Ask HN: How do I become a proactive coder at work?

  • Assuming you understand the business at a high level, and who the customer is more or less, you can ask management and leadership about the priorities in regards to what features are more important and why. The objective would be to align your own perspective and incentives in such a way that you can help with identifying the most critical tasks and adjusting your focus accordingly.

    Using a sports analogy, If you know where the goal is, and how the game is played, you are in a better position as one of the team players to not only react to the ball appropriately but also position yourself on the field in such a way that will benefit scoring more goals.

  • Maybe ask your boss? "Yo, boss, I've got some spare time. What's the most valuable thing I can do with it?"

  • Do your work and don't worry about it.