code, he feels a shadow looming over him. It’s not a faulty server or a nasty bug; it’s something far more foreboding: the ever-watchful eyes of a micromanager.

🔬 Micromanagement: A Creator’s Kryptonite

Software development isn’t just a profession; it’s an art. Coders, like artists, need space to think, to test, to experiment, to create. Imagine for a moment, a world where Shakespeare was questioned at every sonnet line or where Da Vinci was advised on every brushstroke. Absurd, right? Then why do it to developers?

  1. The Trust Deficit: Micromanaging sends a clear message: “I don’t trust you.” If a developer feels distrusted, their motivation tanks faster than a lead balloon. They are professionals, having trained and practiced their craft. They deserve autonomy and trust.
  2. Turned-off Thinking Tanks: By giving developers overly specific instructions, you inadvertently switch off their innovative minds. The end result? Instead of a creatively crafted solution, you get a mundane, to-the-point output, devoid of innovation or flair. And if a single piece of your ultra-specific instructions fails? The domino effect kicks in, leading to bugs, skipped functionalities, and costly reworks.
  3. The Creativity Killer: Micromanagement suffocates the very essence of software development – creativity. Let’s not forget, you hired Bob for his ingenious coding skills, not to be a mere executor of over-detailed directions.

🤔 Are You a Micromanager? Signs You Might Be

  • You often think, “It’ll be faster if I just do it myself.”
  • You want to review and approve every minor decision or change.
  • You spend more time overseeing your developers than strategizing or planning.
  • You demand constant updates and have an insatiable thirst for progress reports.
  • You provide overly detailed instructions, often explaining how to do something instead of what needs to be done.

If you’re nodding along to more than a couple of these, it might be time to take a step back. Remember, you hired experts. Trust them to be just that. Remember, Bob thrives when he’s trusted and valued. As a leader, it’s crucial to provide direction, not domination. Embrace the brilliance of your team, and watch them turn your visions into virtual victories.

So, you still don’t get the results you desire without micromanaging? Perhaps it’s not about supervising more closely but improving the dynamics. Either you need to refine your team’s skills or you need to better define your directions and grant them more autonomy.

Need assistance on either front? Whether it’s bringing adept developers to bear or establishing effective communication strategies within your team, Facet Digital can guide the way. Reach out, and let’s keep those developer engines running without any unnecessary hiccups.

The Dangers of Unrealistic Deadlines

Software Developer Productivity Killer #8: Arbitrary Deadlines

Ahoy, fellow digital voyagers! As the winds of our virtual journey continue to twist and turn, they bring forth tales of the perilous “unrealistic deadlines.” Just as the sirens of lore ensnared unwitting sailors with their deceptive songs, these ill-conceived timeframes can draw development teams into treacherous waters. Our ever-relatable friend Bob has been through this storm a few times and, suffice it to say, it wasn’t pretty.

😈 Bob’s Date with the Deadline Demon

It was a typical Monday when Bob was slapped with a seemingly simple mandate: “Get this done by Friday, Bob. It shouldn’t be that tough, right?” Attempting to reason and provide a more realistic deadline fell on deaf ears, overshadowed by the constant hum of “we really need it by then.” Bob found himself working late nights, compromising on code quality, and hastily rushing through reviews. All this effort, only to later find out that the deadline had no concrete reason behind it.

🕑 The Deadline Debacle

  1. The Motivation Meltdown: Picture urging a crew to row faster, but there’s no looming storm or sight of a treasure-filled island. It’s like coaxing someone to row harder when there’s no land in sight.
  2. Haste Makes… Technical Debt: Speeding through tasks to meet a deadline often results in cutting corners. Soon, your immaculate ship (or codebase) is leaking all over.
  3. Burnout’s Blazing Trail: Constant urgency isn’t sustainable. It’s a surefire route to burnout, stifling creativity, and waning enthusiasm for future projects.
  4. The Quality Question: Rushing invariably means skimping on important steps. Code reviews get hurried, testing is superficial, and the final output? A shaky product that’s far from shipshape.
  5. Borrowing from Tomorrow: Overworking to meet today’s deadline is akin to taking a loan on future productivity. Just as sacrificing sleep one night necessitates extra rest later, pushing too hard today inevitably slows you down in the subsequent days. What you gain in the short-term, you often pay back with interest in decreased efficiency and stamina.

🗺️ Charting a Better Course

  1. Estimation Exploration: Developers should play a key role in setting the timeline. Incorporate methods like T-shirt sizing, Fibonacci series, or planning poker to allow developers to weigh in on the effort required.
  2. Estimates ≠ Deadlines: This distinction is crucial. Developers often dread giving estimates, primarily because they’re aware that those numbers might be taken as hard deadlines. Remember, estimates are educated guesses—sometimes you might overestimate, other times underestimate. They don’t account for all the unforeseeable challenges that could arise.
  3. The Journey, Not Just the Destination: Concentrate on consistently delivering value rather than sprinting to a hastily determined finish line. A well-considered journey ensures both quality and team morale remain high.
  4. Mutual Respect and Trust: Recognize that developers are experts in their domain. When they suggest adjusting the timeline, it’s based on experience and knowledge. It’s not just about buying time; it’s about delivering excellence.

💡 Conclusion

Deadlines, when used judiciously and not oppressively, can be effective. When they are pulled from the ether without basis, however, they wreak havoc. Bob has learned to voice his concerns, advocate for logical timelines, and champion for developer-centered estimations.

As our digital odyssey with Bob unfolds—from branching strategies to inadequate requirements—a consistent theme emerges: A content and well-managed team is the fastest route to successful project completion.

Could You Use a Guiding Hand in Navigating the Waters of Deadlines and Estimations? Are you inadvertently hampering your developers with unrealistic expectations? Our firm can guide you in establishing an effective, developer-centric estimation process. Such an approach not only uplifts morale but also boosts overall productivity. Get in touch with us to ensure your journey in the realm of software development is smooth and efficient. Set sail for success with us as your trusted compass!

Twisty Branches All Alike

Software Developer Productivity Killer #7: Poor Branching Strategy

Ahoy once more, digital navigators! As our digital expedition continues, we stumble upon the thorny forests of source code management. Amidst the sprawling thicket lies a menacing snare: the poor branching strategy. Oh, how we shudder at the reminiscence of entire days (or, heavens forbid, weeks) lost to merges! The terrain might seem deceptively simple, but as Bob would soon find out, it’s fraught with pitfalls.

😕 Bob’s Branching Blunder

Just as Bob started his morning coffee ritual, he encountered a code review that resembled an epic tome more than a neat summary. Long-lived branches? Multiple changes per branch? Bob’s hopeful morning soon transformed into a caffeine-fueled merge marathon. The ghostly whispers of “merge week” from the dark age of CSV/Subversion haunted his every move.

🌳 The Branching Brouhaha

  1. Epic Merges: Not the cool kind of epic, but the “Where did my day go?” kind. Lengthy branches become burdensome, confusing, and oh-so-error-prone. Nobody is building new code when they are stuck in merge conflict purgatory.
  2. Feature Flags Flop: Poor branching can throw a wrench in your feature flagging game, making it a Herculean task to incrementally release portions of functionality to subsets of your users.
  3. Collision Course: Picture a horde of developers, their code changes clashing like opposing armies. Result? Conflicts galore and a stream of regressions. Somebody is going to end up in the doghouse.
  4. Whimsical Reviews: Branches crammed with countless changes are like thick novels. They’re arduous to review, test, and release. Something will be missed in the noise. Not to mention, they are a nightmare if you need a rollback.

🔦 Lighting the Path with Strategic Branching

  1. Feature First: Feature branches keep things neat and tidy. Each new capability gets its pristine branch, free from muddling modifications. And keep it one feature per branch, please!
  2. Release the Kraken: Release branches serve as staging areas, ensuring that the main branch remains in a perpetually deployable state.
  3. GitHub Flow & Glow: Simplify the process, making it robust yet flexible. Ideal for continuous delivery and integration.
  4. Trunk-Based Triumph: Our golden boy! Implement Trunk-Based Development: Small, frequent merges to the main branch mean fewer conflicts and quicker deployments. CI/CD? More like See-It-Done!
  5. GitFlow, but with Gusto: While intricate, it provides a clear structure for large scale projects, each branch with a defined purpose. Especially for those projects that need to maintain multiple major versions concurrently.

💡 Conclusion

For Bob, adopting a robust branching strategy was like discovering a map in a maze. The days of daunting merge marathons are long gone, replaced by streamlined processes and efficient workflows.

Ready to Navigate the Branching Wilderness? Feeling lost in the dense forest of code branches? Facet Digital is equipped with a compass, map, and the expertise to guide you through. From assessing the thickest tangles to plotting a clear path forward, we’re here to help. Why risk the quagmire when you can journey with the best? Contact us and let’s strategize your branching success story together.

✋ Hungry for more of Bob’s coding conundrums? He’s already braved challenges like the ‘open-plan disturbances’, navigating the ‘technical debt’, sidestepped the ‘dead code’, and rebuffed the ever-multiplying ‘status reports’. And remember that foggy realm of unclear requirements? Yep, he navigated that too. Stay tuned, for the code chronicles are far from over. Each chapter brimming with tales of tech, turmoil, and triumph!

The Foggy Realm of Unclear Requirements

Software Developer Productivity Killer #6: Unclear Requirements

Ahoy, tech aficionados! We’ve gallantly crossed the choppy waters of ‘status reports‘ and faced the daunting shadows of ‘dead code‘. As we continue our odyssey through the software development realm, our path suddenly goes dim—enter the fog of unclear requirements. And who doesn’t love a game of software mystery? Spoiler: not our trusty developer, Bob.

🤷‍♂️ The Chronicles of Bob & The Enigmatic Jira Ticket

One day, not unlike others, Bob logs in to find a Jira ticket. “Make it user-friendly,” it demands. Bob, momentarily pondering, wonders if turning it into a virtual teddy bear would suffice. That’s the rub with vague instructions: they leave too much room for wild, sometimes cuddly, guesses.

😕 Downfalls of the Ambiguity Abyss

  1. Brief Wonders: The ever-mystifying 5-word Jira tickets. Yes, brevity can be king, but not when it deposes clarity. It’s akin to gifting someone a book with half its pages torn out. Intriguing, sure, but not particularly helpful.
  2. Too Many Cooks: No need to hand Bob a magnifying glass and tweezers when he’s whipping up a digital feast. Give him the theme and trust his culinary genius. Over-specifying can leave him bogged down in trivialities.
  3. The Missing Link: Overly broad tickets that are essentially black boxes. Like asking Bob to “create a digital companion”. A companion like…a chatbot? A diary? A pixelated parrot?
  4. Hide and Seek with the End-User: As Bob often muses, “If I could just peer into an end-user’s daily dance, I’d craft tools in perfect rhythm!” Shielding developers from end-users is akin to commissioning a portrait blindfolded.

🧭 Steering Clear of the Fog

  1. Big Picture, Big Wins: Developers thrive on the full narrative, not mere snippets. Comprehensive understanding fuels both motivation and innovation.
  2. Bridge the Gap: Advocate for regular interactions between developers and end-users. Direct feedback not only invigorates but sharpens the toolset.
  3. Empower, Don’t Overwhelm: Product Owners should offer a map without dictating each step. Guide, provide context, and then trust in the journey.
  4. Frequent Iterations: Eschew vast tomes of documentation for a sprightlier approach. Swift feedback cycles, agile development, and recurring discussions clear away obscurity. Mind the Agile Manifesto.

Conclusion

Decoding the maze of unclear requirements isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a ballet of precision and freedom. Bob’s tales remind us that clear directives require more than succinct tickets; they demand context, open channels, and a unified goal.

✋ Missed out on Bob’s earlier tales? From fending off the ‘open-plan disturbances’, navigating the ‘technical debt’, confronting the abyss of ‘dead code’, to wrestling with ‘status report duplicity’, it’s been an epic tale. Stay with us as Bob further charts the highs and lows of software creation, reminding us that well-marked trails ensure no traveler is lost!

Status Reports: How Many Do We Need?

Software Developer Productivity Killer #5: The Dreaded Status Reports

Hello again, digital navigators! We’ve tangoed with ‘useless meetings‘, battled the open-plan zombies, and sailed the treacherous seas of ‘technical debt‘. But hold onto your keyboards, because now we’re diving into the realm of… (drumroll, please)… status reports. And not just one or two. Oh no, it seems everyone and their digital assistant wants one!

📝 The Story of Bob, The Status Reporter

Bob, our fictional yet oh-so-relatable developer, has had a week. He’s juggled tickets, diligently added comments, rolled out code changes, and executed pull requests with the grace of a ballet dancer. Each task gets its neat little description, every commit explains the changes, and pull requests detail the grand picture while referencing back to the ticket. But wait! There’s more!

Enter the Pointy-Haired Boss: “Bob, could you whip up a summary of this week’s progress? And oh, remember those TPS reports?” (If you’ve seen Office Space, you know the pain. If you haven’t, go watch it; it’s a workplace rite of passage). But here’s the rub: isn’t a ticket a status report? Isn’t a commit a status report? Isn’t a pull request… oh, you get the idea.

∞ The Infinite Loop of Status Reports

  1. The Redundancy Factor: Status reports, on their own, aren’t evil. But when they’re layered atop daily standups, PR descriptions, ticket annotations, and commit comments…it starts to feel like someone’s playing a cruel joke. “Bob, we’re gonna need another status report on your status reports.”
  2. Managerial Middlemen: Is the manager’s role merely to be a carrier pigeon, ferrying status notes between developers and higher-ups? It seems even carrier pigeons have more freedom.
  3. Time = Code: Every moment a developer spends summarizing their summaries is time they aren’t coding, innovating, or resolving bugs. The business cost of this is more significant than it appears.

👀 Status Quo No More

  1. The Value of Transparency: The beauty of tickets, commits, and PRs is their transparency. One can easily delve into the history, the changes, and the progress. It’s all there, like a digital journal of a developer’s journey.
  2. Empower Managers with Tools: Instead of burdening devs with ‘one-more-report’, why not equip managers with tools to derive insights directly from existing data?
  3. Automate with AI: Here’s a wild thought: What if we could have intelligent systems that aggregate all these updates and present them in a digestible format? Oh, wait! At Facet Digital, we’re doing precisely that! Take that, TPS reports!

💡 Conclusion

In an era of digital transformation, redundancy is the last thing we need. Bob should be crafting digital masterpieces, not drowning in paperwork. And managers? They should be guiding, assisting, and inspiring, not merely playing data tag.

If you want to ensure your devs are more Bob-like (pre-pointy-haired boss phase), consider integrating intelligent tools. Call Facet Digital to get your development processed dialed in early. Because the best status report is one that writes itself!

✋ Haven’t met Bob in his previous adventures? Well, he’s been battling ‘useless meetings’, dodging the ‘open-plan distractions’, and chipping away at ‘technical debt’. And of course, who could forget his escapade with the zombie code? Stay tuned, because Bob’s journey through the wilds of software development isn’t over yet.

Technical Debt: When Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

Software Developer Productivity Killer #3: Tech Debt

Ahoy, dear reader! We’ve spoken about ‘useless meetings‘ and the perils of the ‘open-plan office‘. Today, we embark on a voyage beneath the surface to unveil a silent killer, lurking in the deep, dark abyss of codebases everywhere – Technical Debt.

For the uninitiated, technical debt might sound like the overdraft fees on a credit card statement, but trust us, the costs can be even more perilous if not managed. But fret not! We’re here to unveil the mysteries of this productivity assassin and guide you to safer shores.

🌊 Understanding The Iceberg That’s Technical Debt

  1. The Tip of the Iceberg: On the surface, everything seems fine. Your software is running. New features get deployed. But underneath lies layers of rushed code, shortcuts, and bandaids that, much like the bulk of an iceberg, remain invisible to the untrained eye.
  2. The Silent Accumulator: Technical debt accrues silently. It’s the byproduct of fast decisions, expedited features, and temporary fixes. While a quick workaround might speed things up today, it will slow everything down tomorrow.
  3. Feature Slowdown: Ever wondered why the latest ‘simple feature’ took thrice as long as you hoped? Beneath the water, your dev team might be battling tentacles of ancient code and patchwork solutions. The deeper they swim, the harder it gets.

📉 The Business Cost of Ignoring Technical Debt

  1. Lost Time and Money: The longer technical debt remains, the more expensive (in both time and resources) it becomes to address. Your devs aren’t magicians; they’re navigators trying to avoid crashing into that looming iceberg. Code reviews take longer, more bugs appear and are harder to fix the right way, and overall code quality suffers.
  2. Reduced Morale: A team constantly battling the deep-sea monsters of messy code can quickly lose enthusiasm. And a demotivated team isn’t a productive one.
  3. Innovation Stagnation: With so much energy going into managing existing chaos, there’s little left for innovation and growth. Do you really want to be stuck sailing in circles?

🚢 Navigating Away from The Iceberg

  1. Post-Mortem’s Critical Role: Taking shortcuts during an emergency or to expedite a release can be an acceptable strategy. But it’s like borrowing against tomorrow – you must repay it, preferably sooner rather than later. After such incidents or rapid releases, conduct a post-mortem. Assess and catalog the quick fixes and patches applied. This isn’t about finger-pointing but about understanding the new debt that’s been taken on. Prioritize paying down the heaviest debt even before diving back into your feature roadmap. The short-term gain is only beneficial if you’re strategic about the long-term repercussions.
  2. Track Technical Debt: Just as businesses track financial obligations, technical debt should be recorded and monitored. Consider tools or platforms designed for this. If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
  3. Allocate Regular Paydown Time: Embrace that a portion of your dev team’s time needs to be dedicated to addressing and reducing technical debt. Think of it as regular maintenance on a ship to ensure smooth sailing.
  4. Educate and Involve Everyone: Tech debt isn’t just a ‘dev issue’. Business stakeholders should be educated on its implications. When everyone’s on board (pun intended), it’s easier to navigate treacherous waters.

💡 In Conclusion

Technical debt, if left unchecked, becomes that giant iceberg threatening to sink your ship. But with intentionality, regular check-ins, and an understanding that it’s as real as any financial debt, you can sail through smoother waters. After all, in business, as in sailing, forewarned is forearmed.

And if you’re already feeling a bit seasick from tech debt, consider chatting with an expert (hint: us) to help navigate. Why DIY when you have a seasoned captain just a call away?

✋ Keen on avoiding more developer productivity pitfalls? Dive into our discussions on ‘useless meetings’ and the ‘open-plan office’. Stay tuned; we have more voyages planned in this series to guide you through the turbulent seas of productivity.

Could've been an email

Why Your Dev Just Bought a Magic 8-Ball

This is the first post in a series on software developer productivity DOs and DON’Ts. Check back often for upcoming posts…

Software Developer Productivity Killer #1: Useless Meetings

Picture this: your software developer, let’s call him Bob, is at the peak of his creative genius. He’s coding at the speed of light, the characters dancing on his screen in a coordinated ballet. Just then, the dreaded ping – yet another meeting request. Bob’s heart sinks, his momentum wanes, and he wonders if he should swap his laptop for a typewriter to dodge digital meeting invites.

Alright, now before you brandish pitchforks my way, let me clarify – not all meetings are evil. Some can be life-affirming soul-searching odysseys. But many, oh-so-many, are like that extra sprig of parsley on your dish. Looks nice, but no one knows why it’s there.

😱 Why Developers Loathe The Meeting Monster

  1. The Zone Disturbance: Every time a developer is yanked out of “The Zone”, it takes a good 15-30 minutes to get back into it. The Zone is that magical realm where developers wield their wizardry. You know what doesn’t exist in The Zone? Meetings about whether to use Oxford commas in comments.
  2. The Mismatch of Tongues: Developers speak in code; managers often in spreadsheets. It’s like expecting a cat and a goldfish to discuss the merits of wet vs. dry food. Spoiler: the goldfish doesn’t care as long as it’s wet.
  3. The “This Could Have Been An Email” Syndrome: 85% of what’s discussed in meetings (okay, maybe a cheeky estimate) could have been summed up in a well-crafted email. And the other 15%? Probably could have been a Slack message.

⚔️ How To Slay The Useless Meeting Dragon

  1. Agenda is a Must: If you can’t write down what the meeting is about, chances are it doesn’t need to happen. An agenda makes the difference between a focused huddle and an aimless gossip fest. Some even go farther – consider adopting the ‘Amazon 6-Pager’ method where dense topics are distilled into a concise 6-page narrative; it encourages clarity and deep thinking…and provides a higher bar to requiring a meeting.
  2. Time is Money; Cap It: Unless you’re solving the mysteries of the universe, most meetings shouldn’t exceed 30 minutes. Set a timer if you must! And if anyone starts with, “This might be off-topic, but…” – it’s a trap!
  3. Ask “Who Really Needs to be Here?” If Bob’s expertise is in back-end development, he probably doesn’t need to opine on logo colors. Send Bob back to his magical coding realm. He’ll thank you. So would your CFO if he could calculate the ROI of the salaries in the room vs the outcomes of the meeting.
  4. Post-Meeting Homework: Summarize. Distribute. Action. If there are no clear next steps after a meeting, then what was it all for?

💡 Conclusion

Meetings aren’t the enemy. It’s aimless, purposeless, could’ve-been-an-email meetings that developers detest. Think before you ping. Remember, every time you pull a developer into a needless meeting, somewhere in the world, a Magic 8-Ball gets a question like, “Should I attend this meeting?” And the answer is, more often than not, “Outlook not so good.”

Next time you’re tempted to drag your tech team into a meeting, ask yourself: “Do I really want to be the parsley on Bob’s plate?” If the answer is no, rethink that invite.

Now, if you’re struggling to optimize team productivity and communication, remember there are experts (like yours truly) who can help. Because, let’s face it – you could do it, but why would you when there’s a cheeky genius available for hire? 😉