What makes me a good developer?

While everyone has their own personal tastes, there is little argument that a well-decorated, colorful cookie will result in a more positive impression than a dull, plain cookie. And just like a cookie or cake, websites that are "sprinkled" with tasteful colors and a clean design have more repeated visitors and create a more delightful user experience.

Immersing oneself in a new culture not only broadens our view of the world, but it also shines a light on new ways of approaching problems. If we only see web development from an individual perspective, we fail to build solutions that reach the entire audience. Travel, while it can be frustrating and uncertain — much like coding, is often exhilarating and eye opening.

Most runners don’t race to place. They run to see how far they can push their limits. The best running communities, like the best developer communities, support one another, celebrate each others’ accomplishments and build one another up rather than compete against each other.

A new framework, a groundbreaking tool, or an innovative library are a part of life as a developer, and as such, the learning is never complete. A curious, open mind is imperative to moving websites forward and improving user engagement through an exceptional online experience.