Seven Examples of Developer Friction and How to Solve Them
Developer friction cripples productivity and breeds frustration. Let’s tackle common roadblocks and supercharge your team’s efficiency. As we’ve discussed in our post on streamlining developer onboarding, removing friction is key to building high-performing engineering teams. In this post, we aim to outline 7 different, but all very frustrating, examples of developer friction and toil.
1. Unclear Documentation
Developers waste precious hours hunting through incomplete or outdated docs. Fix this by:
- Centralizing documentation in an easily searchable repository
- Implementing a regular review cycle to keep information current
- Encouraging developers to contribute updates as they work
Pro Tip: For a quick centralization, consider using tools like Docusaurus or GitBook to manage your documentation effectively. Alternatively, you should consider Backstage – an open source internal developer portal.
2. Slow Environment Setup
Don’t let environment setup eat days of productivity. Take action:
- Craft automated setup scripts for instant developer onboarding
- Leverage cloud-based IDEs like GitHub Codespaces for consistent environments
- Document any manual steps clearly for edge cases
Read more about automating development environments in our article on tactics to remove developer friction.
3. Lack of Self-Service Tools
Empower your developers with self-service access. Here’s how:
- Build an internal developer portal with clear access request workflows
- Implement role-based access control to automate permissions
- Track common requests and continuously expand self-service options
For more on this, check out Spotify’s Backstage, an open platform for building developer portals.
4. Unstandardized Tools and Frameworks
Inconsistent tooling leads to confusion and slows down onboarding. Standardize your approach:
- Create a “golden path” for new projects with pre-approved tech stacks
- Document and enforce coding standards across teams
- Regularly review and update your tech stack to prevent fragmentation
5. No Clear Deployment Process
A complex or undocumented deployment process creates fear of mistakes. Streamline it:
- Provide step-by-step deployment guides for all environments
- Implement CI/CD pipelines to automate the deployment process
- Use feature flags to safely roll out changes
Learn more about effective CI/CD in our post on implementing custom platforms for scalable development.
6. Too Much Bureaucracy
Developers get stuck in approval processes for basic tasks. Cut the red tape:
- Streamline or automate approval workflows to keep the process moving
- Implement a “trust by default” culture with appropriate guardrails
- Regularly review and eliminate unnecessary process steps
7. Poor Communication Between Teams
A lack of clear communication channels leads to duplicated efforts and confusion. Bridge the gap:
- Establish regular cross-functional meetings to align priorities
- Use collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams for quick communication
- Implement project management tools like Jira or Asana for visibility across teams
For more on improving team communication, check out Atlassian’s guide on effective team collaboration.
Don’t let friction hold your team back. Identify your biggest pain points from this list and tackle them head-on. Start small, measure the impact, and watch your team’s productivity soar. Which area will you improve first?
Remember, reducing developer friction isn’t just about productivity—it’s about building happier, more efficient teams. For more insights on optimizing your development process, explore our case studies on the value of a fractional CTO.