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5 Habits That Separate Senior Developers from Juniors

Jacques
careergrowthsenior-developerhabits

5 Habits That Separate Senior Developers from Juniors

The difference between a junior and senior developer isn't just about years of experience—it's about the habits and mindset you develop along the way.

1. Reading Code Before Writing It

Senior developers spend significant time reading and understanding existing code before making changes. They know that understanding the context prevents bugs and maintains consistency.

Pro tip: Before adding a new feature, spend at least 15-20 minutes exploring related code in the codebase.

2. Writing Self-Documenting Code

  • Clear variable and function names
  • Small, focused functions
  • Consistent patterns
// Junior approach
function calc(a, b, t) {
  return t === 'add' ? a + b : a - b;

// Senior approach function calculateWithOperation(firstNumber, secondNumber, operation) { const operations = { add: (a, b) => a + b, subtract: (a, b) => a - b, }; return operationsoperation; } `

3. Thinking About Edge Cases

  • What happens with empty inputs?
  • What about very large datasets?
  • How does this behave under poor network conditions?

4. Embracing Code Reviews

  • Provide constructive, specific feedback
  • Ask questions instead of making demands
  • Explain the "why" behind suggestions

5. Continuous Learning

  • Reading documentation
  • Experimenting with new technologies
  • Sharing knowledge with others
"The expert in anything was once a beginner." - Helen Hayes

Conclusion

These habits aren't developed overnight. Start with one, practice it consistently, and gradually add more to your routine.

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