A smart accountant once told me that the answer to "How much money did you make?" is always, "Who wants to know?" If it's an investor, the answer is "A lot." If it's a customer, the answer is "A little." If it's the IRS, the answer is "None."
Same thing here. The answer to "Who is a superstar developer?" is always, "Who wants to know?"
To a project manager, the programmer who hits every deadline (regardless of quality) is a superstar.
To a customer, the programmer who solves their problem quickest is a superstar.
To a business owner, the programmer who makes them the most money is a superstar.
To a PHB, the programmer who makes them look the best is the superstar.
To a journalist, the programmer who tells the best stories is the superstar.
To a junior programmer, the best mentor is the superstar.
To another programmer, the programmer they are most likely to want to go into battle with is the superstar.
"To another programmer, the programmer they are most likely to want to go into battle with is the superstar."
This is true, my company recently fired the programmer I most respected. His code was elegant, reusable, always well thought out. However he wasn't good at estimating how long something would take him, and after missing a few important deadlines they canned him :(
Agreed. Similar instance, used to work with this great developer. He was very talented, friendly, etc. Used to pair with him every day and he challenged me constantly to improve. He also tried to challenge the rest of the team, questioning the way we did things and suggesting ways to improve. He collided with a few guys who'd been there longer. Layoffs came around and he got canned. Now though, he's better off and works at a place that encourages continual improvement.
Sometimes though, the "who is a superstar" becomes "who is your competition" and then it becomes a negative. At least when competition is feared instead of seen as a challenge.
Same thing here. The answer to "Who is a superstar developer?" is always, "Who wants to know?"
To a project manager, the programmer who hits every deadline (regardless of quality) is a superstar.
To a customer, the programmer who solves their problem quickest is a superstar.
To a business owner, the programmer who makes them the most money is a superstar.
To a PHB, the programmer who makes them look the best is the superstar.
To a journalist, the programmer who tells the best stories is the superstar.
To a junior programmer, the best mentor is the superstar.
To another programmer, the programmer they are most likely to want to go into battle with is the superstar.