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3 Coding Practices for Solving the Right Problem
Solving the wrong problem is often more costly than building the wrong solution.
As a software developer, I am a natural problem-solver. I take one look at a problem and immediately start thinking about how to solve it in my head. However, plunging head-first into a solution without seeing the big picture first is often counter-productive.
In this article, we will take a look at three software development practices that can help us find the right problem to solve. But before we talk about coding, let us first take a page from product management–the profession specializes in finding problems.
What Is Problem Space
The product development process consists of two stages — problem space and solution space. Problem space is where you attempt to identify a customer need. Solution space is the product that addresses the need. Working in problem space involves listening to customers, capturing their needs, and asking questions to paint a picture of their situation.
A quick example would be that upon realizing your colleagues have not taken any break this year, you decide to take it upon yourself to learn more about why people are not taking vacations. You may start interviewing your colleagues, and asking questions:
