You are never alone as a developer, even if right now you’re working on your first project by yourself in a dark room. That code may be intended as part of your portfolio, or perhaps it’s a new product you’re hoping to release, but the moment you need advice or help from others, you’ll stop being alone. It’s just a matter of time.
No matter how much you try to work on everything alone, you’ll soon realize that there is a lot more to a software project than just the code. And you know what? That’s good! Accepting that you’ll never be alone is the perfect first step to start learning how to be a good team player, because sooner or later you’ll be working as part of a larger team. If you don’t know what that means for you, the whole experience will go as smoothly as swallowing a smoothie made from rocks. This chapter will outline the social and technical tools you need to make that first team experience a success.