Navigating Team Dynamics: A Cautionary Coding Tale
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Chapter 1 The Team Composition
Let me share an experience that highlights the importance of teamwork in programming.
A few months back, I was tasked with improving a feature on the backend of a long-term project. My team was comprised of four members: three developers, including myself, and one technical lead. I was the sole woman in the group.
One of my colleagues, whom I will refer to as Alpha, had been with the team longer than I had, while I was relatively new, dubbed "Omega." Our team frequently experienced personnel changes due to resignations and contract expirations. At that time, we were still following a waterfall methodology, which sometimes left our tech lead uncertain about how to delegate tasks effectively.
Section 1.1 Task Allocation Challenges
During this period, an additional feature was required for two products. However, the enhancements for both products needed to be implemented simultaneously, which complicated our task distribution.
A conversation unfolded between Alpha and me:
Alpha: "Hey, Omega, which task would you prefer to tackle?"
Omega: "I'm not sure; the tasks can't be separated, so we need to work on both at the same time."
Alpha: "Alright."
Omega: "Which branch will we be using for the existing code?"
Alpha: "I'll set it up first."
Once Alpha created a new branch, I checked it out and worked diligently until the task was completed. Before pushing my changes, I ensured everything was functioning correctly and thoroughly tested.
I then updated Alpha:
Omega: "I've just pushed the changes. Please verify if anything else is needed."
Alpha: "Thanks, I'll take a look."
Section 1.2 The Disheartening Discovery
Two days later, I remained calm, waiting for feedback. However, I noticed there was no follow-up from Alpha. It wasn't until our tech lead inquired about the progress that I realized the situation was not as I thought.
TL: "How is the enhancement coming along? Have you completed it?"
Alpha: "Yes, I've pushed it to GitHub."
Curiosity piqued, I checked GitHub, only to find that my code had vanished. Unbeknownst to me, Alpha had created yet another branch and made enhancements there—separate from mine. When he completed his work, he merged it into the development branch, leaving my contributions unacknowledged.
This left me feeling disheartened and frustrated. I worried that the tech lead might perceive me as having not contributed at all.
Chapter 2 A Lesson in Respect
Through this experience, I want to convey a vital lesson to fellow developers: it's crucial to respect the contributions of your peers, regardless of their perceived quality. Even if the code appears messy, lacks clarity, or deviates from best practices, provide constructive feedback and guidance rather than sidelining their efforts, as my colleague did.
Remember, even the most skilled professionals once navigated the novice phase of their careers.
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