How to Become a Successful Software Engineer: Beyond Step-by-Step Processes

Becoming a successful software engineer and programmer requires more than just following a set of instructions. While there are indeed logical, step-by-step processes involved in coding, true success in software engineering often hinges on a different mindset—intuitive thinking.

The Two Types of Thinkers

Those in the world of software engineering can roughly be divided into two categories, as described by the Myers Briggs types: Sensing (S) and Intuitive (N).

Sensing Thinkers (S)

Sensing people approach tasks by focusing on the concrete details and immediate results. They value step-by-step processes and thorough instructions. For sensing individuals, a clear, detailed plan is essential to achieving success.

Intuitive Thinkers (N)

Intuitive individuals, on the other hand, start with broader concepts and have a predictive understanding of how things work. They can grasp complex ideas and systems without needing to delve into every tiny detail first. Intuitive thinking involves the ability to see the big picture and apply concepts in flexible ways.

The Challenges of Following Step-by-Step Processes

While intuitive thinkers may seem more natural for software engineering, following detailed step-by-step processes can still be valuable. However, as described in Frederick P. Brooks Jr.'s The Mythical Man-Month, even when coders are given precise specifications, the outcome can be a failure without the ability to think intuitively.

“When coders were given specifications in excruciating detail and asked to code them, the project was a massive failure.”

This is because programming and software engineering involve much more than just coding. They require the ability to:

Clarify functional requirements that may be vaguely stated Understand existing architecture and implementations Consider user experience and personas (if applicable) Understand the business domain Utilize programming language subtleties Tap into available libraries and tools

From this broader perspective, it becomes clear why intuitive thinking is crucial. Without the ability to think beyond the details, a software engineer might become a mere coder who requires constant micromanagement from others. This is neither efficient nor scalable in a professional environment.

Intuitive Thinking and Success in Software Engineering

Intuitive thinkers are more likely to excel in software engineering because they can:

Tackle vaguely specified functional requirements Figure out the best way to implement a concept Understand existing systems and architectures Think about the user experience and personas Understand the business domain Utilize programming language subtleties No need for every step-by-step process detail

Successful software engineers often possess these qualities. They can take a project from vague requirements to a fully functional product without getting bogged down in every step-by-step detail.

Conclusion

If you aim to become a truly successful software engineer, you need to develop the ability to think intuitively. Starting with vague requirements and working through the entire process is a hallmark of programming. Those who need a detailed, step-by-step process for everything will likely find their careers limited to more structured roles. For those willing to embrace the challenge of intuitive thinking, however, the rewards in software engineering can be immense.