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Exchange of experiences leads to a higher developer experience

In recent years, developer experience (DX, post in German) has become an increasingly important topic. Organizations are realizing that investing in DX for their development teams is worth it, both in terms of productivity and developer satisfaction.

In one of our next posts we will talk about what knowledge management is and how it is related to DX. The current article focuses on the aspect of experience sharing and why it is so crucial for higher DX.

Why is a good developer experience so important?

Developer experience is critical to developer satisfaction and well-being. It determines how they interact with a platform, framework, or API. With a good DX, work is more fun. Developers can reach their full potential without frustration - resulting in better quality and more innovation. A good DX also reduces the number of errors, thus speeding up development.

Poor developer experience not only leads to lower employee satisfaction, but also leads to surprisingly high costs (German) due to higher fluctuation.

However, improving DX is not an easy task. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all formula, and what works for one company may not necessarily work for another. Instead, it is important to understand the specific needs and challenges of the company and to adapt the solutions to them.

However, one important aspect is crucial for all companies: the exchange of experiences.

How does sharing experiences lead to a higher developer experience?

By sharing knowledge, ideas and experiences, development teams can learn from each other, improve the quality of their work, and find the best solutions for their respective environments.

First, it is important that everyone involved—from the junior developer to the director of engineering—speak openly about their experiences. This is the only way to identify potential for improvement and take action. Feedback from external experts can also be helpful. Especially with more complex products or platforms, development teams benefit from the insights and experiences of others.

Regular exchange of experiences is important for continuous learning and development. One way to achieve this is a series of appointments in which the developers talk to each other regularly. This way they can share their ideas and help each other. There are many formats that are suitable for an exchange:

  • Communities of Practice
  • Round Table Meetings
  • Mentorings
  • Lunch & Learn Events
  • Brown Bag Sessions
  • Blog Articles
  • Conferences & Meetups

The regular exchange about the developer experience is important for the success of products and platforms. This is the way to identify potential for improvement and constantly improve the DX.

Benefits of sharing experiences between developers

Sharing experiences is not only a real opportunity to acquire new knowledge, but also has other key benefits:

  • Information can be used more efficiently
  • Knowledge is available faster than when experimenting
  • Creativity increases and new ideas can be developed
  • A change of perspective is valuable
  • The company benefits from better networking among developers
  • A sense of togetherness grows, and cooperation improves
  • Developers can increase the quality of work
  • Colleagues can motivate and inspire each other

Relying on experiments and trial and error alone can get you the results you want, but it may lead to frustration. Every experiment will require time to be invested and may not be successful. When time is tight on a project, this may become a bigger problem.

When working with an experienced colleague, the information can be used quickly and efficiently. The developers builds up new knowledge quickly and without potential for frustration.

So, there are many valid reasons for a constant exchange of experiences. But how can a company promote this?

Encourage exchange of experiences

The exchange of experiences may be difficult at times, because developers work in different teams or even on different projects. In order to promote the exchange of experiences, the following points should be observed.

  1. First, it is important that developers have the time and desire to exchange ideas with others. Exchange ideas with others could be part of the personal time at regular intervals.
  2. In addition to technical discussions, the personal level should also be included. In this way, the participants can get to know each other better and create a basis of trust on which an exchange can be built.
  3. Companies can use the formats mentioned above. It is important not only to rely on conferences and workshops, as these are limited in time. Instead, developers should be given the opportunity to integrate the exchange into their everyday work.

8Buddy offers this possibility. Developers can ask questions here and have them answered or look for a buddy with the appropriate experience with whom they can exchange information. In this way, an exchange of experience is possible just when a developer needs it.

Conclusion

If we focus on sharing our experiences instead of keeping them to ourselves, we can improve the developer experience in the IT industry. Sharing experiences is a lengthy process, but it is essential to drive development. By sharing experiences, we can build the platform we need to make our visions come true.

In addition to various formats such as conferences or meetups, companies should establish an exchange of experiences in everyday life so that every developer receives support exactly when he needs it. With our platform from 8Buddy, he finds exactly the expert he is looking for. Do you have questions about our solution? We're here for you!