Last updated: 2024-02-12
As the person responsible for a great developer experience in your company, you need to wear many hats. Technical and people skills, as well as strong project and delivery management, are essential. But one aspect that people ofter overlook is how good you have to at… marketing! Yes, marketing!
As engineers, we understand, or at least have a sense, that a great developer experience is all about reducing the friction we encounter in our daily tasks and workflows. These challenges may be technical (e.g., unreliable CI) but can also stem from organizational or interpersonal factors. It turns out that when developers have the necessary time and tools to focus on problem-solving, they are not only productive but also happy. :)
But honestly, I doubt that our companies specifically care about this aspect :). I think
that what they are more concerned about (rightfully so) is the
business value that developer experience and/or productivity brings. So, how do
you ensure that your company understands what DevEx brings to the table? I think the
answer is…
… fast feedback loops 🔄
Minimizing friction across the whole software lifecycle allows a company to go-to-market more quickly, at least from a technical standpoint. This also means experimenting faster and seeing what works and what doesn't. And this is the ultimate value: shipping faster, experimenting, getting feedback sooner and staying ahead of your competitors.
I understand that this is an oversimplification, but if you're unsure about where to start or how to "sell" the work your team(s) is doing, I believe that's a great starting point.
When I mention fast feedback loops here, I am referring to the technical aspect of shipping software. It pertains to the "how" of shipping software, rather than the "what" (which falls under the domain of product management). I emphasize this as a reminder that software is complex, and its development is the result of the interaction of many functions in the company. So: developer experience is very important, but it is also just one aspect of the larger picture.
Please share your thoughts in the comments on LinkedIn.
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