The Order of the Rubber Duck

For the debugging technique where explaining the problem out loud to anyone (or anything) reveals the answer.

Award it to someone today. Your own email app sends it.

Choose a format Metal challenge coin Coming soon 1.75" antique-bronze coin with a 3D high-relief front, raised rim lettering and a beaded edge. Ships in a clear capsule with a backing card. Plastic challenge coin Coming soon 1.75" soft PVC (rubber) coin with 2-3 levels of relief, painted in antique-bronze tones. Lighter and lower-cost than metal. Ships in a clear capsule with a backing card.Available once the artwork is finished. Die-cut vinyl sticker Coming soon 3" die-cut vinyl sticker of the coin artwork with a UV- and water-resistant laminate. Laptop and water-bottle grade.Available once the artwork is finished.

Physical coins and stickers are coming soon. Until then, you can email this coin for free.

Meaning

For the debugging technique where explaining the problem out loud to anyone (or anything) reveals the answer.

Design

Front (Obverse)

Top rim: THE ORDER OF THE RUBBER DUCK
Bottom rim: DEBUGGING VALOR
Center: A developer at a desk gestures earnestly while explaining their code to a large, regal rubber duck wearing a crown and a cape.

Back (Reverse)

The duck in profile with the inscription "THE DUCK SAID NOTHING. THE BUG WAS FOUND."

Finish & Style

Antique bronze challenge coin, ~1.75" diameter, high-relief center scene, raised rim lettering, beaded outer edge. Matches the existing ITChallengeCoins series.

How to Earn It

Solve a bug mid-sentence while explaining it to a colleague, who didn't have to say a word.
Or be the colleague who silently listened.
Or mentor a junior developer through a debugging session without giving them the answer.

Citation

For the wisdom of silence, and for the bugs found simply by being heard.