With a rich and happening 17 years of software development life, I learned a lot. Here is what I learned in my professional life. Be receptive and listening . This is very important quality of a good developer. Have a receptive mindset and listening attitude. You will understand many subtle requirements, tricky behaviors of systems and special situations. Inputs can come at any time and in any form. Not all requirements can be stated at the start of project. Not all solutions can be obtained before you start to implement them. Many a times a critical input can come late in the game, or it can come from an unexpected source or in an unexpected form. Previous quality will help you catch such inputs. This necessitates two things: Always be listening to your surroundings, keep grasping the situation and; make your design extendible! Say yes ! Many people are afraid to accept a challenge, accommodate a change or try a new way of doing things.No doubt it requires mo