I recently sat through a few meetings where we described doing the same thing many times and in the same way. I was seeing a pattern that could be automated. Since seeing a pattern, I began to think about tools I could build that would replace these repetitive multiple step processes.
Continue reading Importance of Building Internal ToolsCategory: Developer
Why a Process is Important
A Software Development Perspective
A process is important as it creates an expectation of an outcome. Outcomes can measure a process and result in different ways making the process essential to follow. Without a strategy, we will not confidently be able to measure. Without measurement, we will not know we are doing something correctly.
Continue reading Why a Process is Important7 Soft Skills That Senior Developers Should Have
Developers often ask what they need to do to make it to the level of a senior developer. They can gain all the programming skills in all the popular and new software frameworks, but they will not be anything more than just a developer. A Senior Developer needs to have some fundamental soft skills.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are how you interact with people, tasks and projects where hard skills are the skills we learn at college, online tutorials or books ( “HOW TO DO” skills ). Soft skills are tough to achieve and are often part of a persons natural tendencies. Soft skills like hard skills can be learned, but not easily. Soft skills can get better through practice and time just like hard skills. An example of hard skills is carpentry. An example of soft sills is a skill that is transferable to any job like being a team player.
Continue reading 7 Soft Skills That Senior Developers Should Have
Developer Engagement
I was throwing ideas around in how to increase our developer engagement. I was also thinking of a way to give our product development a little boost. I love the developers that I work with and would like to support their passions and boost their care for their jobs.
One idea I had was to take a day or two a month and let developers work on a pet project. The only caveat was that the pet project had to be related to the company somehow. Continue reading Developer Engagement
Using FitBit as a Software Developer
Confession: I am a Software Developer and I do not move much.
My wife had gotten a FitBit and was loyally using it. She offered to let me where it for a day which I did not do, but rather I told her that I am pretty certain I walk at least 10,000 steps a day easily ( FitBit suggested target ). She had purchased one for me and boy was it an eye opener; I was very immobile. In a given day I was lucky to get between 3,000 and 4,000 steps in a day and that is while walking two blocks to the car. Continue reading Using FitBit as a Software Developer
Developers are Artists
The Only Programmer I Can Trust
The Only Programmer I Can Trust These Days Is @LdnDeveloper
The Two Sides to Job Hunting
I have had students ask me about how to get hired or who is hiring. I have also had employers ask me how to find developers when they have had a tough time hiring quality employees. These are tough questions to answer, but I have been on both sides of the table.
Stop Spending Good Money On Mobile Sites
For about 4 years I have been preaching to my customers why they do not need a mobile site. Instead, it is better to spend money on a responsive site. If you are getting your site done or redone, find a designer who will give you a responsive site. A responsive site should not cost you more and it should be the only solution.
Microsoft MVC vrs WebForms – What do you prefer
I recently had a lively discussion with a colleague over what is better Microsoft MVC or WebForms. My friend had stated he liked MVC because it kept his code organized and clean. He also stated that he has seen many WebForm projects that was just a mess of spaghetti like code. My response was simple; It is all about developer discipline. If the coder is well disciplined and refactored their work rather than just keep stacking on band aides and fixes, the code would be clean and organized.
I think it was said well “It is the latest craze!”. Continue reading Microsoft MVC vrs WebForms – What do you prefer