A Tiny Tip for Beginner Developers

The process of applying for jobs can actually become a source of inspiration for a blog post.

While filling out a job application, I came across a question that went something like this: “What’s one lesson for new developers that often goes unmentioned?”

That question really made me think. I gave a short answer at the time, but here I’d like to share a more detailed response.

Let’s get started!

Learning from Each Other

Back when I was an art teacher, I often told my students to look at good artwork regularly. Seeing high-quality pieces over and over helps you learn faster than just practicing on your own. I think programming works the same way.

Even if you don’t understand everything at first, reviewing other people’s code helps you learn to read and understand code much faster. Over time, as this becomes part of your daily work in a team, it helps you stay aligned with your teammates. You also learn to ask better questions, give thoughtful feedback, and discover different ways of solving problems

I’ve noticed that people who don’t shy away from this process tend to progress much faster.

Some people assume that code reviews are only for experienced engineers. In reality, starting early can make a big difference. If you only focus on writing your own code, it’s easy to get used to your own patterns and miss out on other ways of thinking.

I don’t think anyone should wait years before getting involved in the review process.

Review with Care

And here’s a simple tip on how to approach code reviews (I once received this advice from a very experienced developer): Just imagine it’s your own PR, and that you’ll be fully responsible if something goes wrong 🙂

This mindset helps a lot. Instead of quickly scanning the code, you start thinking more carefully about edge cases, clarity, and potential side effects. You become more attentive and more supportive at the same time.

If you have doubts about an implementation, don’t hesitate to pull the changes and run them locally. It helps you understand the logic better and makes your feedback more thoughtful and constructive.

That’s it. If you’re at the beginning of your development journey, I hope this small piece of advice - to review code regularly and take it seriously - will be helpful.

• Software Development
• Code Review