7 Habits That Took Me from Junior to Mid Python Developer

Leveling up as a Python dev wasn’t about mastering syntax — it was about changing how I approached coding.

7 Habits That Took Me from Junior to Mid Python Developer

From reading source code to writing tests and building side projects, these 7 daily habits accelerated my growth from a junior to a confident mid-level Python developer.

Transitioning from a junior to a mid-level Python developer isn’t about adding more years to your résumé.

It’s about the habits you cultivate — the things you do daily that elevate how you think, code, and solve problems.

I learned this the hard way.

When I started out, I thought knowing syntax was enough. But writing Pythonic code, understanding design trade-offs, and collaborating effectively took deliberate effort and conscious change.

Here are the 7 habits that genuinely moved the needle for me:

1. I Stopped Copy-Pasting and Started Understanding

In the early days, Stack Overflow felt like a lifeline. But I was relying on it too much. I’d copy a solution, get it working, and move on — without understanding why it worked.

Eventually, I realized this was holding me back. I started forcing myself to break down each unfamiliar snippet:

What does this line do?

Why is this approach better than another?

Can I write a simpler version?

Understanding, not just executing, became my priority — and my growth accelerated.

2. I Embraced the Pythonic Way

Writing working code is one thing. Writing elegant Python is another.

I started learning about:

List comprehensions instead of verbose loops

Unpacking variables cleanly

Using enumerate, zip, and any/all in the right places

Reading the Zen of Python (import this) over and over

This shift made my code cleaner, more readable, and much more fun to write.

3. I Got Comfortable with Virtual Environments and pip

At first, I ignored venv and installed everything globally. Cue: broken dependencies, version mismatches, and utter chaos.

Once I started using virtual environments for every project, things clicked:

python -m venv env 
source env/bin/activate 
pip install -r requirements.txt

It made me feel like a real developer.

It also saved hours of debugging and taught me how to manage Python like a pro.

4. I Read Source Code and Documentation — Seriously

I used to avoid reading docs. Now, I crave them.

Instead of Googling “how to use requests,” I began reading its official documentation. It felt intimidating at first, but soon I realized:

The docs often have the cleanest examples

Reading source code reveals hidden features

It trains your brain to think like a library author

This one habit gave me an edge — especially when working with unfamiliar packages.

5. I Started Writing Tests (Even Basic Ones)

As a junior, I wrote code that “worked.” As a mid-level dev, I started writing code that kept working.

Unit tests were the difference.

I began using pytest to write simple assertions:

def test_add(): 
    assert add(2, 3) == 5

Testing forced me to:

Think about edge cases

Write modular functions

Refactor bad code
Even basic test coverage gave me confidence and stability in my work.

6. I Learned to Use Git Like a Developer, Not a User

Yes, I could push and pull — but Git was a black box.

I started learning:

Writing meaningful commit messages

Branching strategies (like feature/, bugfix/, hotfix/)

Reverting, rebasing, resolving merge conflicts

How to review a pull request

This turned me from someone who “used Git” to someone who “understood version control.” Massive career unlock.

7. I Asked Better Questions and Gave Better Help

Early on, I was afraid to ask questions. Then I swung the other way and asked too many, without trying much first.

The sweet spot? Asking well-formed, thoughtful questions after doing my homework.

Even more importantly, I made a habit of helping others:

Reviewing junior code

Explaining concepts to teammates

Writing internal documentation

Teaching made me 10x more confident — and helped me build a solid reputation in my team.

Final Thoughts: It’s About the Mindset

You don’t become a mid-level developer just by staying in the job longer.

You become one by taking ownership of your growth.

By learning beyond your tasks. By picking up good habits that slowly but surely compound.

If you’re on that path now, start with one habit.

Then build another.

Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize — you’ve leveled up.

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Let me know in the comments: Which habit are you working on right now?