Improving developer productivity: Insights from industry leaders at GovTech STACK Developer Conference

Developer productivity is critical to mission success, so ensuring they have the right tools to do so is important for leaders who wish to empower developers to save time, code better, and deliver high-value products. 

At STACK Developer Conference 2024, one of Singapore’s largest developer conferences, a distinguished panel of experts from GovTech Singapore and Thoughtworks gathered to discuss the challenges and solutions for improving developer productivity on a panel titled Gotchas and Hurdles in the Journey to Improve Developer Engineering Productivity. 

Moderated by Dominic Chan, Chief Information Officer and Assistant Chief Executive at GovTech Singapore, the session featured insights from Chang Sau Sheong, Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Executive (Products) at GovTech Singapore, Rachel Laycock, Global Chief Technology Officer at Thoughtworks, and Gregor Hohpe, author of the Architect Elevator series. 

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Approaches to platform thinking  

During the panel, GovTech’s Chan questioned the panelists about their perspective on the roles of platform thinking and artificial intelligence (AI) when it comes to supporting developer productivity.  

GovTech’s Chang shared that while platforms can boost productivity, their success hinges on understanding the diverse needs of their users.  

He explained that as a public sector organization, GovTech must develop platforms that provide value across a wide range of agencies while ensuring cost recovery. This balance is crucial for creating sustainable, high-impact solutions. 

GovTech's Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Executive (Products), Chang Sau Sheong, shared that GovTech Singapore aims to build platforms that provide value across a wide range of agencies while ensuring cost recovery.

Similarly, Thoughtworks’ Laycock shared that creating the right platform is "more of an art than a science," stressing the importance of customer-centricity.  

She explained that by gathering feedback and tracking usage, leaders can fine-tune platforms to ensure they reduce cognitive load for developers and address their real-world needs. 

“Understanding what’s useful, what isn’t, and whether services are easy to find or causing frustration is critical,” she said. 

Hohpe emphasised the importance of composability, suggesting that developers should be able to mix and match platform components, much like Lego bricks, to build custom solutions.  

For example, the Singapore Government Tech Stack (SGTS) offers plug-and-play modules such as digital identity, DevOps, and analytics, allowing developers to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure. 

Reducing waste and cognitive load 

Laycock pointed out that developers are inherently motivated to be productive. 

However, leaders must identify and remove “waste” from the system, which slows down progress. She encouraged leaders to examine the entire development process to find inefficiencies and improve workflows. 

“When you start eliminating waste, timelines shrink significantly, and developers get excited to build features and push things into production,” said Thoughtworks' Global Chief Technology Officer, Rachel Laycock.

“What I’ve seen is when you start eliminating waste, timelines shrink significantly, and developers get excited to build features and push things into production,” she said. 

On the topic of introducing new tools, Hohpe highlighted the importance of convincing senior leaders that these investments are worthwhile by addressing concerns about cost, compliance, and security. Then, leaders can make informed decisions that benefit the organisation. 

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The impact of AI on developer productivity 

GovTech’s Chang also discussed the role of AI in the future of developer productivity, noting that while AI coding assistants are trending right now, organizations should be cautious not to follow every hype cycle. 

Laycock added that generative AI (GenAI) holds the potential to simplify not only coding but also communication between team members, enabling developers to spend more time coding and less time in meetings or seeking clarification. 

“An analyst can use a chatbot to confirm they've met the requirements of a task, cutting down on time spent with tech leads and developers,” she explained. 

Hohpe agreed, suggesting that AI can help reduce friction in workflows, allowing developers to focus on creating value-added products rather than on routine tasks. However, he cautioned that the real test will be whether AI-generated code is of sufficient quality or if it will contribute to more technical debt. 

“Ultimately, it’s about the outcomes we’re trying to achieve, not just the activity,” Laycock said. 

Platform ownership and long-term success 

The panel also delved into the question of platform ownership.  

Laycock said that while a dedicated team should oversee the core components of platforms, shared ownership should also be encouraged to allow product teams, partners, and vendors to contribute to the platform. This fosters long-term adoption and buy-in. 

For instance, she cited GovTech Singapore’s practice of inner-sourcing, which encourages internal sharing of software modules, templates, and code, as one example of how shared ownership can work effectively in a public sector context. 

Chang pointed out that platforms must ultimately provide value to users, and as such, the balance of ownership and responsibilities will evolve over time. This flexibility ensures that platforms remain adaptable to changing needs. 

Hohpe added that platforms rarely fail due to an incorrect ownership model but often fail when ownership and responsibilities are unclear. Clear ownership is essential, even when the model evolves. 

As organisations continue to grow their tech capabilities, clearing roadblocks and enabling developers to do their best work, with tools such as artificial intelligence and well-built platforms, will be critical. To watch the panel and hear more of the panellists’ insights, click here.