Debugging Egos: Finding Humility Amidst Code

In the world of software development, optimism is a common trait among programmers. We tend to believe in the infallibility of our code, brushing off initial reports of errors with a confident wave

of the hand. However, this unyielding optimism can sometimes border on folly, especially when confronted with the reality that if something can go wrong, it often will. Today, we delve into why developers might cling to this optimistic outlook and explore how embracing a more realistic, humble approach can lead to better, more reliable software.

A Day to Remember: The Unseen Bug

Let me tell you a story.

One morning, as usual, Tom was working on his development task in the office. Seated comfortably at his desk, he was coding while sipping his freshly brewed coffee, the steam mingling with the soft hum of his dual monitors. The ambiance was calm and familiar, a perfect setting for productivity. Suddenly, his phone began to ring, cutting through the quiet concentration. On the other line was Sue, the head of customer service, claiming that one of her users couldn't schedule a new trip in the system because of an error in the address line. Tom asked for a screenshot of the error, and after seeing that the field was being set to null, he answered that the user had failed to fill out one of the required fields, and hung up the phone, rolling his eyes because this error could have been easily spotted by the user if they had been paying attention.

After 8 minutes, the phone rang again with the same issue. This time, Sue sent a screenshot of the input along with the error, and Tom saw a strange character in the name, claiming that the user's input was breaking the program due to a restriction in the database. Sue didn't understand a word of this, but he told her to please raise a ticket to start reviewing it. The situation rapidly escalated to the manager who asked Tom to urgently resolve the ticket.

When he started the review, he discovered that the input was okay, the request was not being completed although the UI was recovering the data and the database was supporting the characters. The only possibility: his code could be wrong. He started debugging it to finally realize that bad handling of the HTTP request and poor error logging were obscuring the real error; it was on his side. Feeling ashamed by his arrogant earlier behavior, he made the commit, sent the deploy, and patched the system. After that, he spoke to Sue who was already angry because they had lost the client but appreciated the effort on Tom's side.

From Overconfidence to Humility

Does this story look familiar to you? Sometimes developers act in this way, arrogantly, as if nobody could teach us about life. Certainly, it's true that we are one of the professions that change how people interact with the world, but we need to remember that we are not working for computers; we are working with humans who suffer from our errors and our egos.

This episode serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between confidence and hubris. Here are some strategies developers like John can adopt to better handle situations like these and learn from their mistakes.

One of the most important skills, and sometimes underestimated, is empathy. This is because Sue and the developer have different important things on their minds, but we also need to remember that we are on the same team. In the end, her sales are what pay for those extra monitors that Tom enjoys. Sue must remember that the system is ideally facilitating the labor of increasing her sales and revenue for the enterprise. See? It's a virtuous circle that must be maintained and perfected to work in harmony.

Here are five tips you can embrace for your next bug report.

Embrace a Test-Driven Approach

Before writing any code or giving any response, start by writing tests. This helps in clearly understanding the requirements and captures the behavior of the bug in your environment. Ensure that you have all the user input necessary to diagnose the problem instead of replying from your mindset cache.

Don't be reactive

If some users are saying that your system is terrible or that this is the fourth time they are asking for an issue to be corrected, don't take it personally. The worst thing you could do is respond in the same tone because you'll be answering out of anger. So, stop, take time to analyze the comments, elaborate on your answer, and start reviewing it.

The systems can be repaired, the bugs can be corrected, and the documentation can be updated, but relationships can rarely be repaired. So, don't be the person who has the answers that nobody wants to hear.

Adopt a Learner’s Mindset

Always stay curious and willing to learn. The tech field is continuously evolving, and so should you. Understanding that you don’t know everything helps in staying vigilant and cautious. This mindset not only keeps you adaptable but also opens up opportunities to innovate and improve. Embrace new technologies, methodologies, and perspectives that challenge your existing knowledge base.

Documentation and Logging

Keep comprehensive documentation and maintain robust logging within your code. These practices are invaluable for debugging and understanding the flow of execution during incidents.

Reflect and Refactor

After resolving an issue, take the time to reflect on what went wrong and why. Use these insights to refactor your code or improve existing processes. This not only prevents future bugs but also aids in personal and professional growth.

Conclusion

Always maintain a humble approach to feedback and criticism. It can be a powerful tool for growth if you listen actively and apply constructive criticism to your practices. Remember, in a field as dynamic as technology, today’s expert can easily become tomorrow’s novice. Keeping up with the pace of change is not just about adding new tools to your repertoire but also about refining the way you think, collaborate, and solve problems.

In a field as dynamic as technology, today’s expert can easily become tomorrow’s novice.

So, the next time a user comes arguing that your system is wrong, don't take it personally. Remember that even you can fail. But if you need some tips on how to slip away from those comments, don't miss my next post on how to become confident in handling -personal- system attacks.