Understand The 4 Shapes of Software Developers to Better Navigate Your Career
Discover your ideal developer profile for Growth, Team Synergy, and Career Success. (4 minutes)
Intro
In the software development world, “shapes” refer to the level and type of knowledge and skills developers bring to their teams. If you understand these “shapes”, you’ll be able to navigate your career more effectively.
How understanding the Software Developer’s Shapes will help you?
Understanding the different shapes of Software Developers is beneficial both for individual growth and organizational effectiveness.
Career Guidance - It helps developers identify their current strengths and areas for growth, guiding their professional development.
Adaptability - Developers can better adapt to changes in the tech industry by expanding their skill sets in a focused way, based on their shape.
Team Efficiency - For organizations and teams, knowing the shapes of team members helps in assembling balanced teams that can tackle complex projects effectively, utilizing everyone’s strengths.
Enhanced Collaboration - Awareness of each person’s shape fosters better understanding and teamwork, as members know who to ask for help and advice for certain things.
The 4 Shapes of Software Developers
I-Shaped Developer
I-Shaped Developers have deep knowledge in a specific domain. They are specialists, often invaluable for tasks requiring detailed and highly focused technical skills.
Pros - Expertise in niche areas, making them essential for specialized tasks.
Cons - Limited versatility in roles requiring broad or cross-disciplinary knowledge.
T-Shaped Developer
T-Shaped Developers have a broad understanding of multiple disciplines but deep knowledge in one specific area. They bridge the gap between various specialties with their versatility.
Pros - Flexible and adaptable, capable of both broad overview and deep dives.
Cons - “jack of all trades, master of one” can be less appealing in highly specialized roles.
You can learn more about the T-Shaped Dev here:
PI-Shaped or M-Shaped Developer
PI-Shaped Developers have deep knowledge in two distinct areas, connected by a broad set of skills that enable them to integrate these domains effectively. This shape is particularly valuable in roles that require multi-disciplinary insights and the ability to see the big picture while managing the details.
Pros - Able to bridge diverse fields, bringing comprehensive solutions to complex problems.
Cons - Maintaining expertise in multiple domains can be challenging and time-consuming.
M-Shaped Developers are the same as PI-Shaped Developers but have deep knowledge in three areas.
Comb-Shaped Developer
Comb-Shaped Developers are seasoned professionals with deep knowledge in several areas plus a broad skill base. Their profile resembles a comb with many teeth, each representing a skill area.
Pros - Can lead diverse teams and projects, understanding various aspects deeply.
Cons - Mastering and maintaining expertise across multiple fields can be challenging.
Team’s Perspective on Each Shape
Each shape brings unique strengths to a team.
For instance:
I-Shaped Developers handle specialized tasks
T-Shaped Developers foster communication between different domains
PI-Shaped or M-Shaped Developers lead complex projects involving various skills and domains
Comb-Shaped Developers oversee and integrate large-scale projects.
Choose your Path
To choose a shape that suits you, consider your interests, your existing skills, and career aspirations. Work towards the shape that aligns with both personal and professional growth and market needs.
For example, if you want to become a Front-End Developer, choose React, Angular, or Vue. Master one of these frameworks. And don’t forget the fundamentals since they’re part of the core.
HTML → JavaScript → DOM Manipulations → React or Angular or Vue.
Conclusion
Be mindful and aware of whether you optimize for Breath or Depth.
Know your desired shape and work towards it.
Understanding the 4 Shapes of Software Developers can significantly impact your career strategy.
We can’t be masters of everything. Awareness is crucial.
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One lesson I learned is that there is no "Best shape"; different teams and projects require different skills and people.
Do you think the surge of AI tools will move the balance to a specific shape?
Really cool article, Petar, thanks for the mention!
Great post. I think it can be very useful to people who don’t know to identify which path to take but know what they like from their jobs too. How would you name each shape to help them identify the jobs they should seek for?