Photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash
Deciphering Documentation: A Software Engineer's Journey to Unravelling the Mysteries
How to tackle software engineering challenges with documentation over online tutorials.
Introduction
In the world of software engineering, there's a tendency among junior engineers to seek quick solutions through videos or online articles rather than diving into the depths of documentation. Who has time for reading lengthy documents when there's a problem to be solved, right? But beware, this shortcut often leads to temporary fixes without truly understanding the underlying issues. Imagine finding yourself in the same predicament again, frantically searching for that elusive video or article that once saved the day.
The Pitfalls of Shortcut Solutions
Let's face it, we've all been there. My own "Aha moment" came when tackling the challenge of integrating OIDC in HashiCorp Vault with our organisation's in-house identity provider. At first, I thought I could breeze through it with a quick YouTube tutorial. But as soon as I tried to replicate the instructor's steps in our real-world environment, chaos ensued. Cue the endless cycle of Google searches, each query more desperate than the last.
Back to Basics
After hitting a wall of frustration, I decided to take a step back and embrace the power of documentation. Starting with the OIDC documentation, I gained a foundational understanding of its purpose and functionality. But to truly conquer the challenge, I needed to delve deeper into the world of OAuth2.0. Enter RFC 6749, the ultimate source of truth for OAuth2.0. Feel free to take a look at the documentation its huge. With determination and a willingness to learn, I combed through the documentation, unraveling the intricacies of OAuth2.0 one section at a time.
The Power of Understanding
Armed with newfound knowledge, I returned to Vault's documentation with renewed confidence. Each term and concept now made sense, allowing me to approach the integration challenge with clarity and precision. What seemed like an insurmountable task became manageable, thanks to the superpower of understanding documentation. So, the next time you're faced with a daunting problem, remember: don't underestimate the value of reading the manual.
What do you think?