In this week's episode I talk about Professionalism within Software Development and introduce the Programmer's Oath by "Uncle" Bob Martin -> https://red-folder.com/podcasts/51-Professionalism-in-Software-Development--The-Programmers-Oath
I'm currently recording a number of follow up episodes where I look at each oath in turn.
And today I feel the second oath is talking to me directly:
The code that I produce will always be my best work. I will not knowingly allow code that is defective either in behavior or structure to accumulate.
The important bit there is "my best work".
And after two nights of poor sleep (due to high temperature and storms), I have to admit I'd question if I'm up to doing my best work today.
In the upcoming episode (probably #53), I talk about a software developer needing to have a level of self realisation to understand when they are not at their best.
Regardless of the job we do or how much we love it - there will be days that we get out of bed and really just don't feel up to it. It maybe illness, it maybe lack of sleep, it maybe any number of worried brought on by the Covid-19 crisis - there will always be times we cannot bring our "A game".
And in those situations, the professional thing to do is admit it - both to yourself and the wider team.
It maybe a short term funk that an extra coffee will put right or a brisk walk - but have that self awareness to know that, in your current state, you may do more harm than good.
The problem comes of course in that most line managers are unlikely to take it well if a developer strolls into their office and says "My head really isn't in it today. I'm not going to be able to that urgent job. I'm gonna go for a walk in the park instead".
Its probably the right thing for that developer to do - for themselves, the team and organisation. To continue on with the urgent task is likely to risk putting the work further behind because of mistakes.
But that is a difficult subject to raise to the line manager and then to accept as the line manager.
Both parties need to have the courage to accept that its true.
And the organisation's culture needs to support that.
And of course, as with so much of my work, we are back to the organisation's culture. To do our best work, the organisation has to be at its best.
It needs to be an open, honest, learning culture - something I will continue to champion.