The term "10x Developer" has been a buzzword in the software development industry ever since the early 2000’s.
But what's funny is that it comes from much further back than that.
In a 1968 study by Sackman, Erikson, and Grant for the Advanced Research Projects Agency, they found that the most productive developers in their tests had an output of almost 10x more than the average dev. Hence where the name comes from. (Although the definition has changed slightly since then).
Now obviously these people stood out from the crowd, and ended up being more successful and promoted.
The thing is though, it wasn’t always the most experienced devs that were producing these outlier results. Some were juniors or even fairly new! And so they came to the conclusion that this 10x performance was less about experience, and came down to other external factors.
In this guide I'll break down what these are, as well as how you can apply these same principles to become a 10x developer in 2026.
But first, let’s clear something up…
10x Developers today vs. 10x Developers in 1968
It’s important to understand that the concept of a 10x developer today, isn’t the same as that initial assessment in 1968. The term has evolved, and no longer refers to people who can crank out ten times as much code, nor is it a focus on productivity above all else.
It’s not about creating 10x more. It’s about being 10x better across the board.
They are a well-rounded and efficient developer
They work well in a team, and help lift every member rather than try to stand out
They keep learning throughout their career. But, they also make sure to learn the right things and ignore distractions, as their time is important
They focus on systems and tools to make their daily work and continuous learning easier
And they have a good work-life balance
Can you see why I said these devs do so well?
Any team lead will look at these people and see the impact they have on the entire team, and it’s a no-brainer to do everything they can to keep them on board.
Why should you become a 10x Developer?
Other than the job security and more money from being someone that the team leads love, it’s actually less effort to be a 10x developer (kind of).
What I mean by this is that a lot of people who reach this level, don’t do it out of a drive to be the best, but instead, they do it because they’re ‘smart-lazy’.
Don’t get me wrong, they get their work done, but not because they sit at their desk longer than anyone else. Instead, they’re always looking at ways to improve by 1% to make their life and work easier:
What small added effort can they do now, to reduce the overall effort down the line?
What bottlenecks can they remove?
Where can they compound their efforts?
What can they automate to reduce downtime?
What can they use to help with repetitive tasks?
What can they learn to improve their code performance and what can they ignore?
It might mean spending an extra hour here or there, but it all results in a greater impact on every area of their work, and more free time.
For example
When AI tools first came out, we ran a study of over 3,000+ devs, engineers, team leads around the state of AI in the tech industry.
We originally thought it would be the young devs who embraced AI at first, as it was the cool new tool to play with. But the reality was that the senior devs and team leads were really leaning in, because they realized they could use it to help automated anywhere from 30-90% of their work!
Talk about being smart lazy right!?
Sure, they had to learn to use the tools and probably spent a few weekends tweaking and getting it up and running, but now they’re laughing. More free time, higher output, and a whole new skill set in a high-demand market.
TL;DR
Becoming a 10x developer isn't about being amazing at everything or outworking everyone else. It’s about small incremental improvements over time in multiple areas so that you make life easier for yourself and others.
So let's show you how.
Step #1. Learn how to learn more effectively
A big part of being one of the most effective in a field, is by learning new things. However, the problem of course is that this all takes time.
The thing is, 10x devs can do this because they've learned how to learn things faster and move effectively, simply by using techniques and systems that most people are not even aware of:
![Learning to Learn [Efficient Learning]](https://images.ctfassets.net/aq13lwl6616q/6VWcUgLgG0SU55ORlILe2S/e186361aeb48561bcd19ae6486577022/Learning_to_Learn.jpg?w=1200&h=672&q=50&fm=webp&bg=transparent)
It might seem like a detour, but in reality its going to save you so much time moving forward. It's kind of like being in a rush to get somewhere but having square wheels on your car. If you stopped to add round ones, you would get there quicker and easier every time.
It's often these small detours that make becoming a 10x dev even easier.
If you think about it, this is exactly like what I was saying with the people who learned the A.I. tools. It took them a little longer upfront, but the compound effect after was huge, and it’s the same for this.
We cover all the techniques you can use more in that course above, but let me share a few techniques here.
Use spaced repetition
Most of us learn simply from the experience or structure that we had in school. You show up, are told things, and then you try and remember as much about the topic for a test.
This method isn’t great.
In fact, in an 1885 study by Hermann Ebbinghaus at the University of Berlin, he found that we forget 95% of what we learn, just 3 days after learning it.
However, there is a solution.
He also found that the retention of those memories improved, when you repeated the content after a short period of time.
All you need to do is increase the frequency that you apply these things. So rather than 5 hours straight of learning a new topic, just 1 hour a night for 5 days. This will then help you retain the information and apply it better.
Notice I said each night also?
Well, there's a reason for this...
Set a dedicated learning time
You don't have to learn at night. But, you should try and set it up so that when you do learn, its at the same time of day each time. This way you then have a dedicated time slot that you can stick to and form a habit around.
It also helps if you can tie this time into something else you might usually do, as you’ll be more likely to form the habit.
For example
If you go to the gym on Tuesday nights, then right after you get home would be a great period of focus for an hour.
You let your current first habit build the second one.
However, you're still going to struggle unless you fix this next issue.
Create a productive learning environment
Our environment shapes the actions we take.
For example
If you have snacks at the front of the cupboard, you’re more likely to eat them. Likewise, if your phone is in arms reach, you’re more likely to pick it up when distracted.
This is why you need to create the ideal environment for your 10x activities and learning:
Remove things from your desk that are not part of what you’re doing. Especially anything that can pull your attention away
Get some noise canceling headphones
Add a site blocker plugin to your browser, and have it set to stop access to any sites you might browse when distracted
Make sure you have a comfortable chair and good lighting, and all your learning materials accessible
And put your phone in another room!
Commit to a growth mindset
Finally, understand that skills are built, not born. Every expert was once a beginner, and it’s only from consistent effort and practice, you can become one too.
It’s not an overnight change, but small changes overtime that all add up.
Become a 2x dev, then a 3x, and work your way up to a '10x' dev over time.
But you're going to have to learn a lot of new stuff in this role (even if you never try to become 10x), so make sure you make your life easier and learn how to learn faster and more efficiently.
Step #2. Make your life easier by learning to use generative A.I. tools
A.I. tools are here to stay and are quickly becoming a prerequisite skill for all new hires - in and outside of the tech industry.
They’re not perfect and aren't a replacement for core knowledge and experience, but they will help you automate and fast-track a lot of what you’re already doing:
Watch the workshop below I did for ZTM Academy students (I ended up making it free for anyone to watch).
After you've done that:
And if you really want to be able to smash this, learn Prompt Engineering:
Then, start playing around and looking at ways you can use these A.I. tools in with your work to help you improve your current processes:
You could have it document all your code changes
Debug your code for errors
Write commands
Or even solve Git issues
And so much more
Just think of the amount of time you would save each year, and this is just the tip of the iceberg!
So now we have the learning and additional skills down, it's time to improve our core competencies.
Step #3. Get more proficient in your current programming language
If you want to be great at a language, then you need to not only use it often, but also learn more about it.
Because the more you know, the easier it will be to use, and the better you’ll understand its strengths and weaknesses.
Learn more about your language
Go beyond the basics. Learn about more advanced or niche features of your language that can help you write more efficient and effective code.
For example
If you're a Web Developer, then you could:
Check out the official documentation and new features
Dive deeper into any training you’ve already done before and push yourself to grasp things you might not have fully understood
And take more advanced JavaScript courses:
Focus on efficiency
It's not just knowing more about your coding language though.
Being a 10x developer is also about making sure you're writing code that's not just functional, but also efficient. This involves choosing the right data structures and algorithms, libraries, and language features.
If you’re not sure which of these are best for your chosen language, then this is definitely something to look up and learn. Find out why these are the best also.
This is just one reason why I also recommend learning System Design, even as a junior developer, because it'll help you understand these 'bigger picture' concepts. (And also make you stand out with your boss).
Test your code to ensure it's reliable
You need to make sure your code is reliable and works as expected under a variety of conditions and handles errors gracefully.
And the only way to really do this is to make sure you're performing rigorous testing, including unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests.
You can even put those pair programming tools to the test and have them assess your code for potential improvements!
Create shortcuts
Use scripts, automation, and version control systems to ensure that your code runs the same way every time and that your work is easily replicated by others.
For example
You should be already using those A.I. tools, so why not see if you can use them for this also? It’s going to seriously cut down your time, while also ensuring higher quality output.
Make sure your code is easy to debug
Finally, make sure to write clear, well-documented code (another possible task for those tools) that's easy to understand, troubleshoot, and maintain.
This can save you and others a lot of time and frustration down the line.
Step #4. Use what you’ve learned!
One of the best ways to both improve your skills and retain new information, is by applying it!
Build more projects
Building projects is one of the best ways to learn and practice, because it gives you a chance to apply what you've learned, encounter real-world challenges, and create something tangible.
You should have already been looking at more advanced topics, as well as pair programming with your A.I. tool of choice. Go ahead and build them, learn, and then add them to that portfolio.
Contribute to Open Source projects
Another great way to get more experience with your tool of choice, learn more, and network, is to work on open source projects.
This can give you experience working on large codebases, collaborating with others outside of your work environment, and the chance to learn from more experienced developers.
Plus, it's a great way to give back to the community and can be another valuable addition to your portfolio.
Step #5. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments
As well as staying on top of developments in your current programming language, you should also stay on top of what's happening in your particular industry. This way, you’ll have a better idea of emerging trends and opportunities.
For example
This can easily be done through following relevant people and brands on social media, reading industry blogs, podcasts, and subscribing to curated newsletters.
And if you want to take it a step further, you can also attend meetups, conferences, and webinars.
Step #6. Expand your current skill set
So far you’ve been polishing and improving your current skills, and we also added in 2 vital skills:
Learning more efficiently
And Prompt Engineering, simply because its becoming so vital and fits into our 'smart-easy' approach
However, it's also worth adding in other skills to help you hit that 10x Dev target.
These will vary depending on your role and where you want your career to go, but here's a few obvious options.
Learn new languages
Don't limit yourself to just one or two programming languages. Expand your skillset to include more so you can be a more versatile developer and open up new opportunities.
I recommend:
Looking at languages required to move up in your role i.e. if you're currently frontend, then it would be worth learning backend tools and languages to go full-stack and earn more
Look at popular languages and get a feel for why
Look at languages that you think might be the future of your role OR at the forefront of industry leading roles that you might move into
Learn about the full development cycle
Consider learning about areas beyond coding, such as:
Become a Ethical Hacker & Cybersecurity Expert
15 milestones 12 courses
Step-by-step roadmap where you'll learn to code and build a portfolio.
Curated curriculum of courses, workshops, challenges, projects, and action items.
Become a Ethical Hacker & Cybersecurity Expert from scratch and actually get hired.
Earn on average per year:
$126,653
US salary data collected from Indeed, LinkedIn, and Web3.career 2026.
These will give you a more holistic understanding of software development and make you a more valuable contributor to any project or team.
Learn new models for solving problems
Different problems call for different solutions.
But the thing about this, you only know how to solve a problem, based on your current world experience. That’s why you should look at adding in new experiences from other fields (like we mentioned above), so that you might find totally new solutions.
For example
Richard Feynman was a renowned physicist known for his contributions to quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, and particle physics, among other areas.
He was known for a lot of things, but the main one was his remarkable problem-solving abilities and unconventional approaches to physics problems.
He stated that his unique perspective and creativity often allowed him to find elegant solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges.
The reason for this is because he loved to learn about multiple topics. This wider range gave him new models of thinking and helped him come up with solutions than his peers would miss.
For example
While working at the University one day, he was going to lunch with some Maths professors, and they were currently struggling with a math problem. Fenyman solved it almost immediately, thanks in part, to being an unruly child.
Basically, because he was smart, he was also a pain at school sometimes, and so his teacher would make him sit at the back of the class and read very old math textbooks that were no longer taught, just to keep him entertained.
The thing is, these books had methods for solving problems that were pretty unheard of by current people at the time. This is why he could solve that Math problem that was stumping the other lecturers, because he had different problem solving tools!
That's why it's worth learning these different disciplines.
TL;DR
Becoming a 10x developer isn't about knowing everything, but rather it's about having a solid foundation and the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies, methodologies, and best practices.
Constantly expanding and updating your skillset (otherwise know as 'skill stacking') is a key part of this process.
I’m not saying you need to go learn microbiology, but why not go a little broader than your current skill set?
Even within programming you could learn about different programming paradigms, such as functional, procedural, or declarative programming. At the very least, you’ll learn something new. Or, it might even enhance your problem-solving skills when it comes to your daily work.
Step #7. Improve your collaboration and communication skills
Software development is a team effort, and so being able to work effectively with others, whether it's understanding their code, reconciling different viewpoints, or coordinating efforts, is crucial.
This means that while technical skills are critical, "soft skills" are just as important, so let's break some of these down.
Make sure to actively listen
Communication isn't just about talking, it's also about listening. So when working with a team or interacting with clients, (or even sitting for tech interviews), strive to understand their perspective and take their input into account. This can lead to better solutions and a more harmonious working environment.
It might seem woo woo, but having empathy and considering the needs and feelings of others is an important part of effective communication. This can help in building better relationships with your team and clients, and fostering a positive working environment.
Try to communicate more clearly
We can be guilty of being a little introverted in tech, but you have to get past this if you want to work well in a team.
Whether this means writing clearer code comments, explaining complex concepts in simple terms, or articulating your ideas effectively, good communication skills can all make a big difference.
Handle feedback positively
Finally, knowing how to give and receive feedback constructively is also a key part of working within a team.
Not only that, but it can also help you identify areas for improvement and become a better developer.
TL;DR
Remember, being a 10x developer isn't just about writing great code . It's also about being a great teammate and collaborator, so by honing your collaboration and communication skills, you can become a more effective and influential member of your team and have a bigger impact on your projects.
Step #8. Make sure to keep a good work-life balance
It's essential to remember that becoming a 10x developer isn't about working 10 times harder, but working smarter.
This means that it’s vital to maintain a healthy work-life balance that can sustain your career in the long run.
Make time for your health and wellness
Maintaining good physical and mental health is crucial for productivity, so regular exercise, a balanced diet, and ample sleep are all part of this.
Take regular breaks and time off
It's important to know when to step away from the computer and recharge, so be sure to take regular breaks so you can prevent fatigue and burnout.
Practice mindfulness and manage your stress levels
Mindfulness and meditation can help manage stress and enhance focus and clarity. Not only that, they can also help you function at a much higher level.
![Learning to Meditate [Productivity & Focus]](https://images.ctfassets.net/aq13lwl6616q/2a7NI2zgRFphCk8pnDHBYF/34433f9991c8952427f112d428014bc6/Meditation_Thumbnail_2-_Academy.png?w=600&h=335&q=50&fm=webp&bg=transparent)
No joke, every high performer that I know that has everything in balance, while also being successful, makes time for meditation.
It’s like a reboot for the brain hardware. Close those tabs and help that head run more efficiently!
And don’t forget to make time for life outside of work!
It’s great to enjoy programming and want to learn more, but try and add in other interests away from the desk.
Pursuing hobbies and spending time with loved ones can provide a vital counterbalance to the rigors of a demanding career.
For example
You could try jujitsu. It’s great exercise, usually a good community, (so good for building communication skills), and it’s very much like chess, so it's great for analytical thinkers.
Oh, and add the fact that it’s hard to think about work when you’re rolling around on the floor trying to choke each other 😬!
TL;DR
The path to becoming a 10x Developer is a marathon, not a sprint, so make sure to make time for yourself and your health.
You’ll reap far more rewards and enjoy the journey much more.
Ready to become a 10x Developer?
Follow the steps outlined above and you'll become a 10x Developer. It takes more effort upfront but the rewards are worth it.
Remember to:
Embrace Change. Be open to change, whether it's a new technology, a new project requirement, or a change in the team dynamic. Adaptability is a valuable trait in a developer, and it actually helps lower stress
Improve Incrementally. Don't strive for overnight transformation. Instead, aim for consistent, incremental improvement. Even a 1% improvement each day can lead to significant growth over time
Stay Curious. Maintain a sense of curiosity and a hunger for learning. This will drive you to explore new technologies, methodologies, and best practices, and keep improving, but don’t forget to learn how to learn more effectively!
Learn from Mistakes. Don't be afraid of making mistakes, because they're a natural part of learning and improving. In fact, you can’t learn unless you’re willing to make a mistake! What's important is to learn from these mistakes and turn them into opportunities for growth
Seek Feedback. Regularly seek feedback from your peers, superiors, and subordinates. Use it to identify areas for improvement and work on them
And always look for ways to improve. Not just from a personal perspective, but with every task you’re doing. The more you can simplify or automate tasks, the less you have to keep doing yourself. It’s a highly underrated skill.
You’ve got this! The trick is to get started today and just make those small improvements over time, so get started now.
Best articles. Best resources. Only for ZTM subscribers.
If you enjoyed Andrei's post and want to get more like it in the future, subscribe below. By joining over 500,000 ZTM email subscribers, you'll receive exclusive ZTM posts, opportunities, and offers.
No spam ever, unsubscribe anytime
