Beyond the Code: A Developer’s Perspective
If there’s one takeaway I got from my conversation with seasoned Bits of Good developer Jeffrey Deng, it’s that the BOG experience is nothing short of invigorating. As a fifth semester developer at BOG, Deng reflects on his journey, starting from his first semester of freshman year.
A Shift In Team Culture
“It’s [BOG] definitely changed in the past couple of years … back then it was pretty much all CS majors, very institutionalized - people just stuck to their social circles. Now you can see a lot more and get a lot of new perspectives.”
This transformation has created a more dynamic and innovative environment, where skill sets are valued and adequately utilized, with many different, tailored roles. This has not only made being part of the organization more worthwhile and engaging for members, but it has also boosted BOG’s output and productivity.
The Driving Force: Impact
When asked the age-old question that many boggers get, why would you want to volunteer for BOG, Deng emphasizes the importance of BOG’s mission: making a social impact. Whereas in other workplaces, you may be writing code for companies that are used to boost their revenue, and ultimately cycles back to the company itself, at BOG, you have the opportunity to enhance your technical skills while seeing a real-world impact. For a developer, this ranges from Github Stars (contributing to an open source code repository) to individuals themselves through usage of their apps. Additionally, the opportunity to work on a different project every semester introduces new and exciting opportunities for developers, and an ability to discover your passion within an inviting and collaborative team environment.
“BOG really keeps me grounded and reminds me to enjoy the moment,” Deng continues, as he talks about the overall benefit BOG has had on his life.
Collaboration Beyond Code
To aspiring BOG developers, Deng breaks down a common misconception: that being on a technical team means you’ll just be coding away in isolation, with little to no interaction with other team members or opportunities for collaboration.
“It’s what you make of it,” he explains.
Even outside of the cross-function work that developers partake in, there are a multitude of opportunities, including donut dates, community events, and other outlets, to socialize with Boggers, even if they’re not on your team. When asked about other people that have made BOG feel like home, Deng mentions Samarth Chandna, an influential PM that has spearheaded various projects Deng has been a part of.
“Without a capable PM, things don’t get done. Projects fall short of deadlines. Vague tickets are drafted, leaving developers confused. And nobody is motivated to complete anything”
A good PM has the knowledge of the tasks they’re managing, but more than that, they’re able to understand the needs of the developers they’re managing, and the initiative as a whole. “They [project managers] are like conductors in an orchestra”, Deng analogizes, “ensuring everyone works harmoniously to bring the project to life”.
A Favorite Project
Deng reminisces on one such successful project: the Brain Exercise Initiative. It started out as an app with simple mind training games to help elders with Alzheimers, and quickly progressed into a multifaceted platform with many features, including an analytics dashboard to track performance. This added functionality made for a scalable application with opportunity for refinement and personalization on the user end. Using the BOG classics, NEXT.js, MongoDB, and React TypeScript, this project was easily a favorite. This, and many other projects are continually being discussed, tested, and launched to a diverse audience, under the guidance of capable managers like Sumarth. They ensure a meaningful experience for any in the organization, and a chance to connect with those who can give true perspective into the world of technical non-profit partnership.