Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [skills]

Questions around the proficiency of a particular technology or ability. Examples could be proficiency in C# or gathering requirements.

Questions around the proficiency of a particular technology or ability. Examples could be proficiency in C# or gathering requirements.

160 questions
876
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357 answers

What is the single most effective thing you did to improve your programming skills?

Looking back at my career and life as a programmer, there were plenty of different ways I improved my programming skills - reading code, writing code, reading books, listening to podcasts, watching screencasts and more. My question is: What is the…
Oded
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333
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19 answers

When should you call yourself a senior developer?

Possible Duplicate: Whats the difference between Entry Level/Jr/Sr developers? I'm curious what senior developer means because apparently the definition doesn't mean what I thought it would. I keep seeing these teens at 22-23 years old who call…
Kev
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265
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33 answers

How do you tell if advice from a senior developer is bad?

Recently, I started my first job as a junior developer and I have a more senior developer in charge of mentoring me in this small company. However, there are several times when he would give me advice on things that I just couldn't agree with (it…
learnjourney
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245
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174 answers

What should every programmer know?

Regardless of programming language(s) or operating system(s) used or the environment they develop for, what should every programmer know? Some background: I'm interested in becoming the best programmer I can. As part of this process I'm trying to…
Matt Lacey
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198
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9 answers

What's the difference between Entry Level/Jr/Sr developers?

Other than title and pay, what is the difference? What different responsibilities do they have. How knowledgeable/experienced are they? What is the basic measure to determine where a developer fits into this basic structure?
JD Isaacks
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176
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36 answers

How can programming ability be used to help people in poverty?

As a student studying Computer Science in college, I often hear from friends working on various humanitarian projects, and I want to do something myself. But it seems that programmers don't have as many obvious avenues to help out as, say, doctors…
Matthew
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160
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10 answers

Would you put your Stack Overflow profile link on your CV / Resume?

If applying for a new job, would you put your Stack Overflow profile link on your resume? This would show the employer you're an active member of the development community and also provide an insight into your knowledge + how well you convey your…
billy.bob
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157
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13 answers

If my team has low skill, should I lower the skill of my code?

For example, there is a common snippet in JS to get a default value: function f(x) { x = x || 'default_value'; } This kind of snippet is not easily understood by all the members of my team, their JS level being low. Should I not use this trick…
Florian Margaine
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136
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12 answers

How to recognize a good programmer?

Our company is looking for new programmers. And here comes the problem - there are many developers who look really great at the interview, seem to know the technology you need and have a good job background, but after two months of work, you find…
gius
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106
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17 answers

Importance of hobby projects

I want to know, how important is it to program in your spare time? Is it necessary to work your 9-5 as a programmer and then get home and work on your hobby to become a better programmer? This said, I know you only get better at programming by,…
Pieter van Niekerk
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106
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22 answers

Do job postings exaggerate their requirements?

I feel like a reasonably qualified programmer, but a lot of job postings I run into make me feel otherwise. Almost all of them separate qualifications into requirements and desirables, but even the requirements part can be daunting. I've seen a lot…
Tesserex
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100
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10 answers

What are the key differences between software engineers and programmers?

What are the key differences between software engineers and programmers?
grokus
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94
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7 answers

What is the difference between these senior software engineer titles?

I'm currently a senior research software engineer at a large company and am being offered a "senior staff engineer" position somewhere else. I am not sure if the new position's title conveys a sideways move or an advancement. So, all other things…
stackoverflowuser2010
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94
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14 answers

Learn programming backwards, or "so I failed the FizzBuzz test. Now what?"

A Little Background I'm 28 today, and I've never had any formal training in software development, but I do have two higher education degrees equivalent to a B.A in Public Relations and an Executive MBA focused on Project Management. I've worked on…
moraleida
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90
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14 answers

Hiring a programmer much more qualified & experienced than yourself?

My employer is hiring a programmer - more specifically, I am interviewing and selecting the person who will fill the position. The best candidate right now is far more qualified than I am, older, and a lot more experienced. Other people I've talked…
Kyle Lowry
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