The Truth About Coding That Changes Everything
Source: Dev.to
Background
Recently a LinkedIn post I shared sparked a heated discussion. The post was about what truly makes a developer senior. Its core message was to focus on building real products rather than obsessing over syntax.
The Core Message
True seniority is when you:
- Stop obsessing over syntax.
- Realize that end users don’t care about your code.
- Understand that coding is fundamentally about collaboration and communication.
Most people agreed with the overall message, except for the line:
“End users don’t care about our code.”
Some interpreted this as permission to ignore quality and standards, which is a misunderstanding.
Clarifying the Point
The statement “end users don’t care about code” is meant to shift focus away from the tools and abstractions we use and toward outcomes that matter to users:
- Stop fighting over languages and tools.
- Stop building excessive abstractions.
- Stop scaling prematurely “just in case.”
- Choose reliable, well‑understood technology.
When we neglect good coding practices, end users suffer: buggy, slow applications are unacceptable. What matters to users is speed and reliability, not whether we used jQuery, React, or the latest shiny framework. They care about whether we solve their problems.
Audiences for Our Code
We write code for three distinct audiences, each with different priorities:
- End users – care about performance, stability, and functionality.
- Future coders – need readable, maintainable, and well‑documented code.
- Business owners – look for cost‑effectiveness, timely delivery, and alignment with business goals.
Being senior means meeting the needs of all three groups, not just one.
Personal Reflection
For a long time I thought coding was only about typing syntax. Realizing the broader responsibilities of a senior developer inspired me to create “Street‑Smart Coding,” a roadmap I wish I had when I started out.