If someone has to think of something that remind them of you what will it be?

Why Showing Your Work Matters in Programming

As developers, we often focus on perfecting our code in isolation, waiting for the day it’s “good enough” to share. But in today’s collaborative world, your growth, opportunities, and reputation can flourish when you let others in on your journey.

Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon offers powerful insights that resonate deeply with programmers: sharing your process, challenges, and successes can not only improve your skills but also build a supportive network within the dev community.

Here’s how you can tailor the book’s lessons to amplify your impact as a programmer.

The 10 Rules for Programmers to Show Their Work

1. You Don’t Have to Be a Genius – Just Be a Contributor

Forget trying to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, share what you’re learning as you go. Whether it’s a bug fix, a small script, or a feature update, your contributions matter to someone out there.

2. Think Process, Not Product

Codebases evolve, and so should your sharing. Don’t wait until you’ve completed the “perfect” app or tool. Instead, show how you’re iterating and the thought process behind your decisions.

> Example: Share your GitHub repository early, document your progress, and explain your challenges in the README.

3. Ship Small Wins Every Day

Consistency beats perfection. Push daily commits, tweet about an interesting code snippet, or write LinkedIn posts about lessons learned.

4. Share Your Tools and Inspirations

Openly share the libraries, frameworks, and resources that inspire your work. Other developers will appreciate your transparency.

5. Tell the Story Behind Your Code

Every app, feature, or line of code has a story. Share why you built it, the problem it solves, and how you approached it.

6. Teach What You Learn

Teaching is one of the best ways to solidify your knowledge and connect with others. Share tutorials, snippets, or explainers.

> Example: Write a Medium post or do a video explaining the difference between server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG) in Next.js.

7. Be Genuine, Not a Self-Promoter

Developers value authenticity. Share what you’re working on without coming across as spammy or overly self-promotional.

8. Embrace Feedback and Criticism

Sharing publicly invites feedback—both good and bad. Use criticism as a tool to grow and iterate on your work.

> Example: Post your project on Reddit or a dev forum like our great PAPAFAM community, asking for honest feedback on your code or design choices just like

@Digitl-Alchemyst Steven-Watkins

does

9. Monetize Without Guilt

Don’t shy away from monetizing your work, but stay true to your principles. Freelancing, selling templates, or creating a paid course are ways to sustain your passion.

> Example: Build and sell a SaaS product, or create an eBook like “React for Beginners” based on your experience.

10. Keep Building and Sharing

Great developers don’t stop learning or sharing. Stay consistent, experiment with new technologies, and keep showcasing your journey.

I end with this: Build Your Legacy in Code, One Post at a Time

For programmers, Show Your Work! isn’t just a book—it’s a mindset. By sharing your process, struggles, and victories, you grow not only as a developer but as a valuable member of the tech community. Whether you’re pushing commits on GitHub, posting snippets on Twitter, or writing blogs, your shared journey can inspire, teach, and connect you to opportunities you never imagined.

Let your code—and your story—speak for itself. Start showing your work today!

Remember people only think of you when when you have associated yourself with something

Always ask yourself this question

If someone has to think of something that remind them of you what will it be?

This is just one way of achieving it

Keep coding and doing you

Peace ✌️

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