The evolution of developer environments has been transformative, from the challenges of compiling code on underpowered machines to sophisticated automation and orchestration tools. Automation, standardization, and personal ownership are crucial principles that enhance collaboration, improve code quality, and accelerate product delivery. A Dev Environment Orchestration & Management platform like Daytona enables developers to automate environment setup, establish standardized processes, and personalize their setups, empowering software development teams to excel in their work. The author reflects on their journey as a developer, witnessing the remarkable transformation of developer environments from molecular biology to distributed soldier systems, and shares lessons learned about the importance of automation, standardization, and personal ownership in optimizing developer workflows.