How to Fill and Empty the Developer Bucket: Finding Fulfillment in the Tech Community

As developers, we all have what I like to call a “developer bucket” - a metaphorical reservoir of fulfillment and motivation that can either be filled or emptied by our actions and interactions within the tech community. Every time we post a negative comment, criticize someone’s work, or spread hostility, a little bit of our developer bucket leaks. On the other hand, every time we show kindness, appreciation, and support, we can fill not only our own bucket, but also the buckets of other developers.

The Hollow Feeling of an Empty Bucket

If you’ve ever shared your work on platforms like Reddit or Hacker News, you know the fear and vulnerability that comes with it. Despite your best efforts, it just takes one harsh comment to overshadow the dozens of positive ones. That single negative remark can drain your bucket in an instant, leaving you feeling discouraged and demotivated. It’s important to remember that the impact of such comments is far from productive and does more harm than good.

Choosing Kindness and Filling Buckets

Fortunately, just as quickly as our buckets can be emptied, they can also be refilled. One positive comment, one word of encouragement, or one expression of gratitude can replenish our bucket and reinvigorate our passion for what we do. I experienced this firsthand when a person sent me an email expressing how one of my blog posts had helped them solve a problem. They even suggested that I write a book. Their words filled my bucket to the brim, and I was so inspired that I decided to start writing a book that very night.

Challenges Faced by Developers

Our buckets are prone to leaking due to various factors, including feelings of imposter syndrome and the constant exposure to the achievements of others. It’s easy to compare ourselves to coding superstars who showcase their skills through tweets, screencasts, and livestreams. This constant comparison can make us feel inadequate, but it’s essential to remember that we can’t please everyone. As developers, we often create content and provide support for beginners, and a small act of appreciation or acknowledgment goes a long way in filling our buckets.

Filling Buckets: Small Acts of Kindness

To foster a more supportive tech community, let’s focus on filling each other’s buckets. Take the time to thank a developer on Twitter or via email for creating a library or piece of code that saved you hours of work. Share your gratitude to the author of a helpful blog post that aided you in overcoming a challenging problem. Open an issue on a GitHub project to provide constructive feedback and show appreciation for the hard work put into the project.

Developers often burn out because of the heavy demands of their open-source projects. While many users ask for assistance, fewer take the time to express gratitude. GitHub lacks a dedicated “Thanks” tab, but we can still make a difference. Consider making a pull request to fix a minor issue or improve documentation. By doing so, you not only help improve the project but also fill the developer’s bucket with a sense of appreciation.

Together, we can create a more uplifting and encouraging tech community by filling each other’s buckets. Let’s support one another, acknowledge each other’s contributions, and spread kindness throughout the developer community.

Tags: developer bucket, fulfillment, support, encouragement, tech community, gratitude, appreciation, open-source projects, constructive feedback