The Developer Angst

There’s always a bit of angst between developers and end users.

Developers (software engineers, technical leaders, technology professionals, etc.) live and breathe the tech. End users (the businesspeople on the other side of the screen/solution) are responsible for using that tech to get their work done.

When you fully understand the technology, it can be hard to grasp why others don’t. Sometimes the instinct is to say, “Just use it and trust it works!”

But here’s the deal: for many end users, trust comes from understanding, even if just a little.

A Real Example

I was recently teaching basic SQL querying to end users. They work with SQL developers who provide complex scripts that support their daily tasks. The users often hesitate NOT because they don't want to use the scripts, but because they don’t understand how they work, they are nervous about the results.

I had the chance to meet two of their developers smart, motivated people who genuinely love providing solutions. Their confusion? “Why does this feel so complicated for users? We’re helping them!”

Here’s what I shared with them: If you give me a script that drives my work, and I don’t understand how it works, it’s hard to fully trust the results. And if I’m responsible for those results, I need at least enough understanding to feel confident—even if I didn’t write the code.

Kudos to their leadership who understands that even just a little SQL scripting knowledge goes a long way.

The Bigger Point

To all the technical people out there: it’s not that end users are unwilling to understand - it’s that they’re trying to. They want to verify the output, because the responsibility sits with them.

So, be kind to an end user today. A little patience, a little understanding, and everyone wins.