From Coders to Storytellers: A New Perspective on Software Development
In the realm of software development, we often find ourselves engrossed in the world of code, algorithms, and data structures. However, there’s another side to this profession that often goes unnoticed — the art of storytelling. As a backend lead, I’ve come to realize that software developers are not just coders; we are storytellers, weaving intricate tales of user journeys and experiences through our code.
The common perception is that software developers live to code. While coding is indeed a significant part of our job, it’s not the only thing we do. We also organize features, design system architectures, and sometimes, we even delve into the realm of product requirements. This might raise a few eyebrows. After all, isn’t that the job of the Product Management (PM) team?
Yes, the PM team is responsible for defining the product requirements. However, as developers, we are the ones who breathe life into those requirements. We are the architects of the product’s backbone, the ones who translate abstract ideas into tangible features. Our love for the product often transcends the boundaries of our designated roles, compelling us to think about the user journey and how our code impacts it.
Let me illustrate this with an example. Imagine we’re developing a feature for an e-commerce platform that recommends products to users based on their browsing history. The PM team provides us with the requirements: the recommendation engine should consider the user’s recent browsing history, their past purchases, and the popularity of the products.
As developers, we could just code this feature based on the requirements. But if we think about the user journey, we can create a more engaging experience. We start by telling a story.
Our user, let’s call her Sarah, logs into the platform after a long day at work. She’s looking for a new book to read, but she’s not sure what she wants. She browses through a few genres and checks out a couple of bestsellers, but nothing catches her eye. Just when she’s about to log off, she sees a recommendation — a mystery novel by an author she’s purchased before. The recommendation engine has done its job, and Sarah leaves the platform with a new book on the way.
This story helps us understand the user’s needs and expectations. It guides us in designing the recommendation engine. We realize that we need to prioritize recently viewed genres and authors over past purchases, as Sarah’s preferences might have changed. We also understand the importance of timing — the recommendation needs to appear just when Sarah is about to give up.
This is the power of storytelling in software development. It helps us empathize with our users, understand their journey, and design features that truly cater to their needs. It’s not just about writing code; it’s about crafting experiences, one user story at a time.
As a backend lead, I encourage my team to embrace this aspect of our job. To not just be coders, but storytellers. Think about the product, the user, and the journey. Because at the end of the day, we’re not just building software; we’re creating experiences that impact people’s lives. And what better way to do that than by telling a story !!!!!
