Shipping Code for Customer Satisfaction
The Magic of a Simple CRUD App
Shipping a product and seeing customers use and enjoy what you've created is a magical experience. Even a simple CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) app can seem like magic to the average user, especially if it performs a function they haven't seen before. This could be as simple as calculations in a custom domain. The moment a customer tells you "this is great" is transformative. It's a validation of your work and a testament to the magic you've created.
Building Trust Through Bug Fixes
Early in my career, I had the opportunity to clean up code written by a developer ten years my senior. The code was riddled with bugs, and fixing them one by one was not only satisfying but also a great learning experience. It helped me earn the trust of my team and build confidence in my abilities. Every bug fix was a step towards improving the product and enhancing the user experience.
Shipping is What Matters
While there is beauty in the craft of coding, the brutal truth is that shipping is what matters most. Getting your product in front of the people who need it is the ultimate goal. In theater, there's a concept that says, "if you blow a line, don't broadcast it to the audience." The same applies to software development. Users don't care about the intricacies of your code; they care about the end result. They want a product that works and meets their needs.
Embracing the Messiness of the Process
The process of creating software can be messy, but that's okay. It's not an excuse to do subpar work, but rather a reminder that it's okay for the process to be imperfect. What matters is that the end result is functional and meets the user's needs. Don't beat yourself up over the things that we, as developers, often criticize ourselves or others for.
The Importance of Shipping and Learning
Shipping is crucial because it's through shipping that we learn and improve. It's through getting our code in front of users and interacting with them to make their experience better that we grow as developers. We're in a service industry, and our goal is to serve our users to the best of our ability. And remember, "it's just software." You can fix it, change it later, and correct mistakes.
Learning Through Practice and Mistakes
Mistakes are inevitable in our line of work. I've lost data, been yelled at by clients, and faced the "What has just happened here" glare from management. But these experiences are part of the learning process. We learn through practice, and sometimes, we miss. But to learn, we have to ship. We have to get our work out there and see what happens.
Striking a Balance
Shipping more often helps us learn what we can get away with. It teaches us the balance between what's necessary and what's not. It's through the work and shipping that we learn this balance and become more comfortable with it. So, keep shipping, keep learning, and keep creating magic.