Debugging > Coding: The Real Skill Developers Need
A mindset-focused post on why debugging matters more than writing code and how it separates good developers from great ones.
Introduction
💻 CODE > EVERYTHING — that’s what most people believe when they start writing software. But here's a secret: writing code is not the hardest part of being a developer.
Anyone can write code. Copying from documentation or Stack Overflow is easy.
The real challenge — and the real skill — lies somewhere else entirely.
In this short post, I break down why debugging is the true superpower of great developers, why it matters more than raw coding speed, and how it shapes the way you understand systems.
The Real Skill
Here’s what actually makes a developer valuable:
- 🔧 Debugging broken code
- 🧠 Understanding someone else's messy codebase
- 🐞 Finding that tiny bug causing massive issues
- 🔥 Staying calm when production is on fire
Debugging isn’t just "fixing errors." It’s learning how systems really behave under the hood.
Why Debugging Levels You Up
When you debug often, something shifts in the way you think:
- You ask sharper questions
- You read code more intentionally
- You learn faster
- You write cleaner, more predictable code
Tools change. Frameworks come and go. But your debugging mindset will stay with you for your entire career.
Key Insight
At the end of the day:
Real Developer Skill = Debugging Skills > Coding Skills
It’s not about how much code you write — it’s about how deep your understanding goes when that code breaks.
Summary
Good developers write code. Great developers debug systems.
If you're aiming to level up, invest in your debugging habits — they will outlast every tool, every framework, and every trend in the industry.