A Bengaluru-based software engineer has gone viral online after sharing 12 lessons she learned during her first year working at Google, offering a glimpse into the work culture at one of the world’s leading technology companies.
Diksha Aggarwal, who recently completed her first year at the tech giant, shared her reflections on social media, highlighting insights about coding practices, teamwork, and problem-solving in large-scale engineering environments.
Simplicity matters more than clever code
One of Aggarwal’s biggest takeaways was the importance of writing simple and readable code rather than overly complex solutions.
According to her, maintainable code ensures long-term impact and makes it easier for teams to understand and improve projects over time.
She also emphasised that small bugs can cause massive problems in large systems, making testing an essential part of the development process.
Small changes improve code quality
Aggarwal explained that smaller pull requests usually receive better reviews, while larger ones may be approved quickly without thorough scrutiny.
Breaking updates into smaller steps, she said, allows teams to review changes carefully and maintain higher quality.
She also highlighted the importance of documenting the reasoning behind decisions, noting that code may show what was done, but comments explain why it was done.
Data-driven thinking
Another lesson she highlighted was the importance of supporting ideas with data rather than opinions.
In large organisations, decisions are more likely to succeed when backed by evidence and measurable insights.
The “20-minute rule”
One habit Aggarwal found particularly helpful was asking for help after being stuck on a problem for 20 minutes.
“In a large organisation, someone has likely faced the same issue before,” she noted, adding that seeking help early prevents wasted time and frustration.
Engineering is also about people
Beyond technical skills, Aggarwal spoke about the human side of engineering work.
She noted that imposter syndrome is common even among experienced engineers, as everyone is constantly learning in fast-moving tech environments.
She also pointed out that removing unnecessary code can be just as valuable as writing new features.
Ultimately, she stressed that user experience should guide every engineering decision, because technology only matters if it genuinely helps people.
Her reflections have resonated widely online, with many professionals praising the insights into the mindset required to succeed in global technology companies.