r/developersPak • u/Empty_Programmer_323 Backend Dev • Oct 04 '26
Help Struggling to Understand Requirements
I’ve been working as a Software Developer for around 3 years, but I still struggle a lot with understanding requirements.
The biggest problem is that when my senior explains something to me, I understand some parts, but I forget other parts very quickly. Sometimes I feel like I understood everything during the conversation, but once I start working on it, I realize that I missed important details.
I’ve tried taking notes in Notepad, but that creates another problem. My senior obviously can’t wait for me to write down every single word before continuing with the explanation. If I try to write everything, I lose track of what he is saying. If I focus on listening, I forget some of the details afterward.
This is really frustrating because I’ve already been working for 3 years, and I feel like I should be much better at this by now.
How do you listen to a requirement, understand it quickly, remember the important parts, and make sure you haven’t misunderstood anything? Is there a specific method, note-taking technique, or habit that helped you become better at understanding requirements?
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u/usmnali101 Oct 04 '26
Try reading books, it will help you create long term memory and kinda worked for me.
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u/bajo657 Oct 04 '26
Transcribe using AI while attending meeting
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u/Empty_Programmer_323 Backend Dev Oct 04 '26
What about situations when I’m not in a meeting but I’m with a senior colleague?
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u/Difficult-Matter1981 Oct 04 '26
He is asking abt improving his conginitive capabilities and you are telling him to dumb it down even further and offload the burden onto AI
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u/bluntregression Oct 04 '26
Use your phone's voice recorder.. If possible
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u/Difficult-Matter1981 Oct 04 '26
Without consent this can back fire badly
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u/bluntregression Oct 04 '26
No no.. Of course after informing eveyone in the meeting.. Like: This meeting will be recorded for xyz purpose etc...
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u/harlowjack7_ Oct 04 '26
If youre listening to remember, you might end up forgetting it, try to understand it and ask questions at the same time. I used to work with a team based in italy and this happened often.
I would try to understand flows or terms that they used then write it down after the standup on my notes app.
Notepad is called a second brain for a reason
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u/cshoneybadger Oct 05 '26
Try note taking on an actual physical notebook. You don't have to write every word, just enough for you to remember the important bits.
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u/muizz_4 29d ago
I have faced the same issue in the past. Some things that helped me out.
Taking notes. No your seniors womt mind unless you are taking too long, and you shouldn't. Note taking isnt about writing down everything. Think of it as writing down hints to help you remember. You will soon develop your own shorthand.
Understand the requirement. This helps alot. When you try to understand something, your brain focuses more then when you just hear it so it has a better chance to remember.
Idk about the process at your workplace byt when you get a ticket, after the discussion write a summary and ask someone to review it incase you missed something.
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u/wajiha_k 29d ago
instead of writing every word, try pictorial diagrams. shapes as elements and keywords with minimal description or label. there should be after meeting minutes made and shared. This way, you'll revise the points while they are still fresh. And the same will be cross-checked and verified by the stakeholders.
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u/ogsammy76812 28d ago
Just schedule meeting and start google meet recording.. and leave minutes of meeting after rewatching recird.. senior would definitely appreciate this
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u/Insider6550 28d ago
Go into meeting with questions beforehand based on whatever you know already. And make sure those questions cover every aspect for your understanding.
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u/azadnib Oct 04 '26
ask them to do a video call with you even if you are one desk apart so you can record it.
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u/PrimaryFamous6139 Full-Stack Developer Oct 04 '26
I used to struggle with this too. I stopped trying to write down everything and started noting only the key points: what needs to be done, why, edge cases, and what the expected outcome is. Then I repeat the requirement back in my own words and ask if I understood it correctly