Why Developers Should Blog

For years I thought blogging was a waste of time. Who would care what I had to say? And did I really want to add another distraction to an already busy schedule?

It turns out I was wrong. Keeping a blog has become one of the most valuable habits I have picked up. Not because it made me internet famous, but because of how it has helped me personally and professionally.

Why it matters

• Documentation for yourself
  Projects blur together over time. Writing about them forces me to capture what I did and why. Months later, when I have forgotten the details, I have something to come back to.

• Learning by explaining
  If you can explain a concept clearly in a blog post, you really understand it. Writing has pushed me to dig deeper and avoid hand-wavy thinking.

• Helping others
  Every so often someone emails me to say a post saved them hours of frustration. That alone makes it worth it.

• Career benefits
  Having a body of writing that shows your thinking and problem-solving can be just as valuable as a portfolio of code.

Why you should start

Do not overthink it. You do not need to be an expert, and you do not need perfect grammar. All you need is something you have learned or struggled with that might help the next person.

Pick a simple platform, write in your own voice, and hit publish. You might be surprised how useful it becomes, both for you and for whoever stumbles across your post at the right time.

Thanks for reading. If you have your own blog, I would love to hear how it has helped you. Feel free to share it with me.