In software engineering and consulting, the expectation to be an expert in every new technology can feel overwhelming. Every day, there seems to be a new framework or language to learn, and with the introduction of LLMs there can be an extra layer of complexity. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. But here’s the truth: you don’t know everything, and that’s okay.
Embracing Reality
Let’s face it: the tech landscape is massive and ever-changing. It’s impossible to know everything. Instead of seeing this as a flaw, think of it as a chance to grow continuously. After all, isn’t that part of what makes tech exciting?
Solving Problems Over Knowing It All
With all the new information coming out, it’s easy to focus on everything you need to learn and what you don’t know. You might lose sight of what your goal is: to solve problems. Yes, it would be nice to have all the info so that you can solve those problems faster. But, the more valuable skill is to be able to approach a problem you don’t know how to solve and find the solution.
Leaning on Your Network
We’re lucky to live in a time where information is at our fingertips. Whether it’s through documentation, forums, or online communities, there’s a wealth of knowledge out there. And don’t underestimate the power of a strong professional network. Sometimes, a quick chat with a colleague can shed light on a tricky problem.
One time, I had a tough time getting this class method to function correctly and the logs were not helpful. It was one of those where you didn’t really know what you needed to look for. One of my teammates had a lot more knowledge about the codebase and experience working with the technologies we were using. My co-worker listened to the problem, looked at the code, and showed me where I had missed something that was causing the problem.
Team Effort
Software development is pretty much never a solo show. Whether it’s building an app with a team, using a third-party library and reading the documentation or even posting about a problem on stack overflow, we are constantly collaborating with others and utilizing their expertise to help us solve our problem. Everyone has gaps in their knowledge and, in turn, has deep familiarity with information in some other area. There is nothing wrong with leaning on a teammate to fill in the gaps.
Embracing Learning
So, if you take anything away from this, let it be this: you don’t need to know everything to be successful as a developer. Embrace learning, lean on your problem-solving skills, and don’t hesitate to collaborate with your team. Next time you find yourself unable to figure something out, try not to let it frustrate you too much and see it as a chance to expand your horizons and improve your skills.