The Best Programmers I Know

Endler says the best programmers build skill by going to the source, understanding tools at a fundamental level, and reading error messages closely. He also stresses breaking problems down, getting hands dirty, helping others, writing clearly, and keeping up with learning over time.

Reading notes

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• Read the reference instead of guessing or relying on Stack Overflow or an LLM.
• Understand a tool’s history, present, limitations, and ecosystem.
• Read error messages carefully; they often contain enough context to fix the problem.
• Break hard problems into smaller, digestible ones.
• Do not avoid code or areas of work that feel unfamiliar; learn by touching them.
• Help others even when you are busy.
• Write, because writing and programming are closely related.
• Keep learning, and evaluate new technology carefully instead of following trends.
• Talk to people across status levels and learn from junior and senior developers alike.
• Build a reputation through visible work that extends your impact.
• Be patient with computers, people, and yourself.
• Never blame the computer; keep digging for a logical explanation.
• Say “I don’t know” when you do not know, and keep asking questions.
• Refuse the temptation to guess.
• Keep code simple, because simple code is usually more maintainable.