How to be a pragmatic developer ?

We feel that there is no point in developing software unless you care about doing it well.

This idea comes from the book "The Pragmatic Programmer," written by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas.

What is a Pragmatic Developer ?

Let's explore this idea together and try to understand what it means to be a pragmatic developer.

1. A pragmatic developer pays attention to what is happening in the community and in their environment.

They enjoy learning new things, trying new approaches, testing new libraries, ...

From these experiences, many things will emerge, including self-confidence.

2. A pragmatic developer is curious; they like to ask questions and understand things.

They want to understand things, why things are done a certain way, why a particular technology is used over another. Why a specific approach is taken, or why a particular library is used.

3. A pragmatic developer demonstrates critical thinking.

They do not take everything they hear at face value; they want to form their own opinion. They dissect, analyze, and understand things to have their own viewpoint.

4. A pragmatic developer is realistic.

They understand the nature of each problem. They try to find the simplest and most effective solution to solve the problem. They do not seek to use the latest trendy technology or library at all costs. They seek the ideal compromise to deliver value to users while maintaining maintainable and scalable code.

5. A pragmatic developer is versatile.

Often, our profession requires us to specialize in one or more areas. But the pragmatic developer knows they must remain versatile; they must be able to adapt to their environment and team. They should try to keep an open mind because everything evolves: the market, technologies, frameworks, languages... Therefore, one must be able to adapt, and for that, one must not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone.

To conclude

As you have understood, being a pragmatic developer is not easy; one cannot rely on their achievements.

You must always be vigilant, aware of what is happening around us and in the community. Always question what you do, why you do it, and how you do it. Always strive to improve, learn new things, and try new things.

Dear reader, if you are reading this, know that the path is not easy, but it is exciting, so do not hesitate to embark on the adventure!