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* Way, way faster at solving problems than a normal dev * Comes up with solutions that no one else would ever think of * Understands and correctly utilizes li

* Way, way faster at solving problems than a normal dev * Comes up with solutions that no one else would ever think of * Understands and correctly utilizes libraries and tools down to the system call level or lower. * Knows how to ship and the engineering and business processes behind making that happen. * Knows other world class devs and can attract them to the host company.

blueboo 8y ago
I like this list if you add one more point (that happens the most important one): * the solutions she comes with are easily explained and understood by everyone working on the codebase. Stories like this: https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best-decision-we-ever-made-4c0a99728fde https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best... are all too common.
- malvosenior 8y ago
  I'd say good code is as easy to understand as possible (note, not always easy to understand as not every domain lends itself to that). The part about attracting other world class developers helps with this as everyone will be on the same page. > Stories like this: https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best.. https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best.... are all too common. Maybe for some people but I've never had issue with it. Managing top talent is definitely its own skill though. One of the challenges is integrating them into the team and not having other people upset when they get high profile projects. It's not trivial but it is doable and in my experience, well worth it.
- matfil 8y ago
  the solutions she comes with are easily explained and understood by everyone working on the codebase. As a guideline, that's not terrible. As a hard and fast rule, it seems almost the definition of "lowest common denominator". Taken to extremes, it can also preclude working with people who aren't generalists but have a really strong niche.

blueboo 8y ago

I like this list if you add one more point (that happens the most important one): * the solutions she comes with are easily explained and understood by everyone working on the codebase. Stories like this: https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best-decision-we-ever-made-4c0a99728fde https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best... are all too common.

malvosenior 8y ago
I'd say good code is as easy to understand as possible (note, not always easy to understand as not every domain lends itself to that). The part about attracting other world class developers helps with this as everyone will be on the same page. > Stories like this: https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best.. https://medium.freecodecamp.org/we-fired-our-top-talent-best.... are all too common. Maybe for some people but I've never had issue with it. Managing top talent is definitely its own skill though. One of the challenges is integrating them into the team and not having other people upset when they get high profile projects. It's not trivial but it is doable and in my experience, well worth it.
matfil 8y ago
the solutions she comes with are easily explained and understood by everyone working on the codebase. As a guideline, that's not terrible. As a hard and fast rule, it seems almost the definition of "lowest common denominator". Taken to extremes, it can also preclude working with people who aren't generalists but have a really strong niche.