I've noted that the utter lack of criticism towards your own work makes programmers significantly faster. On a more serious note: 1. Vast and precise knowledg

I've noted that the utter lack of criticism towards your own work makes programmers significantly faster. On a more serious note: 1. Vast and precise knowledge of algorithms and math: to avoid losing time reinventing the wheel. 2. Unit testing: to avoid losing time on obscure bugs. 3. Prototyping: to avoid losing time trying to devise the optimal architecture beforehand and on inefficient refactoring of the system when it is already complex. 4. Rational use of available frameworks and libraries.