Mind Refactor

Leadership, Management

🖥️👨‍💼 Engineering Managers: How Much to Code vs. How Much to Lead?

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

February 4, 2025

As a Software Engineering Manager, striking the right balance between hands-on technical work and leadership has always been a personal challenge. An interesting article about staying technical in management in one of HybridHacker’s newsletters reflects this shared struggle in our industry (https://hybridhacker.email/p/staying-technical-as-an-engineering-manger) While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, experienced managers suggest…
Continue reading →: 🖥️👨‍💼 Engineering Managers: How Much to Code vs. How Much to Lead?
Leadership, Management

💻✨Tech Lead Role: How Much to Code vs. Lead? Team Size Matters

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

February 3, 2025

The tech lead’s role is multifaceted: a lead needs to balance his time coding, mentoring, taking architectural decisions, and leading the team. The correct percentage doesn’t really exist. The amount of time spent between coding and leading isn’t a fixed number but rather a dynamic balance that adapts to the…
Continue reading →: 💻✨Tech Lead Role: How Much to Code vs. Lead? Team Size Matters
Leadership, Programming

🚀 Curiosity: The Developer’s Superpower

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 31, 2025

After years as a software engineer, tech lead, and now manager, I can say what is the secret weapon that separates great developers from the rest: curiosity. Why Curiosity Matters 🧠 Problem-Solving ProwessThe most effective developers I’ve worked with are those who dig deeper. They’re not satisfied with surface-level solutions.…
Continue reading →: 🚀 Curiosity: The Developer’s Superpower
Leadership, Programming

🚀 Personal Projects After Work: Career Booster or Energy Drain? 🤔

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 30, 2025

One day, in a past interview, a hiring manager told me he wouldn’t hire me because I was working on a personal project. He believed I should watch TV or play video games after work instead. This perspective left me perplexed.I’ve come to realize that personal projects can significantly enhance…
Continue reading →: 🚀 Personal Projects After Work: Career Booster or Energy Drain? 🤔
Leadership, Programming

📚 The Power of Continuous Learning in Software Engineering

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 29, 2025

In software development, staying ahead isn’t just an option but a necessity. As technologies evolve at lightning speed, continuous learning has become the secret weapon of successful developers. I’ve witnessed the transformative impact of continuous learning on both individual careers and team success and I’ve seen how continuous learning has…
Continue reading →: 📚 The Power of Continuous Learning in Software Engineering
Recruitment

🔍 Mastering the Art of Hiring: A useful Guide for New Leaders

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 28, 2025

The article “New Leaders, Here’s How to Hire a Top Talent” from Harvard Business Review offers valuable insights for managers on how to effectively hire top talent. The piece emphasizes that building a strong team is crucial for a manager’s success and career advancement.While skills like communication, decision-making, empathy, and…
Continue reading →: 🔍 Mastering the Art of Hiring: A useful Guide for New Leaders
Books, Leadership, Management

📚 The Art of War: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Software Engineering Management

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 27, 2025

Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” offers invaluable insights that can be applied to our fast-paced, ever-evolving industry. This ancient text, written over 2,500 years ago, provides timeless strategies that are surprisingly relevant to managing software development teams and projects. Here are five key lessons I’ve gleaned from “The Art…
Continue reading →: 📚 The Art of War: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Software Engineering Management
Programming

🏗️ Building Software: The Architect’s Mindset

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 24, 2025

As a Software Engineering Manager, I’ve come to realize that programming is much like architecture – not just in metaphor, but in practice. Just as architects design buildings that stand the test of time, we craft software that must be robust, scalable, and adaptable. 🎨 Design with PurposeLike an architect…
Continue reading →: 🏗️ Building Software: The Architect’s Mindset
Agile, Management

🚀 Can a Software Engineering Manager Also Be a Scrum Master? Navigating Dual Roles in Agile Teams

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 23, 2025

As a Software Engineering Manager, I’ve often asked myself the question if one person can effectively wear both the Engineering Manager and Scrum Master hats. It’s a topic that sparks debate in the Agile community. 👥 The Traditional View:Conventionally, it’s advised to keep these roles separate. The argument is that…
Continue reading →: 🚀 Can a Software Engineering Manager Also Be a Scrum Master? Navigating Dual Roles in Agile Teams
Management

📊 Measuring Software Development Efficiency

Published by

Alessio Di Salvo

on

January 22, 2025

As a Software Engineering Manager, I’ve always been fascinated by the challenge of measuring developer productivity. I came across an insightful article that offered a fresh perspective on this complex topic. The article, “Measuring Developer Productivity: Real-World Examples” by the Pragmatic Engineer, delves into how leading tech companies approach this…
Continue reading →: 📊 Measuring Software Development Efficiency