Code Quality

At Level 2, you write code that’s not just functional, but clean. You begin to think about how others will read, use, and extend your work. Code reviews become conversations about clarity, not just correctness. You start to balance pragmatism and polish—knowing when to ship and when to refactor.

Key Behaviors

  • Follows naming, formatting, and structuring conventions consistently
  • Breaks down logic into small, focused functions
  • Extracts reusable pieces rather than duplicating code
  • Leaves things better than they were when possible
  • Adds helpful comments without stating the obvious

Common Struggles

  • Can over-engineer for theoretical reuse
  • Might struggle with consistency in larger files or systems
  • May still need reminders to clean up after spikes or experiments
  • Sometimes confuses cleverness with clarity

Success Indicators

You know you're successful when you:

  • Write code that others can follow without help
  • Use consistent, clear patterns that match team practices
  • Are thoughtful about structure, naming, and readability
  • Submit PRs that need less cleanup or review intervention

Mindset Shift

From:

Is this clean enough?

To:

How do I make this easier for others to understand and evolve?

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Would I be proud to maintain this in six months?
  • Are there better patterns I could apply here?
  • Is this code safe, efficient, and understandable?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Review your own code before submitting
  • 2
    Document assumptions and edge cases
  • 3
    Use comments for intent, not explanation
  • 4
    Apply refactors after merging if needed

Seek Feedback

  • Does this align with our standards?
  • Would you know what this does without the context I have?
  • Is there a simpler or more consistent way to do this?

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • Your code is often used as an example for others
  • Reviewers comment on clarity more than correctness
  • You spot quality issues earlier in your own work

Focus Summary

  • Write for the reader
  • Refactor with care
  • Quality is your new default

At Level 2, quality becomes part of how you think—not just something added later. You make things that others can trust and build on.