I'm a backend developer nearing the end of my second year and primarily work with Kotlin and Spring Boot. At my company, I manage a live streaming solution that supports around 8,000 concurrent viewers. I've worked on various projects, such as fixing HLS redirect issues due to DNS problems, implementing CI/CD tools in an air-gapped environment with GitHub Actions and Squid Proxy, and building a real-time stock analysis system that processes thousands of ticks per second. Outside of work, I've created mobile apps, developed Chrome extensions, and contributed to open-source projects. Despite all of this experience, I'm feeling stagnant in my growth as a developer. I'm seeking advice on what I should focus on to advance towards being a skilled senior developer.
4 Answers
Remember that growth isn't always linear; it comes in waves. Broaden your perspective on what you can achieve and the impact you want to have. Set your sights higher and aim for personal progress and impact rather than just skill accumulation. That shift in mindset could spark new growth for you.
Try diving into coding books to expand your knowledge! One recommendation is 'The Soul of a New Machine.' It offers some great insights and could inspire you.
Develop your curiosity! Explore programming topics that aren't directly related to your job. For instance, check out something different like Bats for Bash. Try writing some tools with it. You might not use it in your day-to-day work, but it could lead to unexpected learning opportunities.
I’m already doing similar things, like comparing coroutines vs. virtual threads and writing test code, but I still feel stuck.
Why not take on a challenge? Try rewriting a smaller project in assembly. It’s a humbling experience and will significantly improve your memory management skills.
I finish one coding book every month—it's a great way to keep learning!