Tech Insights

How to Become a Truly "Unremarkable" Developer: The Insider's Guide

Humorous illustration of bad developer habits

TL;DR

A satirical guide to becoming a truly unremarkable developer: copy-paste from ChatGPT without understanding, never document, skip tests, ignore code reviews and avoid learning. Read it backward and it becomes a checklist of the habits that make developers genuinely good.

Having spent years working with developers, I’ve gathered some priceless “tips” to help you master the art of being an outstandingly bad developer. Follow these steps, and you’ll soon earn the title of “The Grand Master of Mediocrity”:


1. Copy-Paste is Your Holy Grail

Why waste your precious time understanding code? Just throw everything at ChatGPT and let it handle the heavy lifting. Your mantra: “If ChatGPT can do it, why should I bother?”


2. Documentation? Never Heard of Her

Why explain what you’re doing? Keep your work mysterious, like a treasure map from an old pirate tale. Every project you touch should feel like an unsolvable puzzle for those who come after you.


3. Debugging? Sounds Like a Netflix Series

Confused by a bug? No worries, just throw print statements everywhere. If your code breaks, simply delete random prints until it “kind of works.” Who needs precision anyway?


4. Tests Are for the Weak

Why waste your valuable time writing tests? There’s a whole testing team, right? Let them earn their paycheck while you proudly mark all tasks as “Complete.”


5. Avoid Code Reviews Like the Plague

Want to change a variable name? Don’t. The code works, so why touch it? Is there a 500-line function? Perfect, it’s a piece of historical art. Always scare your teammates with the classic line: “If you change even a single character, the entire server might explode!”


6. Who Cares About Business Logic?

Your job is to write code, not understand the business. Just make sure your code runs and looks pretty. Once your tasks are done, you’re free to binge-watch the latest episode of Squid Game.


7. Git Is Overrated

Commit messages? Branches? Please, who has time for that? Just dump everything into one massive branch. When you’re done, merge it all into the main branch and go grab a coffee.


8. Knowledge Sharing? A Waste of Time

You’re a backend developer, so why should you care about frontend? If you’re on Android, what’s iOS to you? Stick to your tasks and use any spare time for your favorite time-wasting activities.


9. Communication and Teamwork Are Overrated

Soft skills? Meh. Your job is to code, not talk. Avoid team discussions at all costs. If someone asks for help, give them a cold stare and keep them at arm’s length. Remember: no eye contact, no distractions.


10. Keep This Post a Secret

Don’t share these golden tips with anyone. Let others work on themselves and grow, while you reign supreme as the one and only “Master of Mediocrity.”


Now go forth and “excel” in your mediocrity—but don’t let anyone else in on the secret. After all, there’s only room for one “Great Unremarkable Developer” at the top! 😏

Key takeaways 5

  1. Copy-pasting AI code without understanding it builds no skill.
  2. Missing documentation turns your work into an unsolvable puzzle.
  3. Skipping tests and reviews pushes your bugs onto others.
  4. Refusing to learn guarantees you fall behind.
  5. Do the opposite of each tip to become a great developer.

Frequently asked questions

What habits make a developer bad?

Copying code without understanding it, not writing documentation or tests, ignoring feedback, poor communication and avoiding learning are habits that hold developers back.

Is it bad to use ChatGPT for coding?

Not if you use it thoughtfully. Read, understand and test AI-generated code; problems start when it replaces your own understanding.

How can I become a better developer?

Write clear code and documentation, test your work, welcome code reviews, keep learning fundamentals and communicate well with your team.

Career & RoadmapsTech InsightsProjects & Practice#software development#developer habits#satire#career#clean code

Comments

No comments yet. Start the conversation.

Comments are reviewed before they appear. Be kind; one link max.

Learn it hands-on at AL Academy

Free practical programs in software, automation and IT, with labs and certificates.

Open AL Academy ↗
Keep reading

Related articles