Quality vs. Quantity: Real Experiment with API

As a Developer Advocate, I often think about how to balance quality and speed in software development. Recently, I decided to test this idea with two of my mentees. I wanted to see what would happen if one focused on quality and the other focused on quantity while building a single API during a period.

Setting Up the Experiment with two mentees

I split the two of developer mentees into separate tasks. One developer, let’s call them Dev Quality, had to make sure the API was perfect. They took their time to refine every part, write clear documentation, and thoroughly test for any bugs. Their job was all about being precise and careful.

The other developer, whom I’ll call Dev Quantity, had a different goal. They were told to finish the API as quickly as possible, even if it meant skipping some details. Their focus was on getting a working version out fast. Dev Quantity was encouraged to experiment and learn from mistakes.

The Game in Action

As the time went on, Dev Quality worked hard on the details. They carefully designed each part of the API and made sure everything was perfect. By the end of the week, they had a polished API that was well-documented and had very few errors.

On the other hand, Dev Quantity was busy cranking out features quickly. They built the API fast, often moving on to the next part before fixing all the issues in the previous one. There were bugs, but they took these as chances to learn. With each new feature, they got better and improved the API based on what they learned.

The Results

At the end of the task, both developers showed me their APIs. Dev Quality had created a beautiful API that was almost perfect. However, it took a long time to finish because they focused so much on details.

Dev Quantity, on the other hand, delivered a working API that had some issues but was functional. They learned from their mistakes and fixed many problems as they went along. Some parts of their API worked surprisingly well because of their quick adjustments.

The Takeaway

Watching these two approaches was really insightful. Dev Quality’s focus on perfection led to a great API but delayed delivery. In contrast, Dev Quantity’s fast, learning focused approach allowed them to deliver more quickly and learn a lot in the process.

This experience taught me an important lesson: sometimes, moving fast and learning can be just as valuable as trying to be perfect. Knowing when to focus on quality and when to speed things up is essential in tech.

So next time you're working on a project, think about whether you need to aim for perfection or if you can move quickly and learn as you go. Remember, progress isn’t just about perfect code, it’s about learning and improving with each step.

Thanks for reading, Happy Hacking !