Every front-end developer begins with the basics like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, right? However, I'm pretty sure that no one starts off with the best JavaScript practices. That's not our fault. We learn by doing, by experimenting. Initially, we make things work with a bit of 'masala,' and then we strive to refine and perfect them.
For me, I started by taking a MEAN stack course. Afterward, I joined several companies and absorbed a vast amount of knowledge about React, Angular, and Next.js (among others). Now, looking back with over four years of experience in front-end development, I can see that I've grown and improved significantly - not just professionally, but also as a person.
As a Junior, most of us would have done these:
- Copy code snippets from other places
- Code as you think and push
- Crawl stackoverflow (now ChatGPT) or any websites like that
- Not looking for perfection
- Ask Seniors for help
- Try to learn big jargon stuff like GraphQL or similar items
Being a Senior Developer, or holding a senior position in any field, is distinctively different. Apart from mentoring juniors,
Priority
Senior Developers prioritize tasks. As a junior developer, one typically focuses on assigned tasks. However, seniors have a broader range of responsibilities. They need to juggle coding, code reviews, managerial duties (if applicable), and other technical tasks. Therefore, seniors must prioritize items based on their importance or urgency.
Performance
Senior Developers consider performance to be paramount. It's not that juniors don't, but the level of priority differs. As one advances to a senior role, it becomes an 'obvious' expectation that the performance of an application is crucial. To ensure this, seniors follow certain rules, adhere to standards, and verify that they are on the right path.,
Standards
As you climb the ladder, standards and processes become increasingly important. With multiple teams coding and pushing changes, it's essential that everyone adheres to well-established standards and follows processes to ensure a smooth workflow and manageable operations.
Team
As a junior, the focus is on individual tasks, often with an 'I' perspective. However, as you progress, you may find yourself managing people or teams. In such cases, an 'I' mentality is not sustainable. A 'We' approach is necessary for collective success. If a senior thinks only in terms of 'I', they are unlikely to inspire others to follow them. Juniors should be appreciated and receive feedback on their performance, enabling them to grow and become effective seniors in the future.
Knowledge
Juniors may not be aware of all the critical aspects they need to know. In contrast, a Senior should have a comprehensive understanding of the most important elements of development, such as performance optimization, code reviewing, design patterns and principles, best practices, and a clear understanding of their responsibilities.
Exposure
Seniors should have cross-functional exposure to excel in meetings, articulate concepts to colleagues (whether junior or senior), possess a solid grasp of how things work, and have a technical direction for their projects. This broad perspective is valuable in all aspects of their work.
Technicality
Seniors should be well-versed in the technical aspects of their domain, including architecture, coding standards, scalability, modularity, and reliability. As one moves up the ladder, these 'small' things become increasingly significant. Coding is not just about writing lines of code; it should encompass all these aspects.
As these are some of the topics, there are other stuff too, like problem solving skills, risk management skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, mentoring skills etc which are different.
Evolving from Junior to Senior is not child play. Its filled with responsibilities but also some fun, if you have a good team or if you try to create a good team. Its all in your hands.
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