Think like Tech: Become a Better Software Engineer
- Luiza Comanescu
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 23
In the ever-evolving landscape of software engineering, too many developers skim the surface of technology without truly immersing themselves in its essence. But here’s the truth: you’re not just building a product—you’re building yourself. The moment you embody a certain level of consciousness, you expand the product’s consciousness. Your workplace environment, the success of your projects, and even the impact of your work are mere byproducts of the mindset and awareness you bring to the table.
So, how do you embody the technology you work with? Let’s break it down through the lens of system architecture principles—starting with Load Balancing.
Load Balancing: Mastering Energy Distribution
A load balancer is designed with an intelligent algorithm that distributes incoming requests to prevent overloading a single server. It recognizes the importance of balance to ensure stability and efficiency. Now, take a step back—how do you handle load in your own life? Are you overloading yourself with too many responsibilities? Do you find yourself burned out at the end of the day?
Personal Load Balancing
Task Distribution: Like an optimized system, can you delegate tasks effectively?
Cognitive Load Management: Are you prioritizing work that requires deep focus while automating repetitive tasks?
Energy Awareness: Can you recognize when your “server” (body and mind) needs downtime to prevent crashing?
An effective software engineer isn’t just someone who builds resilient systems but someone who embodies resilience. Learn to create your own load-balancing algorithm—distribute energy between your internal masculine (logic, action) and feminine (intuition, creativity) aspects, ensuring harmony and efficiency.
Caching: Maximizing Mental Efficiency
Caching stores frequently accessed data in a way that makes retrieval faster and more efficient. In your daily workflow, are you optimizing your memory?
Practical Mental Caching
Building Mental Models: Instead of reinventing the wheel for every problem, can you rely on well-formed mental patterns?
Automating Decisions: Can you create frameworks in your thinking to accelerate problem-solving?
Avoiding Mental Bottlenecks: Are you offloading irrelevant information to external tools (notes, AI assistants) so you can focus on high-impact thinking?
Security & Firewalls: Protecting Your Mental and Emotional Bandwidth
Every robust system has security protocols to prevent breaches. Similarly, do you have boundaries that safeguard your time and energy?
Building Your Personal Firewall
Filtering Incoming Requests: Not every task or conversation deserves your immediate attention.
Throttling Notifications: Just like API rate limiting, are you controlling interruptions that slow you down?
Data Integrity: Are you consuming high-quality information instead of mental junk food?
A great software engineer doesn’t just write secure code; they also ensure their mental processes are secure from distractions and burnout.
Fintech Perspective: Smart Transactions, Smart Investments
Fintech thrives on intelligent transactions, automated investments, and real-time risk analysis. Likewise, are you investing your time and knowledge wisely?
Compounding Knowledge: Like interest in finance, are you consistently investing in learning and letting knowledge compound over time?
Diversification of Skills: Are you overly dependent on one tech stack, or are you hedging your bets with diversified expertise?
Risk Assessment: Are you taking calculated risks in your career, or are you stuck in analysis paralysis?
Conclusion: Living Your Code, dear Software Engineer
It’s no longer just about how much you know—it’s about how much you embody. True mastery doesn’t come from memorizing syntax; it comes from integrating technology’s principles into your own life. Software engineering is more than just coding; it’s a mirror reflecting how you process information, manage energy, and build systems—not just for the product, but for yourself.
The next time you work on a system, ask yourself: Am I living this principle? Because when you start to think like tech, you don’t just become a better engineer—you become a more evolved, conscious, and effective human being.
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