Last week, I watched a junior engineer’s confidence shatter in real-time. The cause? A single four-letter word that’s poisoning our technical discussions. No, not that one – I’m talking about just.
Ever notice how often we throw around the word “just” in engineering discussions? I cringe every time I hear:
“Can’t we just use Docker to containerize the app?” “Why don’t we just add Redis for caching?” “I checked the docs – we just need to implement GraphQL, should be straightforward!”
It’s not that these suggestions are wrong or that anyone’s being intentionally dismissive. But that innocent little word “just” carries a ton of hidden implications that can poison our technical discussions.
The Invisible Baggage of “Just”
1. It Oversimplifies Complex Problems
When someone says ”just”, they’re essentially declaring something to be simple. But here’s the thing – in software engineering, nothing is as simple as it seems. Let’s break down that casual suggestion to “just implement GraphQL.”
Here’s what actually needs consideration:
- How will this impact our existing REST endpoints? Do we maintain both?
- What’s our schema design strategy? Are we doing code-first or schema-first?
- How do we handle authentication and authorization in GraphQL?
- What about rate limiting and API security?
- Do we need to implement DataLoader to avoid the N+1 query problem?
- How will we monitor query performance and complexity?
- What’s our error handling and logging strategy?
- How do we version the schema as it evolves?
- Who’s going to train the team on GraphQL best practices?
- What’s our testing strategy for resolvers?
- How do we handle data validation and input sanitization?
- What’s the migration plan for existing clients?
Suddenly “just” doesn’t seem so simple, does it?
2. It’s an Imposter Syndrome Amplifier
Picture this: You’re a developer who’s been wrestling with a problem all day. You finally gather the courage to ask for help, and a senior engineer casually says, Why don’t you just use X?”
That “just” hits like a ton of bricks. It implies that the solution was obvious – and if it wasn’t obvious to you, well…
In an industry where imposter syndrome is already rampant (studies suggest over 50% of Silicon Valley engineers experience it), we don’t need words that accidentally shame people for not seeing the “simple” solution.
3. It Kills Creative Problem-Solving
When someone presents a solution prefixed with ”just”, they’re unknowingly creating a barrier to further discussion. Who wants to be the person questioning a supposedly “simple” solution? This leads to:
- Reduced brainstorming
- Less questioning of assumptions
- Fewer alternative approaches being considered
- Missing out on potentially better solutions
Breaking the “Just” Habit
Here’s what I’ve learned to do instead:
- Replace “just” with specific actions Instead of: “Let’s just use GraphQL” Try: “We could implement GraphQL, which would involve…”
- Acknowledge complexity Instead of: “Just add caching” Try: “We could explore caching solutions, considering factors like…”
- Invite discussion Instead of: “Just containerize it” Try: “What do you think about containerization as an approach?”
The Impact I’ve Seen
Since actively working to eliminate “just” from my technical vocabulary (and yes, I still catch myself using it), I’ve noticed:
- More engaged technical discussions
- Junior engineers speaking up more often
- Better exploration of edge cases
- More thorough solution designs
- Healthier team dynamics
The Path Forward
Breaking the “just” habit isn’t easy — I still catch myself reaching for it in conversations. But being mindful of its impact has made me a better communicator and, I believe, a better engineer.
Remember: No significant technical solution is ever “just” anything. Embrace the complexity, acknowledge the trade-offs, and create space for real technical discussion.