14 Hard Lessons After 14 Years Of Software Development

The biggest lessons I've learned after developing software professionally for 14 years, including 5 years at a FAANG company. These include but are not limited to - working at a FAANG company, gratitude, promotions, code reviews, and choosing which technologies to use for a project.

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[jasoncubic]

A hard one for me was to learn was to embrace feeling overwhelmed. The best jobs should make you feel overwhelmed on the first day. Some of the best technology will make you feel overwhelmed when you start learning it. With determination you can learn to understand anything even if it overwhelms you at first, and that is a rewarding process.

[denisekohlmann]

This is great advice! To add to what you said about prioritizing relationships with coworkers- it also helps to have established rapport with them because they will be more willing to go to bat for you when you need help with something. This is something that also took me a long time to learn.

[matthiasroshardt]

Hey man, thanks for putting this out! I'm a junior engineer and recent university grad and I'm so glad that there's people like you out there who are putting in the effort to share their hard earned lessons with the world :)

[ayetotheeye]

new subscriber here after watching this video. with 4 years of experience at two different companies in software development I can attest each and every one these 14 lessons. also, this is the most level-headed advice out there for junior devs. keep up the good work!

[GregShyBoy]

Here's one I've learned. If your younger fellow developer insists on putting their finger to the outlet, just let them. Some lessons can be learned at the field only, not from the elder brother standing next to a chalkboard explaining why messing with electricity is dangerous.

[ooooooo-puvg]

I only managed to learn 4-5 things in 20+ years of professional software development out of the 14 things you outlined. I agree with most or maybe even all of them. I believe this video will help many people (if they take it right, with some amount of reflection).

[optimbro]

Thanks man, it was great list of experiences your shared in 13 minutes, and your way of speaking is awesome for non-native English people like me. Keep it up, just the way it is.

[FandangoJepZ]

I love this format. A lot of information in a short amount of time. The points weren’t rushed but not dragged out either. A big like from me

[StrixyN]

Wow. You sir just earned my sub. This was not the BS list I was expecting. I've been writing code for 22 years professionally and while I don't agree with you 100% I do agree with you a lot. That was an important thing for me to learn today and so I will thank you for that as well. I look forward to enjoying more of your content. Cheers!

[azzamsya]

The first one is very impactful for me. Thanks a lot.

[jmcrowley]

Solid, balanced advice. Thank you for sharing. Good job.

[mxc_clips]

Great video and very helpful for me who is sitting around 3-4 experience still figuring things out.
I found you from your rust videos and those are great as well.

Keep them coming!

[truckslove]

Great advice! I hope your channel flourishes along with your career!

[LaCarteRouge]

Most of your vids are about technical stuff but I'd love to see more career-oriented videos like this one. (Maybe something about how to think of good side projects, navigating the current job market etc). Just a suggestion. Love your videos

[phenanrithe]

I agree the relationships become more important than the skills, it's not an easy step for everyone. I strongly recommend some reading or information gathering on the different types of personality. For example a fun but instructive book on the subject is "Surrounded by Idiots", even if it's more caricatural than other personality / communication models like PCM, MBTI and so on. It's too easy to see someone as a jerk, when it's often someone communicating differently, with different expectations. It's the first key to socializing: *understand* there are differences, *accept* them, and *practice* as often as you can to recognize those categories and adapt to get through to the other person.

[kaansouth]

I really loved the transition with the mario game över cips. Great video by the way.

[goodwish]

All are great suggestions! After 28 years worked as Oracle DBA, I joined a FAANG as a software developer, start from 0, working on Rust. ^_^

[gilatron]

These lessons learned videos are usually not that good, but I think the lessons in this video are insightful and valid. Great video

[jonasphilbert]

Very informative video! There are a lot of "Top X things I've learned..." videos and articles out there, but I find they usually contain information only relevant to beginners, or things that one can logically reason for oneself. This one genuinely had some novel and useful points, at least for me. Thanks! 👏

[uquantum]

Terrific! Absolutely loved "repetition and failure is the key to success🫖" and "feel gratitude when giving♥". Made me very open to your next 13 lessons. For me #15 would be that any startup (or VC funding them) might watch Ken's 14 hard lessons on Day 1 and periodically, especially when considering a new product or the going gets tough