Struggled with:

Project management for a large complex project. Updating timelines & estimates as we learn new information. Quickly grokking large amounts of interdependent code. Rolling out breaking changes safely and effectively.

Tech: Typescript (server/client), Terraform, AWS, MySQL, React

Struggled with:

I had a hard time working within a system with such a massive amount of tech debt. Wasn't good at quickly grokking buggy / patched code. Spent too much time trying to get software to 80-90% quality. Wanted to understand all the code when it was an impossible task. Should have let more things be broken and focused on iterating faster on the 'happy path'. This applies especially to more risky experimental features.

Tech: Ruby (on Rails), Postgres, Heroku, Angular/React/jQuery

Struggled with:

We were trying to build an MVP as quickly as possible to test a novel idea. Had a hard time knowing where to cut corners and definitely spent too much time on details that ultimately didn't matter. The idea didn't work out, and, I probably could have verified that in around half the time.

Technology: Mongo, Express, Angular 2, Node, Typescript (entire project in Typescript)

Struggled with:

The project ultimately involved wiring up together a lot of internal tools. I would spend too long trying to understand these internal tools fully instead of just understanding the basics as it pertained to my project. Also, would occasionally try to build things by hand when more outreach to other teams, meetings, and reading docs would have illuminated other internal tools that would have gotten the job done.

Technology: Python, Java, Dart, Angular 2