Welcome to the new Bug Driven Developers this week! If you enjoy this post, forward it to your developer friends so they can join us.

Here’s what we got for you today:

• What makes a senior engineer?

• Boost your revenue by 10-40% with upselling

• A passive income site making $4,000/mo in profit

Let's start off this week by talking about what makes a senior engineer

This topic spawned from a twitter thread between Justin and Raul Junco discussing what makes a senior engineer. It is a very interesting topic and we wanted to expand on what we think makes a senior engineer for this week’s newsletter.

In our view the key trait of a senior engineer is an engineer who is “primarily autonomous“. We love this description because it sums up a lot of key factors so let’s go into more detail about the importance of autonomy 👇

👨‍💻 The Importance of Autonomy

As we delve into the definition of a senior engineer, one attribute stands out: autonomy. But why is autonomy such an essential aspect of a senior engineer's role?

In the world of software development, autonomy refers to the capability to handle tasks independently, to troubleshoot problems without requiring constant guidance, and to make informed decisions about technical solutions. This autonomy doesn't translate to isolation, but rather suggests the capability to lead, collaborate, and communicate effectively with a broader team, contributing significantly to the overall project success.

Autonomy is important because it allows for faster and more efficient task completion. Imagine having a team where every member constantly needs detailed instructions, or where each decision has to go through a tedious approval process. This would inevitably slow down the development pace and may cause frustration within the team.

In contrast, an autonomous engineer is like a self-driving car, capable of safely navigating the road without a driver constantly managing the controls.

They can take on a task or a project, understand what needs to be done, and navigate through the complexities to deliver results. This independence is not born out of thin air but stems from years of experience, a deep understanding of the technical domain, and a knack for problem-solving.

Autonomous engineers are pivotal in situations where there's a need to respond swiftly to changes or issues. They can adjust to shifting requirements, adapt to new technologies, and deal with unexpected problems, all while keeping the project on track. This ability is particularly valuable in today's fast-paced tech environment where adaptability is key.

But don't mistake autonomy for a license to avoid collaboration or ignore guidelines. Truly autonomous engineers know when to seek help, how to leverage the expertise of their colleagues, and when it's necessary to align with team or organizational standards. They embody the balance between independence and collaboration, making them invaluable members of any development team.

So, autonomy is not just a desirable trait in a senior engineer - it's a fundamental prerequisite. It’s this ability that empowers them to navigate complex tasks and deliver high-quality results. It is this autonomy that truly sets senior engineers apart.

Building Your Autonomy: Strategies and Tips

So if autonomy is so important to becoming a senior engineer how does a junior engineer become more autonomous or how does a senior engineer become more autonomous? We put together a nifty guide to help with this.

1. Master Your Craft: Begin with a solid understanding of the fundamentals of your technical domain. Whether it's your programming language of choice, understand the advanced concepts, principles, and best practices. Practice regularly, work on different projects, and try to learn something new each day.

2. Seek Out Challenges: Put yourself in situations where you need to find solutions to complex problems. Working on challenging tasks is an excellent way to grow as an engineer. It pushes you to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions - all crucial aspects of being autonomous.

3. Learn From Others: Seek mentorship from more experienced engineers. Their knowledge, experience, and insights can be invaluable. Attend code reviews, participate in pair programming sessions, and don’t shy away from asking questions.

4. Learn to Make Decisions: Part of being autonomous is making informed decisions. Start by making minor decisions about code design, architecture, or technologies to use, and gradually take on more responsibility. Learn from the outcomes, whether they're successful or not.

5. Develop Self-Management Skills: This includes time management, task prioritization, and self-discipline. These skills are critical for managing your workload and meeting deadlines, particularly when you're working autonomously.

6. Stay Curious: The tech industry is always evolving. Keeping up with the latest trends, tools, and technologies is essential. This constant learning not only helps you stay relevant but also contributes significantly to your autonomy.

Building autonomy takes time and patience, but with consistent effort, you can certainly cultivate this crucial skill. Remember, every step you take towards autonomy is a step closer to becoming a senior engineer. Keep learning, keep growing!

🔗Links in Tech

Some additional reads we liked this week

• Boost your revenue by 10-40% with upselling

• Train ChatGPT on your own data

• [TUTORIAL] - Finetune GPT On Your Own Data

• Verb Now is on sale with $4,000 a month in profit

• At Veecon 2023 last week there was talk about the concept of underpriced attention

😂 Meme of the Week

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s newsletter! If you have any questions, feel free to let us know on Twitter (Justin's Twitter) (Kevin's Twitter)

Thanks,

Justin + Kevin

P.S. What new things about Software Development did you learn this week?

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