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Technical skill

A technical skill is a learned capability to apply specialized knowledge, methods, or tools to perform technical work effectively.

How 2 Manning books explain it

Lead Developer Career Guide

The demonstrated ability to apply technical knowledge and skills in software development work.

How it is used
Positions technical skill as the practical foundation for development work and technical guidance on a lead developer’s team.
How deep it goes
Gives practical ways to learn, assess, and demonstrate skill rather than teaching the internals of a particular technology.
Examples
Uses code reviews, pair programming, technical assessments, release notes, and a small application rewritten with new technologies.
What you can do after
Practice/perform technical learning and assessment through documentation, hands-on projects, code reviews, and self-assessment.

Read how Lead Developer Career Guide explains technical skill →

Think Like a Software Engineering Manager

A technical skill is a learned capability for performing work involving technology, engineering, or specialized technical methods.

How it is used
Positions technical skill as both an engineering manager's capacity to guide discussions and a consideration when assembling a team.
How deep it goes
Explains managerial participation and hiring considerations, but does not teach code review methods or the technologies used as examples.
Examples
Uses a cache-versus-in-memory decision, an Android hiring choice, and a senior hire for a junior-heavy team.
What you can do after
Evaluate/understand it by identifying where a manager needs technical understanding and where a team's skill mix needs strengthening.

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Related concepts

These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.