10 Common Developer Frictions, Bottlenecks and Barriers

Organisations that get the best out of developers are in a better position to keep - and get the most out of - talent

Year in, year out, attracting and retaining talent has been one of the highest priorities for business leaders. With technology evolving fast, businesses that wish to remain competitive need to respond in kind - and that means having the right people in key positions within the company.

Increasingly, businesses are looking to developers to achieve their goals. Developers are the engines that drive innovation in today's tech-driven world and as they are in short supply, developers are able to command high wages for their work.

It is essential for businesses to get the most out of their developers, partly to ensure a strong return on the investment of an expensive hire and also to minimise the kind of frustration that could cause a developer to consider chasing a better offer elsewhere.

Developers, despite their expertise, often find themselves losing valuable time due to various frictions, bottlenecks and barriers in their workflow. This lost time translates to delayed projects, frustrated developers and ultimately, a hindered ability to deliver value. But what are the most common time drains that lurk within an organisation? What can be done about them? This article delves into 10 common problems that can slow developers down and offers fixes to mitigate them to create a smoother development experience.

Tech inefficiencies: outdated tools and slow infrastructure

• The Problem: Developers rely on robust tools and infrastructure to perform tasks efficiently. This efficiency can be easily derailed by outdated technology, such as slow servers, inefficient code repositories, or clunky IDEs (Integrated Development Environments). One or all of these issues can significantly hinder progress, sometimes at a time when speed is essential.
• The Fix: Regularly evaluate the development stack. Invest in modern tools and infrastructure that offer features like fast compilation, streamlined deployment processes and cloud-based development environments.

People challenges: communication silos and knowledge gaps

• The Problem: Development thrives on effective communication and collaboration. These are threatened by siloed teams, unclear requirements and knowledge gaps between developers and other stakeholders (like designers and product managers) which can lead to misunderstandings, delays and costly reworking or replication of work.
• The Fix: Foster an environment of open communication. Implement regular team meetings (though beware meeting overload - see point 9), encourage knowledge sharing sessions and leverage collaboration tools to ensure everyone is aligned on project goals and expectations. Poor communication may be a symptom of a fear of destructive feedback for being “wrong”, so encourage constructive evaluation rather than criticism. Taking time to get things right early saves time further down the line.

Grunt work: repetitive tasks and manual testing

• The Problem: Many developers spend a significant amount of time performing repetitive tasks such as manual testing, data entry and environment setup. These tasks, while necessary, are not the best use of a developer's skillset.
• The Fix: Embrace automation! Invest in continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to automate testing and deployment. Utilise code generators and configuration management tools to reduce manual setup and free up developers for more strategic work. Pro-actively ask developers what work they are doing that could be delegated to a junior, non-developer or bot.

Security protocols: balancing security with agility

• The Problem: Stringent security protocols are crucial for protecting sensitive data. While you should strive to achieve a high level of security, beware that overly complex approval processes and cumbersome security reviews can slow down development cycles.
• The Fix: Implement DevSecOps practices that integrate security considerations throughout the development lifecycle. Streamline security reviews with clear guidelines and automated tools. Balance robust security with agile development practices.

Development environment: inconsistent setups and configuration issues

• The Problem: Inconsistent developer environments can lead to frustration and wasted time. When developers have to deal with different configurations, missing dependencies, or compatibility issues, it slows down progress.
• The Fix: Standardise development environments using tools like containerisation technologies (such as Docker) or infrastructure as code (IaC) platforms (such as Terraform) to ensure everyone has a consistent setup. Consider using the Cloud to provide consistency for remote working.

Looking for information: context switching and knowledge management woes

• The Problem: It’s not whether it exists, it’s where to find it: developers often need to switch contexts to locate relevant information, such as searching for code snippets, API documentation, or internal knowledge bases. This constant context switching can be disruptive and time-consuming.
• The Fix: Foster a culture of knowledge sharing. Create a centralised, well-organised knowledge base with internal documentation, code comments and readily accessible API references. Encourage pair programming and code reviews to spread knowledge within the team. Remember that standardised processes for cataloguing information, new code and documents only work if they are consistently adhered to by everyone.

Third-party integrations: compatibility challenges and vendor lock-in

• The Problem: Integrating with third-party APIs and services can be a valuable part of a project, but it can also lead to compatibility issues, versioning conflicts and vendor lock-in (reliance on a single provider). This can lead to shadow IT (developers using their own devices and software) which can be an additional compatibility challenge as well as a security headache.
• The Fix: Carefully evaluate third-party integrations before adoption. Look for open standards and well-documented APIs. When possible, consider building in-house solutions to avoid vendor lock-in. If developers have preferred tools, consider bringing these in house.

Debugging challenges: finding the root cause of issues

• The Problem: Bugs are inevitable, but the time spent tracking down their root cause can be significant. Debugging complex code, especially without proper logging and error messages, can be a frustrating and time-consuming process.
• The Fix: Encourage developers to write clean, well-commented code that is easy to understand and debug. Utilise debugging tools, logging frameworks and unit testing practices to isolate issues efficiently.

Meeting overload: unnecessary meetings and status updates

• The Problem: Constant meetings and status updates can disrupt developers' flow and hinder their productivity. These can often be replaced with more asynchronous communication channels.
• The Fix: Implement asynchronous communication tools like project management platforms or chat applications to reduce unnecessary meetings. Use stand-up meetings effectively to provide quick updates and foster collaboration. A structured meeting is a meeting that doesn’t over run. Not everyone has to attend a meeting in its entirety.

Unrealistic deadlines and scope creep

• The Problem: Unrealistic deadlines and ever-expanding project scope can put immense pressure on developers. This can lead to rushed code, burnout and ultimately, a higher risk of bugs and project failure.
• The Fix: Promote open communication between development teams and stakeholders. Implement clear project planning with realistic deadlines and well-defined scope. Encourage a culture of flexibility and prioritisation, allowing adjustments when necessary to maintain quality and developer well-being.

The time developers spend wrestling with inefficiencies translates directly to lost productivity and innovation. By addressing the common frictions, bottlenecks and barriers highlighted above, businesses can create a smoother and more efficient development workflow. This not only improves developer morale and well-being, but also leads to faster development cycles, higher quality code and ultimately, a stronger competitive advantage.

Here are the top three priorities for businesses wishing to champion a positive developer experience:

• Embrace modernisation: Invest in up-to-date tools, infrastructure and automation practices. This empowers developers with efficient technology and frees them from tedious tasks. Developers themselves should be involved in the modernisation process.
• Foster collaboration and communication: Bridge the gaps between developers, designers, product managers and other stakeholders. Prioritise clear communication, knowledge sharing and collaboration throughout the development lifecycle.
• Prioritise developer well-being: Respect developers' time and skills. Implement realistic deadlines, prioritise well-defined scope and create a culture that values quality over speed. Remember that developers are human beings with their own needs and goals.

By focusing on these key areas, businesses can unlock the full potential of their development teams and drive innovation at a faster pace. This will make your business a place that both attracts and retains happy and productive developers, enabling them to fulfil their potential as the engines of a thriving tech ecosystem.

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