Today, everyone wants to be what we call a “10x developer.” However, this term is often misunderstood and overrated. Essentially, a productive or 10x developer, in my opinion, is someone who is able to make full use of all the tools available to them, by letting these tools handle redundant and repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on complex and creative work . Here are some tips and tricks for becoming a 10x developer:
Use scripts to automate repetitive tasks:
Automating repetitive tasks through scripts is a game-changer for developers looking to optimize their workflows.
By identifying which tasks can be automated, such as testing and deployment, and then letting scripts handle it, developers can focus on the more challenging parts of their work and save a lot of time in the process.
For example, this script creates a new project folder based on user input and opens it in File Explorer:
import os
import subprocess
def create_project_folder(project_name):
# Create a new folder for the project
os.makedirs(project_name)
# Open the project folder in the file explorer
subprocess.run(['explorer', project_name])
# Get the project name from the user
project_name = input("Enter the name of your new project: ")
# Call the function to create and open the project folder
create_project_folder(project_name)Keyboard shortcut mastery
Proficiency in keyboard shortcuts in a code editor or integrated development environment is critical to speeding up your coding workflow.
Some examples of shortcuts for VS code:
Ctrl + P: Quick file navigation, you can open files by file name.
Ctrl + Shift + L: Select all occurrences of the current word.
Ctrl + /: Toggle line comments.
Ctrl + A: Select all lines in the current file.
Ctrl + F: Find specific text in code.
Ctrl + Shift + P: Open the command panel to execute various commands.
Alt + Up/Down Arrow: Move the current line up or down.
Shift + Right Arrow (→): Select the character to the right of the cursor.
Shift + Left Arrow (←): Select the character to the left of the cursor.
Alt + click: Hold down the Alt key and click at different locations in the code to create multiple cursors, allowing you to edit or type at those locations simultaneously.
Don't over-design
Avoid the temptation to over-engineer your solution. Adding unnecessary code or architectural complexity is a common pitfall for many engineers and programmers. However, keeping it simple not only benefits your current workflow, but it also makes it easier for others to understand and collaborate with your code in the future.
Master the version control workflow
Proficient in version control workflows, such as Git, will greatly improve your work efficiency and help team members work together to avoid mutual interference.
Especially with the help of GUI alternatives like GitKraken or other GUI alternatives that provide intuitive interfaces, tasks such as branching, merging, and tracking changes can be simplified to make collaboration smoother.
If something goes wrong, you can easily go back to the previous state. It's like having a safety net that ensures everyone's work comes together smoothly, making the entire process of software development faster and easier.
Leverage existing components and libraries
Don’t reinvent the wheel, use proven solutions. Not only does this save time, it also makes your code more reliable and efficient.
This approach allows you to focus more on what makes your project unique. This is a smart strategy to increase productivity and create powerful software without having to start from scratch.
Embrace HTML Emmet efficient coding
Emmet is a toolkit for web developers that enables fast and efficient coding through abbreviations. If you're working with HTML, Emmet can greatly speed up the process of creating HTML structures.
div>(header>ul>li*2>a)+footer>p<div>
<header>
<ul>
<li><a href=""></a></li>
<li><a href=""></a></li>
</ul>
</header>
<footer>
<p></p>
</footer>
</div>Leveraging AI assistants
GitHub Copilot: It is an artificial intelligence-based code completion tool developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It changes the way developers write code by generating smart suggestions and auto-completion. This is one of the best AI tools I have tried so far.
TabNine: is an artificial intelligence-based code editor auto-completion extension. It goes beyond traditional autocompletion by using machine learning models to predict and suggest entire lines or blocks of code. Users can choose to use TabNine for free, with some limitations, or subscribe to the Pro version for premium features.
ChatGPT: ChatGPT can be a real game-changer for your productivity. For example, it can provide helpful examples, such as suggesting an array for testing or helping refactor a code snippet.
If you're stuck on a programming concept or need clarification, ChatGPT provides quick and easy-to-understand explanations. It's like having a knowledgeable coding partner available 24/7 to help you with your coding challenges, making your development process smoother and more efficient.
Extensions in VS Code
By adding extensions to VS Code, you can significantly increase productivity, add functionality, automate tasks, and enhance your development environment.
Prettier: Prettier is an opinionated code formatting tool that automatically formats your code to make it look neat and consistent, eliminating the trouble of manual formatting. With Prettier, your code will become more readable and you can focus more on writing logic instead of worrying about style.
Auto rename tag: The Auto rename tag extension acts like a coding assistant for HTML or XML. When you change the name of the opening tag, this extension automatically updates the closing tag to match.
Better Comments: The Better Comments extension will help you create more user-friendly comments in your code. With this extension you will be able to categorize comments.
IntelliSense : IntelliSense is your coding assistant that provides smart code completion and suggestions as you type. It anticipates your needs and provides relevant options to make coding more efficient. Some examples:
Peacock: Peacock is very helpful when you are working on many projects and jumping between VSCode windows. It allows you to link a color to each project so that every time you open it, you can quickly see which window you are in by color.
Finish
All in all, adopting these strategies and tools can really revolutionize your approach to coding, making you a more efficient and effective developer. Embracing 10x thinking not only increases individual productivity, but also positively contributes to the team. So, hurry up and implement these tips and watch your coding journey reach a whole new level.
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