Coding Chats episode 33 - John Crickett and Robert Roskam explore the significance of open source involvement, the critical nature of effective onboarding, the myth of 10x engineers, and the challenges of transitioning into management.

They discuss how soft skills and community engagement are essential for software engineers, the importance of creating a supportive onboarding experience, and the misconceptions surrounding high-performing engineers.

Additionally, they reflect on the realities of management and the emotional dynamics that influence decision-making within organizations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to FastAPI and Starlette

01:50 Involvement in Django and Open Source Events

04:17 Understanding the Python Software Foundation

07:02 The Journey to Software Engineering

09:43 The Importance of Onboarding

12:09 Measuring Developer Experience and Impact

15:03 The Honeymoon Period in New Employment

17:52 Empathy in Leadership and Management Decisions

22:49 The Importance of Team Commitment

24:30 Onboarding and Documentation: The Foundation of Care

26:33 Debunking the Myth of 10x Engineers

29:48 Collaboration vs. Isolation in Software Engineering

33:00 Effective Knowledge Sharing in Large Teams

37:17 Transitioning to Management: Surprises and Realities

44:06 The Value of an MBA for Software Engineering Leaders

Robert's Links:

robertroskam.com

John's Links:

John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/

John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett

John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social

Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:

Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.

Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Takeaways:

Many software engineers are not involved in open source or community events.

Soft skills are crucial for making projects successful.

Onboarding is a critical period for new hires to learn and integrate into the company culture.

Organizations often underestimate the time it takes for new hires to become productive.

The concept of 10x engineers is often misunderstood; true value comes from collaboration and team dynamics.

Effective onboarding can significantly reduce the time to first meaningful contribution.

Emotional factors often drive organizational decisions more than rationality.

An MBA can provide useful insights, but it's not necessary for all management roles.

The best engineers are those who elevate their teammates and foster collaboration.

All departments within an organization must work together for overall success.