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The #1 skill that differentiates Senior Software Engineers
The skill that will propel you to the ranks of senior engineers
In the big world of software engineering, there is debate over how to classify an engineer’s seniority level. Is it the number of frameworks they have mastered? Is it the code’s cleanliness? Is it the number of projects on which they have worked? All of these are critical factors, and they vary according to the company. However, there is one skill that is always required, and a software engineer who possesses it is regarded as an absolute senior.
Before I start to discuss this skill, I’d like to ask a question to you, dear reader: What do you do when you want to use a Regular Expression?
- Write it on your own instantly.
- Try reading a cheat sheet before attempting to write it.
- Look up “Regex for…” on Google.
In fact, most software engineers attempt to find a ready-to-use regex on websites such as Stack Overflow and simply copy it, or they may even post a question on the same website requesting one. This can be a good idea to search for common regexes, such as one that matches an ISO date format, but it is usually a waste of time to search for one that fits your case, and it is better to write your own right away.
