Lead Developer Career Guide

Learn the skills you need to be a lead developer, with expert advice on mentoring teams, handling clients and project managers, and keeping your head in emergencies.
TheLead Developer Career Guideteaches you how to transition from an individual contributor to a thriving lead developer. It's packed with insider tips, tricks, and strategies drawn from author Shelley Benhoff's 25-year career in technology, providing vital insights for navigating the unique challenges and expectations of the lead developer role. This one-of-a-kind book demonstrates how critical thinking and communication skills can elevate your career.
In theLead Developer Career Guideyou'll discover:
The key responsibilities of a lead developerTechniques for writing effective technical documentationStrategies for improving development processesBest practices for communicating with non-technical clientsMethods for mentoring and inspiring a teamApproaches for delivering negative feedback constructively
TheLead Developer Career Guideis filled with interviews and real-world case studies from industry professionals and esteemed tech experts. You'll learn how to become the public face for your development team, gathering feedback from your coworkers and communicating with clients and stakeholders. Plus, you'll find proven techniques to reliably calculate project estimates, plan a project from scratch, and mentor junior developers and peers alike.
Foreword bySteve Buchanan.
About the technology
To be a successful Lead Developer you'll need more than just technical expertise. You'll be responsible for everything from facilitating architectural decisions that satisfy all stakeholders to mentoring your fellow developers. And you'll be on the hook for delivering great software on time and under budget. Are you ready for the challenge? This book will help get you there!
About the book
TheLead Developer Career Guideprovides the techniques and wisdom you need to transition from individual contributor to lead developer. You'll learn how to collaborate effectively with executive leadership and project managers, present elegant solutions to clients, and think quickly in those inevitable emergencies. When all eyes are on you, this book will ensure you know exactly what to do.
What's insideImproving development processesMentoring and inspiring a teamDelivering negative feedback
About the reader
For aspiring lead developers.
About the author
Shelley Benhoffhas over twenty-five years of experience in tech as a business owner, author, and speaker.
The technical editor on this book wasStephen Mizell.
Table of Contents
1 What is a lead developer?
2 Lead developer career trajectory
3 Learning lead developer skills
4 Learning any developer skill
5 Writing technical documentation
6 Optimizing the development process
7 Working with project teams
8 Speaking with clients
9 Being a mentor
10 Taking the lead
11 Leading with emotional intelligence
12 Being a successful lead developer