Projects

Planning and proposal phase

Questions to ask while planning the proposal:

• What issues does this address?
• Why do those issues exist?
• Is it an issue that needs solving?
• Is it an issue that’s worth solving? (very different from the above)
• Are there multiple solutions to this issue? If so, why select this particular one? Which is the simplest and most minimal one?
• Talk to interested parties. You can’t develop this in isolation. What do interested parties want and need from your solution?
• ARE YOU OVERENGINEERING THE SOLUTION? If the answer is no: are you sure?

Bring the proposal to team office hours for review.

Implementation phase

Get feedback early and often. DO NOT code the entire thing and then send it out for review when it’s all done. Plan your PR stack in advance, then as you implement the stack topdown, send them out for review as you go.

If you’re adding a feature that wasn’t in the implementation plan, ask yourself - is it really necessary, or is it scope creep?

Launch phase

• Start with a small group of testers, then progressively move to a wider audience.
  • Your team -> a few people outside your team, but in your department -> announce to the department -> the org
• It does NOT need to be perfect the first try. Software development is iterative; it ISN’T going to be perfect the first time around.

Social

Scheduling a meeting with a person I’ve never met

Hi $NAME, do you mind if I throw something on your calendar sometime $DESIRED_TIMEFRAME to discuss $ISSUE?

Someone asks you to do something and you genuinely don’t know what’s going on

Hi $NAME, I am working on $ACTIVITY. For my own understanding, can you clarify $TOPIC_NEEDING_CLARIFICIATION?

# alternative
Hi $NAME, I am working on $ACTIVITY. I am not too familiar with this area - for my own understanding, can you clarify $TOPIC_NEEDING_CLARIFICIATION?

You’re blocked on a low priority item

Hi! Are there any updates on $BLOCKER? (Not urgent)

You’re blocked on a high priority item

# Keep a paper trail too
Hi $NAME, do you have an update on $BLOCKER?

You disagree with a technical decision

I want to ensure I understand the tradeoff here - can you help me think through $ISSUE?

Mental

• You have literally NEVER had a negative performance review. Every single one you have ever had throughout your entire career has been glowing. Based on historical record alone, you’re probably doing fine, and you should probably stop thinking otherwise.
• Are the standards you are holding yourself to realistic? Are they really?
• Your teammates genuinely want to you to succeed, and they don’t hate you. If they do, it’s because it’s not a good place to work.
• Introducing a regression is NOT going to end your career.