Chapter 5. Making the Most of the Early Years As a Software Developer

“If living conditions don’t stop improving in this country, we’re going to run out of humble beginnings for our great men.”

—Russell P. Askue

Software development is a wonderful field in part because it’s always so fresh and dynamic. The dynamism of the industry and the rapid pace of change keep everyone focused on personal growth and learning—there’s absolutely no escaping it. Some people thrive on the elements of change and constant learning, whereas others struggle. But throughout the churn and the constant refactoring of best practices, one constant holds true across the industry: The first five years of professional work are always the most educational. During these years, ...

Get Making it Big in Software: Get the Job. Work the Org. Become Great now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.