Hey there, fellow devs! Moving up from a beginner to a junior developer brings its own unique set of challenges and opportunities for growth.
After experiencing these firsthand and mentoring other juniors, I've compiled the most common hurdles we face at this exciting career stage and how to tackle them head-on.
Table of Contents
- The Code Review Anxiety😰
- The Legacy Code Labyrinth🗺️
- The Estimation Enigma⏰
- The Production Paranoia🚨
- The Scope Creep Struggle🎯
- The Documentation Duty📝
- The Work-Life Balance War⚖️
- The Debugging Dilemma🐞
- The Communication Conundrum🗣️
- The Knowledge Gap🧠
- Bonus. The Imposter Syndrome 🎭
- Conclusion
- Pro Tips
1. The Code Review Anxiety😰
Opening your first pull request at work feels like presenting your art project to the entire class.
You've triple-checked everything, yet that notification of "25 comments" on your PR still makes your stomach drop like you're on a roller coaster.
How to handle reviews like pro:
- Embrace feedback as a learning opportunity
- Document your code decisions
- Review others' code to learn different perspectives, this is the best way to learn for any junior or senior developer
- Ask questions and don't be afraid to ask for clarification and help
Remember, code reviews are not about you - so dont take it personally. They're about improving the codebase and your skills. You'll get better with each review.
2. The Legacy Code Labyrinth🗺️
Onboarding onto new team or project means diving into a maze of code that looks like it was written in a foreign language.
You're not sure where to start, and every change you make feels like a shot in the dark.
How to get to know the codebase:
- Start with small, isolated changes/modules
- Document what you learn and update outdated documentation (if any)
- Use debugging tools to trace code flow and console.log for quick insights
- Don't be afraid to ask for context from code maintainers
Remember, every developer was once a newbie to the codebase. Take it one step at a time, and you'll soon find your way through the labyrinth.
3. The Estimation Enigma⏰
Most often, you'll be asked to estimate how long a task will take. And more often than not, you'll be wrong.
Underestimating tasks can lead to missed deadlines, while overestimating can make you look slow.
How to calculate estimates like pro:
- Break tasks into smaller chunks (story points)
- Add buffer time for unknowns (always add buffer time even if you think you don't need it)
- Learn from past estimates
- Track your time to improve future estimates
Interesting story I once estimated a project to take 3 months and it took 6 months, and I was so embarrassed but there were so many unknowns and changes in the project that I couldn't have predicted. So it is okay to be wrong, learn from it and move on.
4. The Production Paranoia🚨
Your first production deployment feels like performing surgery - one wrong move and everything flatlines.
I still remember my first deployment, I was so nervous, I was checking the logs every 5 minutes, and I was so scared that I would break something and it did happen, I broke the website, but it was a good learning experience 😅.
How to be better at deployment:
- Practice deployment in staging environments (test environments)
- Automate deployment processes with CI/CD pipelines (I love GitHub Actions, it is so easy to use)
- Monitor logs and metrics for early detection of issues
- Have a rollback plan in case things go south
- Remember, mistakes happen, and that's how we learn
Deployment anxiety is a common thing for all developers, I still break things in production, and I have been doing this for years so it is normal.
5. The Scope Creep Struggle🎯
What started as a "simple feature" somehow evolved into refactoring half the application. You're not sure how it happened, but now you're knee-deep in requirements that seem to multiply like rabbits.
How to define scope like pro:
- Learn to identify red flags
- Practice scope definition and management (make those requirements clear)
- Communicate concerns early and often
- Document requirement changes and their impact
I like to keep a document of all the requirements and changes that happen during the project and email it to the client, so they know what is happening and what is changing, and they can approve it or not.
Mostly I use it as a reference to show the client that they asked for this feature, and it is not included in the original scope, so they need to pay extra for it 😉💰
6. The Documentation Duty📝
Writing documentation feels like doing chores - but deep down, you know it's essential for your future self and your team.
I know, I know documentation is boring, So use below tips to make it less boring and more fun.
How to handle documentation like pro:
- Document as you code (I comment a sudo code before the actual code)
- Use clear naming conventions (My teammates used to hate it, now they are thankful for it)
- Create helpful README files
- Use Ai Copilot to write documentation (I use GitHub Copilot)
- Write meaningful commit messages
Commit message hacks:
I like to fit commit messages in types FIX, FEAT, DOCS, STYLE, REFACTOR, TEST, CHORE
-
FIXfor bug fixes -
FEATfor new features -
DOCSfor documentation -
STYLEfor code style changes -
REFACTORfor refactoring code -
TESTfor adding tests -
CHOREfor updating build tasks, package manager configs, etc.
7. The Work-Life Balance War⚖️
Realizing that "just one more commit" at 9 PM isn't sustainable, but the excitement of solving problems makes it hard to step away.
I have been there, I have worked 12 hours a day, and I have worked on weekends, and it is not worth it if it affects your sleep cycle or health or relationships.
I totally understand the excitement of solving a problem, finding a bug, or implementing a new feature, but you need to take care of yourself, and you need to have a life outside of coding.
How to handle work-life balance like pro:
- Set clear work boundaries
- Take regular breaks and stretch or take a walk
- Practice time management techniques
- Maintain hobbies outside coding
- Remember, you're more than your code you are a human not a robot, So kick back, relax, and enjoy your life.
I personally like to go for a walk, ride a bike, or if mood strikes take my motorcycle for a spin 🏍️.
8. The Debugging Dilemma🐞
Debugging complex issues can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack, especially when you're still learning the codebase.
How to handle debug like pro:
- Develop a systematic debugging process
- Utilize logging and monitoring tools
- Break down problems into smaller steps
- Don't be afraid to ask for help
Debugging is like detective work - it requires patience, attention to detail, and a methodical approach. You'll get better with practice. If you web dev check these console log techniques to debug faster.
9. The Communication Conundrum🗣️
Transitioning from solo projects to working in a team can be daunting, as you navigate different communication styles and workflows.
How to communicate like pro:
- Practice active listening
- Seek feedback from teammates
- Contribute to team discussions and decisions (even if you are wrong, it is okay)
- Sometimes just talk about anything other than work, it helps to build a relationship with your teammates
Communication is a two-way street, and the more you practice, the better you'll get at it.
10. The Knowledge Gap🧠
Feeling like you're constantly playing catch-up as new technologies and best practices emerge can be overwhelming.
How to manage knowledge gap like pro:
Identify areas for improvement
Allocate time for continuous learning
Attend conferences and meetups
Find a mentor to guide your growth
The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don't know 😹
Bonus. The Imposter Syndrome 🎭
Even as a senior developer, you may still experience self-doubt and feel like you don't belong.
How to overcome imposter syndrome:
- Celebrate your small wins
- Remind yourself of your progress
- Share your knowledge with others
- Surround yourself with supportive peers
Imposter syndrome is common among high achievers, and it's a sign that you care about your work and want to do your best. Cheers to that!
I do have imposter syndrome when it comes to ui design, people say I am good at it, but I feel like I am not good enough, but I keep learning and improving thats why I created Chakra Framer ui kit based on chakra ui and framer motion to improve my design skills.
Conclusion
The junior developer phase is like learning to drive - you know the basics, but real-world traffic is a different game altogether. Remember that every senior developer went through these same challenges. Your growth during this phase sets the foundation for your entire career.
Pro Tips:
- Find a mentor
- Build your professional network (I prefer Twitter/X over LinkedIn)
- Keep learning consistently (Watch random video from fireship.io or Traversy Media)
- Document your achievements (on GitHub, personal blog or on Twitter)
- Practice self-advocacy
Remember, being a junior developer isn't about knowing everything - it's about knowing how to find answers and grow from challenges. Your fresh perspective and eagerness to learn are valuable assets to any team.
Get In Touch
thesohailjafri (Sohail Jafri) · GitHub
He is likely optimizing his old code, even though no one has requested it. - thesohailjafri
github.com
| Platform | Handle |
|---|---|
| Youtube | @thesohailjafri |
| X/Twitter | @thesohailjafri |
| @thesohailjafri | |
| @thesohailjafri | |
| Github | @thesohailjafri |
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