Top 7 Secret Productivity Hacks For Developers

Software developers spend hours and hours trying to develop good quality software or fix those quirky bugs, but we are unaware of these secret hacks that would help us deliver our code faster. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you maximize your time and energy to get the most out of coding.

Are you a developer who wants to become more productive and efficient in your work? If so, then you're in the right place!

Here are the "7 Secret Productivity Hacks" that I use as a developer:

1. Using Extensions/Add-ons

Using extensions can be an excellent way to improve a developer's workflow.

They enable us to add new features to existing applications and tools, allowing us to personalize our workflow to maximize productivity and save time.

• Visual Studio Code: VS Code is one of the most popular text editors for developers and comes with many extensions. Such as:

  1. Live Server

  2. Prettier - Code Formatter

  3. Bracket Pair Colorizer

  4. Auto Rename Tag (very useful for frontend devs)

  5. Error Lens

  6. Git Lens

  7. Intellisense

  8. Thunder Client

• Chrome Extensions: Chrome is the most popular web browser for developers. There are several extensions available for us to customize our experience. Such as:

  1. Usersnap

  2. Dark Reader(highly recommended if you work at night)

  3. Window Resizer

  4. Colorpick Eyedropper

  5. CSSViewer

  6. Wappalyzer

2. Creating a To-Do List

Having a to-do list can be a great way to keep your head above water and stay on top of your commitments.

Brian Tracy's book “Eat That Frog!” is a great read for anyone looking to increase their productivity and get things done. He encourages his readers to tackle the most difficult tasks first, just as if they were eating a frog!

Some apps to help you:

1. Microsoft To Do

2. Todoist

3. Google Tasks

4. Tick Tick

5. Any.do

3. Breaking down tasks into subtasks

Breaking down a big task into smaller, achievable steps can make it easier to accomplish.

Start by getting a clear picture of the goal, brainstorm the steps you need to take to reach the goal, and break those steps down into smaller pieces.

4. Set Reasonable Deadlines

Parkinson's Law states that "work expands to fill the time available for its completion".

As developers, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of using the full allocated time to complete a task, regardless of how long it should actually take. This can be an inefficient use of our time and can lead to us spending more time than necessary on certain tasks.

To avoid this, we should make sure to give ourselves enough time to complete the task without sacrificing quality.

5. Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

The saying “don’t reinvent the wheel” is often used to emphasize the importance of leveraging existing resources and avoiding unnecessary work.

In the world of software development, reinventing the wheel can be a costly and time-consuming endeavour, and it’s often best to take advantage of what has already been created.

6. Note Things Down

Taking the time to "note things down" can help us stay organized and productive when working on a project.

When working on large projects, it can be difficult to keep track of one’s progress without written notes. Notes also serve as a reference for future development, allowing developers to quickly jump back into a project and review what they’ve done so far.

When should we make notes?

• When troubleshooting a bug.

• When creating a new feature or updating an existing one.

• When writing tests or debugging code.

• When reviewing another developer’s work.

• When optimizing code for better performance.

• When researching new technology.

• When exploring a new development approach or methodology.

• When writing documentation or technical specifications.

Or when you feel something is important and you might need it in future.

7. Reward Yourself

As a developer, it's important to pat yourself on the back for your hard work and dedication. It's all too easy to get stuck in a cycle of constant work.

Taking the time to recognize your successes and rewarding yourself is critical for staying motivated and on track to reach your goals.

Some ideas for rewarding yourself:

• Watch an episode of your favourite show or your favourite movie 🎥

• Have a nice dinner😋

• Night out with your buddies

• Invest in yourself (such as a course, a book or a new tool)

• Take a few days off to recharge and relax 😌

I hope you found these seven productivity hacks helpful🙇 . Implementing them can help you become more productive and efficient in your work, which can lead to greater success in the long run.