We talk a lot about what developers need—good tools, clear specs, fair pay. And yes, those things matter. But when you spend enough time working closely with engineering teams, you start to hear deeper patterns emerge.

Because what developers really want isn’t just about perks or productivity—it’s about how they’re treated and trusted.

Here’s what we’ve learned.

1. Context, not just tickets

Developers don’t want to be handed tasks like they’re factory workers. They want to understand the problem behind the feature—the why behind the request.

Context creates better solutions. When devs know the business goals, user pain points, and technical constraints, they can make smarter decisions and build things that actually work.

2. Time to think

It’s tempting to overload devs with tickets and expect output. But deep work—the kind that creates smart, scalable systems—requires space.

No one writes their best code in 30-minute chunks between meetings. The best teams protect quiet time like a core asset. And it shows in the product.

3. Autonomy with alignment

Most developers don’t want to be micromanaged. But they don’t want chaos either. The sweet spot is clarity on direction, freedom on execution.

At DevRoom, we’ve helped teams set this up by reducing unnecessary meetings, writing better specs, and aligning sprint goals with real outcomes—not just ticket counts.

4. Code that’s built to last

Developers hate tech debt—not just because it’s messy, but because it slows them down. No one wants to work in a codebase that punishes you for touching it.

If your team isn’t allocating time to refactoring, testing, or reducing friction, you’re not just hurting the code—you’re demotivating the people writing it.

This is something we discussed in Why Writing Clean Code Is an Investment, Not an Option. Clean code makes happier, more productive teams.

Conclusion: Productivity Starts With Respect

The developers on your team aren’t just coders—they’re problem-solvers, product thinkers, and creative collaborators. Treating them that way changes everything.

Want to build a team that feels energised, not just employed? Start by giving them what they really want.

We’ve done it. And we’d love to help you do it too.