Hey Reader! 👋

Did a session last week on breaking down backend - what's getting easier with LLMs and what fundamentals to focus on to differentiate you from the crowd. Watch it below:

As LLMs get better and better, it's inevitable that roles expand to adjacencies.

5 years back, the adjacencies looked like this:

1. A web dev can expand to mobile.
2. A backend dev can add devops to her toolbelt.
3. ...

Today, the adjacencies are shifting. Slowly but surely, we're seeing more compounding happening when you combine tech with non-tech knowledge.

Early-stage startups are hiring fewer people and are on the hunt for builders who can think end-to-end. Founders want teammates who understand users, obsess over product, and still know how to ship up code that works.

So what does this mean for devs? Some thoughts ↓

1. learn how to own the whole flow
   from commit to deploy, from design to data
2. go beyond the ticket
   understand why the feature exists. think product.
3. build side projects
   nothing levels you up faster than doing it all yourself
4. don’t wait to be told
   have ideas. test them. ship them.
5. collab like a founder
   talk to users. write docs. explain tradeoffs.

Development today doesn’t just mean tech.
It means ownership. Welcome to the new world.

Sharing a bunch of more updates together here:

1. FTS is back! And I want you to apply if you haven't spoken publicly before. Don't worry, we'll have mocks before the actual event and guide you on everything to make this a blast for you.​Fill out the CFP form here by the weekend: https://firsttimespeakers.com/​
2. I've opened some slots for career clarity calls on a FCFS basis. As a rule, I don't do urgent calls. Urgency makes us take bad decisions, so don't wait till things get messy at work! Folks that submit their context now will get reached out by 15th Oct.
3. Wolverine is now my 15th plat! https://psnprofiles.com/swapnilagarwal/log?type=platinum​
4. We completed one year of our inner circle mastermind! We meet every Wednesday at 7:45am to reflect/course-correct on our long-term goals, learn new things from each other, and push our limits. Hit reply to join as a visitor for one week. We see if there's a mutual fit before we make you a long-term member. One of the major value additions you get is that I become your career manager (the manager I wish I had).
5. Remember I had shared this update on Aug 7th? "I did some Neo4j courses last month and just got a link to claim a t-shirt! Hope it actually gets shipped, clears customs, and arrives at my doorstep." I'm excited to share I just received it in my mail. Dev swag has always hooked me!

💚,
Swapnil

read my latest blog posts 👉 https://swapnilagarwal.com/posts​
browse through my videos 👉 @swapnilagarwal​
see which ai books i'm reading 👉 https://swapnilagarwal.com/posts/tech-book-club​