Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [solo-development]

Programmers working alone, both on personal projects and on contracts.

Working alone on a software project presents some peculiar challenge. The programmer usually has to manage the whole toolchain by himself/herself (version control, continuous integration, development system administration and so on) and has to be autonomous on most, if not all, the aspects of development task at hand (tools, libraries, algorithms and so on). In many cases, the programmer works at his/her house for a contracting company ("telecommuting").

In this area you can ask questions regarding this peculiar way to work on a software project.

62 questions
187
votes
19 answers

How do I review my own code?

I'm working on a project solo and have to maintain my own code. Usually code review is done not by the code author, so the reviewer can look at the code with the fresh eyes — however, I don't have such luxury. What practices can I employ to more…
Max Yankov
  • 901
  • 2
  • 9
  • 17
166
votes
111 answers

Are there any famous one-man-army programmers?

Lately I have been learning of more and more programmers who think that if they were working alone, they would be faster and would deliver more quality. Usually that feeling is attached to a feeling that they do the best programming in their team…
DFectuoso
  • 111
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
147
votes
7 answers

Agile for the Solo Developer

How would someone implement Agile process concepts as a solo developer? Agile seems useful for getting applications developed at a faster pace, but it also seems very team oriented...
kelleystar
  • 1,589
  • 2
  • 11
  • 8
140
votes
13 answers

Time difference between developing with unit tests vs no tests

I'm a solo developer with a pretty time-constrained work environment where development time ranges usually from 1-4 weeks per project, depending on either requirements, urgency, or both. At any given time I handle around 3-4 projects, some having…
Revenant
  • 1,395
  • 2
  • 11
  • 16
121
votes
5 answers

What are the advantages of using branching as a solo developer?

First off, I am aware that many questions have been asked about VCS as a solo developer, but they are often too broad. This concerns only branching, and still it has been marked as a duplicate...the supposed duplicate is, again, marked as another…
flatterino
  • 973
  • 2
  • 7
  • 9
110
votes
11 answers

How should I organize my source tree?

I am an individual developer working, largely, on web-projects (W/LAMP) and, at times, on C/C++ (non-GUI) projects of about average scale. I often struggle with structuring my source-code tree. In fact, usually, I don't complete a project without…
check123
  • 1,307
  • 2
  • 12
  • 17
85
votes
16 answers

Best Development Methodology for One Person?

I spend a lot of time working on projects in which I am the sole developer, project manager, designer, QT person (Yes, I know... Bad!), and sometimes I'm even the client. I've tried just about everything for planning projects and managing myself,…
Eli
67
votes
5 answers

As a sole developer (for now), how should I be using Git?

I have multiple projects on Git that I eventually want to bring others into. However, right now it's just me and I use Git and GitHub very simplistically: no branches and basically just using the commits as a backup to my local files. Sometimes I'll…
VirtuosiMedia
  • 4,089
  • 4
  • 33
  • 43
60
votes
8 answers

Version control for independent developers?

Do you think it's worth it to use version control if you are an independent developer, and if so, why? Do you keep the repository on your own computer, or elsewhere, where it can serve as a backup?
vedosity
  • 825
  • 1
  • 6
  • 9
58
votes
7 answers

Solo developer vs. team developer : should I move on?

I work as a solo developer in a small company. There's more than enough work, but the same does not apply for money. Thus, I won't be seeing any new colleagues in the near future. I am responsible for absolutely everything that has do to with IT…
sbrattla
  • 793
  • 1
  • 5
  • 10
42
votes
9 answers

Working as a sole developer: getting code looked over

I have no choice but to work on my own, and can't find an adequate solution for getting my work looked over, sanity checked, having someone to brainstorm ideas with, discussing best practices and so on. I thought I'd get an answer via Jeff Atwood's…
Jodes
  • 839
  • 6
  • 12
40
votes
4 answers

How can a single developer make use of Agile Methods?

I am a freelancer and work as a single developer. In all cases, I am the person wearing different hats. I am the Scrum Master and I am the only person in the development. What I am not is the Product Owner? Are there any Agile Methods and free tools…
RPK
  • 4,378
  • 11
  • 41
  • 65
38
votes
8 answers

Working as the sole programmer at a non-tech company

I work as the back-end developer, front-end developer, systems admin, help desk and all-around 'guy who knows computers' at a small marketing company of about 15 people. I was wondering if others could share their experiences flying solo at…
Bryan M.
  • 1,017
  • 9
  • 14
38
votes
10 answers

Best version control habits for solo developer?

I'm a sole developer at my work and while I understand the benefits of VCS; I find it hard to stick to good practices. At the moment I'm using git to develop mostly web apps (which will never be open sourced due to my work). My current workflow…
dr jimbob
  • 2,071
  • 1
  • 15
  • 17
33
votes
7 answers

As a lone developer, how can I be sure I am learning and doing decent work?

Background: I work in a small (less than 75) person engineering/manufacturing company. I was hired as a developer to work with a single teammate, our purpose being to migrate the company to the modern digital age. My teammate however is not a…
Josiah
  • 451
  • 4
  • 7
1
2 3 4 5