From Quick Fixes to Real Solutions: How My Developer Mindset Evolved - The pause
✨ Dev Shorts #7 - short and meaningful
There was a time — maybe 5 or 6 years ago — when I would jump into code the moment something broke.
A bug appeared? Fix it. A button misaligned? Adjust the CSS. An edge case failing? Patch it and move on.
It felt productive. Helpful. Fast. And in some ways, it was — especially in the early days of my dev career, when being "the fixer" felt like a badge of honor.
But I've come to realize that a quick fix isn't always a real fix.
The Shift: From Reactive to Systematic
What differentiates me now from the developer I was back then is this: I don't jump in immediately anymore.
I pause.
I ask myself:
Why did this break?
Is there a pattern behind it?
What's the broader context?
How can we prevent this from happening again?
I've learned to look beyond the symptom and dig into the system. Sometimes the real fix isn't in that component or that file. It's in the architecture. Or the process. Or the missing test coverage. Or even the way the team collaborates.
When Quick Fixes Create Bigger Problems
Let me share two examples that changed how I think about this.
The Layout Bug That Wouldn't Die
I remember fixing a layout bug years ago by tweaking a margin property. It worked… until we introduced a new feature and the entire layout broke again. Then it happened again with the next feature. And again.
Today, I would approach that differently: I'd question why the layout was inconsistent in the first place. Was the spacing defined in the design system? Was the component reusing consistent tokens? Were we applying overrides on top of overrides?
Fixing that at the source might take longer initially — but it saves hours (and headaches) later on.
The Performance Fix That Missed the Point
In a more recent experience, I was dealing with a slow-loading dashboard. My old self would have immediately started optimizing queries and adding loading states. Instead, I paused and asked: "Why are we loading so much data at once?"
It turned out users rarely needed all that information upfront. The real solution wasn't faster queries — it was lazy loading and better information architecture. I ended up removing more code than we added, and the dashboard became both faster and more intuitive.
How to Develop the Pause
This mindset shift doesn't happen overnight. Here's what helped me:
Start with "Why?" not "How?" — Before opening your editor, spend 2-3 minutes understanding the problem.
What triggered this bug?
When did it start happening?
Who's affected?
Look for patterns — Keep a simple log of bugs you fix. After a month, review it. You'll start seeing connections: "Oh, we keep having state management issues" or "CSS problems always seem to happen in our form components."
Ask about the user impact — Sometimes a bug that seems critical to developers barely affects users. Understanding the actual impact helps you prioritize systemic fixes over quick patches.
Time-box your investigation — Don't fall into analysis paralysis. Give yourself 15-30 minutes to understand the root cause. If you can't find it, fix the symptom but create a ticket to investigate deeper later.
The Bigger Picture
The biggest mindset shift? I now see bugs as signals, not just tasks. They're feedback — nudges pointing to something deeper that needs attention.
And while I still care about moving fast, I care even more about moving forward in a sustainable way. Quick wins are tempting. But real wins build trust, stability, and long-term velocity.
This doesn't mean I never do quick fixes anymore. Sometimes you genuinely need to patch something fast. But now I'm intentional about it. I know when I'm applying a bandage versus actually healing the wound.
For Developers at Every Stage
If you're early in your career: it's okay to jump in and fix — you'll learn a lot about the codebase and build confidence. But start developing the habit of asking "why" alongside "how."
If you're more experienced: consider whether your quick fixes are actually creating technical debt. Are you solving the same types of problems repeatedly? That's a signal to zoom out.
If you're leading a team: create space for developers to investigate root causes. When someone finds a deeper issue while fixing a bug, celebrate that discovery as much as the fix itself.
The pause isn't about being slow — it's about being strategic. It's the difference between being a mechanic who patches problems and an engineer who prevents them.
Until next time,
— Stefania
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I felt this, Stefania. That shift from quick fixes to thoughtful, lasting solutions is something I’ve been slowly learning, too.
I love how you describe “the pause” not as hesitation, but as a moment to actually think things through. Thank you for putting this into words :)
This is a great point Stefania, and one many could learn from.
We're always eager, especially new hires, to jump in and do the fix ASAP to look like we're doing as much as we can.
But it's not always the best option. The pause, as you mention, is the core to further growth.
"Why?", not "how?" is a great way to remember it.