Technical Skill

TCH

Core coding skills, language mastery, and understanding of fundamental computer science concepts.

The Scripting Newcomer

Range: 1-20

Basic syntax knowledge but limited depth.

• Can write simple scripts and modify existing code
• Relies heavily on Stack Overflow and copy-paste solutions
• Understands basic control structures but struggles with advanced concepts
• May know one language at a surface level

The Practical Implementer

Range: 21-35

Solid in their primary language but narrow focus.

• Comfortable with day-to-day coding tasks in their main tech stack
• Knows common libraries and frameworks well enough to be productive
• Limited understanding of computer science fundamentals
• Struggles when moving outside their comfort zone

The Competent Generalist

Range: 36-55

Well-rounded technical foundation.

• Proficient in 2-3 programming languages
• Understands core CS concepts like data structures and algorithms
• Can learn new frameworks within familiar paradigms quickly
• Solid debugging and problem-solving skills

The Domain Expert

Range: 56-75

Deep expertise in specific technical areas.

• Master-level knowledge in their specialty (web dev, mobile, data, etc.)
• Understands performance implications and optimization techniques
• Can architect solutions within their domain confidently
• May have some knowledge gaps outside their specialty

The Technical Scholar

Range: 76-90

Strong theoretical foundation meets practical expertise.

• Deep understanding of multiple programming paradigms
• Can discuss trade-offs between different approaches knowledgeably
• Understands low-level concepts like memory management and concurrency
• Keeps up with academic research and industry best practices

The Language Polyglot

Range: 91-100

Exceptional breadth and depth of technical knowledge.

• Fluent in multiple languages across different paradigms
• Can quickly adapt to any tech stack or write their own tools
• Deep understanding of compilers, interpreters, and language design
• Often contributes to open source projects or creates new tools

Problem Solving

PRB

Ability to break down complex problems, think algorithmically, and find elegant solutions.

The Recipe Follower

Range: 1-20

Needs detailed instructions and clear examples.

• Requires step-by-step guidance for most tasks
• Struggles to break down problems into smaller components
• Copies existing solutions without fully understanding them
• Gets stuck when facing novel problems

The Pattern Matcher

Range: 21-35

Can solve problems similar to ones they've seen before.

• Good at recognizing familiar problem types
• Uses existing solutions as templates for new problems
• Limited ability to adapt when problems don't fit known patterns
• Relies on trial-and-error more than systematic thinking

The Methodical Solver

Range: 36-55

Systematic approach to problem-solving.

• Can break down complex problems into manageable pieces
• Uses debugging tools effectively to isolate issues
• Thinks through edge cases and potential failure modes
• May take longer but produces reliable solutions

The Creative Problem Solver

Range: 56-75

Finds innovative solutions to challenging problems.

• Enjoys tackling complex, ambiguous problems
• Can see connections between seemingly unrelated concepts
• Balances creativity with practical constraints
• Often finds simpler solutions than initially obvious

The Algorithm Designer

Range: 76-90

Thinks in terms of efficiency and optimal solutions.

• Considers time and space complexity when designing solutions
• Can optimize existing algorithms or create new ones
• Understands when to use different data structures and algorithms
• Balances theoretical optimality with practical implementation

The Systems Thinker

Range: 91-100

Solves problems at multiple levels simultaneously.

• Sees the bigger picture while handling implementation details
• Anticipates how solutions will scale and evolve over time
• Can solve problems that span multiple systems or domains
• Often prevents problems before they occur through thoughtful design

System Design

SYS

Understanding of architecture, scalability, design patterns, and building maintainable systems.

The Feature Builder

Range: 1-20

Focuses on individual features without broader context.

• Implements features as requested without considering architecture
• Limited understanding of how components interact
• May create tightly coupled code that's hard to maintain
• Doesn't think about scalability or future requirements

The Component Creator

Range: 21-35

Understands modular design within a single application.

• Can create reusable components and functions
• Understands basic separation of concerns
• Limited experience with distributed systems or scaling
• May overengineer simple solutions

The Application Architect

Range: 36-55

Designs well-structured applications.

• Understands common design patterns and when to use them
• Can design database schemas and API interfaces
• Considers maintainability and extensibility in design decisions
• Experience with monolithic applications but limited distributed systems knowledge

The Service Designer

Range: 56-75

Understands microservices and distributed system basics.

• Can break applications into logical services
• Understands API design and service boundaries
• Has experience with scaling challenges and solutions
• May struggle with complex distributed system problems

The Platform Architect

Range: 76-90

Designs systems that support multiple applications.

• Understands infrastructure, deployment, and operational concerns
• Can design for high availability, disaster recovery, and compliance
• Balances technical debt with business requirements
• Considers organizational structure in architectural decisions

The Systems Visionary

Range: 91-100

Designs complex, scalable systems from first principles.

• Can architect systems handling millions of users or complex data flows
• Understands trade-offs between consistency, availability, and partition tolerance
• Designs systems that evolve gracefully over time
• Influences industry best practices and patterns

Code Quality

QLT

Writing clean, readable, well-documented code that follows best practices.

The Quick and Dirty Coder

Range: 1-20

Gets things working but creates technical debt.

• Code works but is hard to read and maintain
• Minimal or no comments and documentation
• Inconsistent naming and formatting
• Rarely writes tests or follows coding standards

The Functional Coder

Range: 21-35

Code works reliably but could be cleaner.

• Follows basic naming conventions most of the time
• Some comments but often outdated or unclear
• Occasional code duplication and inconsistent patterns
• Limited testing, mainly happy path scenarios

The Standard Follower

Range: 36-55

Consistently follows established coding practices.

• Code is readable and follows team conventions
• Regular comments explaining complex logic
• Uses consistent patterns and avoids obvious code smells
• Writes basic tests for most functionality

The Clean Code Advocate

Range: 56-75

Writes code that serves as documentation.

• Self-documenting code with excellent naming and structure
• Comprehensive comments for complex business logic
• Actively refactors to improve code quality
• Strong test coverage including edge cases

The Quality Guardian

Range: 76-90

Sets the standard for code quality on the team.

• Code reviews focus on maintainability and clarity
• Establishes and enforces coding standards
• Comprehensive documentation at code and system levels
• Mentors others on best practices

The Code Perfectionist

Range: 91-100

Treats code as craft, pursuing excellence in every detail.

• Code is a model of clarity, efficiency, and maintainability
• Documentation is comprehensive and always up-to-date
• Every function and class has a clear, single responsibility
• May spend significant time on polish that doesn't add business value

Learning Agility

LRN

Speed of picking up new technologies, frameworks, and adapting to change.

The Comfort Zone Dweller

Range: 1-20

Prefers familiar tools and avoids change.

• Sticks to technologies they learned years ago
• Resistant to adopting new frameworks or methodologies
• Takes significant time to become productive with new tools
• May become defensive when forced to learn new approaches

The Gradual Adapter

Range: 21-35

Learns new things but prefers incremental change.

• Will learn new technologies when necessary for work
• Prefers evolutionary changes over revolutionary ones
• Takes time to fully adopt new practices
• Often waits for technologies to mature before adopting

The Practical Learner

Range: 36-55

Learns what's needed to get the job done.

• Picks up new frameworks and tools as projects require
• Focuses learning on immediately applicable skills
• Balances staying current with getting work done
• May have gaps in theoretical understanding

The Curious Explorer

Range: 56-75

Actively seeks out new technologies and approaches.

• Regularly experiments with new tools and frameworks
• Attends conferences, reads blogs, and follows tech trends
• Quick to prototype solutions with unfamiliar technologies
• Sometimes adopts new tech before it's proven stable

The Technology Scout

Range: 76-90

Always on the cutting edge of technological advancement.

• First to try new languages, frameworks, and methodologies
• Can quickly evaluate and compare different technical approaches
• Contributes to early-stage open source projects
• Helps teams make informed decisions about tech adoption

The Innovation Catalyst

Range: 91-100

Drives technological change within organizations.

• Doesn't just learn new technologies but masters them quickly
• Can see connections between emerging trends and business opportunities
• Influences industry direction through speaking, writing, or open source
• May create new tools, frameworks, or methodologies

Collaboration

CLB

Communication skills, code review quality, mentoring ability, and working effectively in teams.

The Deep Work Specialist

Range: 1-20

Prefers long stretches of focused coding with minimal interruptions.

• Takes on complex, solo projects that require sustained concentration
• Communicates primarily through well-documented code and detailed PRs
• Attends meetings but prefers async updates and written communication
• Highly productive when given autonomy and clear requirements

The Asynchronous Communicator

Range: 21-35

Collaborates thoughtfully but on their own timeline.

• Provides thorough, detailed code reviews and documentation
• Prefers Slack/email over impromptu calls or shoulder taps
• Contributes meaningfully to discussions but needs processing time
• Often works across time zones or prefers flexible schedules

The Steady Team Player

Range: 36-55

The reliable backbone of most development teams.

• Participates in standups, planning, and reviews without dominating
• Pairs occasionally when needed but comfortable working independently
• Asks for help when stuck but tries to solve problems first
• Mentors juniors informally through code reviews and side conversations

The Technical Mentor

Range: 56-75

Senior developer who actively guides others.

• Regularly pairs with junior and mid-level developers
• Leads technical discussions and architectural decisions
• Proactively shares knowledge through docs, tech talks, or informal teaching
• Balances hands-on coding with helping others grow

The Team Orchestrator

Range: 76-90

Tech lead or principal who facilitates team success.

• Spends significant time in meetings, planning, and cross-team coordination
• Codes strategically on critical paths or to unblock others
• Focuses on team productivity over individual output
• Bridges technical and business stakeholders

The Pair Programming Enthusiast

Range: 91-100

Believes the best code comes from real-time collaboration.

• Prefers working with a partner for most coding tasks
• Thinks out loud and enjoys bouncing ideas off others
• Leads mob programming sessions and collaborative problem-solving
• May struggle with solo work or deep, uninterrupted focus time