Some developers are better than others
Some developers are better than others. WAY better. The difference is obvious.
Some developers frequently deliver broken, confusing code that's needlessly complex and hard to read. They communicate poorly, are rude, disrespectful, cocky, or hard to work with.
Other developers consistently deliver elegant, clear, robust code. They communicate clearly, are respectful, are kind, humble, and easy to work with.
(And of course, there are many people in-between).
But one thing is for sure: there's a *vast* difference between the least effective and the most effective developers.
The least effective developers are so ineffective that they’re a net loss. Adding them to a team reduces quality, adds friction, hurts morale, and slows everyone down.
The most effective developers are so effective that they “lift all boats”. Adding them to a team improves quality, reduces friction, improves morale, and accelerates the entire team.