As solutions architects, we often find ourselves at the intersection of innovation and legacy. We’re constantly faced with choices that can lead us toward modern, elegant solutions or the well-worn road of tried-and-tested approaches. A few years ago, I encountered this crossroad when I was asked to lead a Fintech project requiring me to convert a legacy Windows-based platform written in VB.NET to a new web-based solution. The timeline? It was a challenging seven months, with a high-stakes presentation at a major industry conference on the horizon.
Continue reading Balancing Innovation with Legacy: Choosing the Right Path for the Greater GoodTag: Developer
How to Show You’re Ready to Advance Your Career as a Developer
As a developer, demonstrating your readiness to advance your career involves a combination of technical mastery, leadership, and continuous learning. Here are some key strategies:
- Master Technical Skills: Improve your coding skills, learn new programming languages, and stay updated with the latest technologies.
- Take on Leadership Roles: Lead projects, mentor junior developers, and contribute to team success.
- Earn Certifications: Obtain relevant certifications to validate your skills and knowledge.
- Expand Your Professional Network: Attend industry conferences, join professional groups, and network with other professionals.
- Showcase Problem-Solving Abilities: Demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems and make sound decisions under pressure.
The Full-Stack Developer: A Marketable Asset
Let’s delve into why being a full-stack developer makes you more marketable than specializing in just front-end or back-end development.
Imagine that you are a chef. As a frontend developer, you are an expert in creating visually appealing and delicious desserts. As a backend developer, you are a master at crafting the main course, ensuring it’s cooked to perfection and packed with flavors. Now, imagine being a full-stack developer – you’re the chef who can do it all, from appetizers to desserts. You’re the one-stop solution to a complete and satisfying meal.
Continue reading The Full-Stack Developer: A Marketable AssetWhat is Trending – Are you listening
Do you know what is trending today? Do you know what is new? Do you care?
As developers we live in a crazy world where technologies and ideas fly at the speed of light. If you are not paying attention you will miss out on the new ideas.
Hash-tags, Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn and Facebook; these are some tools of the modern world and they can help define our chosen professions. If you have not embraced these fore mentioned tools, you will miss out. How are you keeping up? Are you relying on your everyday work or are you digging into the realms of social media to see what is trending? The printed press like magazines, journals and newspapers are not cutting any more because of the pace of change. By the time you read it, it is history.
Social media is trending the new ideas, tools and techniques at a pace that is baffling. If you are a developer and you have not embraced social media, you are probably missing out on a lot of great stuff. Managers are now asking you in interviews; How you are learning new things and keeping in the know? If you are not saying social media as a tool, you would be foolish. It is great to ramble of magazine names and school courses, but most of what is learned there I consider as historical background knowledge; you need social media to enhance your knowledge.
Are you looking for the next great idea?
Here are some interesting trends to watch:
- http://hashtags.org/technology
- http://hashtags.org/development
- http://hashtags.org/social%20media
- http://hashtags.org/software%20development
- http://hashtags.org/ideas
There are a million of trends happening every second of every day. Pick one or two a day and watch. If you find something interesting dig for it and dig deep. LinkedIn also has groups that could help you define who you are, what you want to do and how to do it. There is a lot happening and you will never know what will trigger your next big idea. Once you have watched, participate and that is the ultimate way of learning what is new.
Do Not Get Boxed
As a developer, it is important to look around and experience new things, as it helps you to stay sharp and marketable. This doesn’t mean that you need to quit your job. Just do not get boxed in as single purpose developer.
It is important not to be just a developer of one kind. Do not just be a PHP Developer, DotNet Developer, or a SQL Developer. Strive to be more than what you are currently doing.
As an example; when I was just starting out as a developer I had two unique jobs. First job was a Visual COBOL Developer and the second job was a Factory Automation Integrator specializing in database and Visual Basic integrations to Allen-Bradley PLC. If I had allowed myself to be boxed into either one of these developer types, I would not have had the opportunities to do more. With the Factory Automation Integrator, I would probably be pumping gas as the firms I used to work for and see around are mostly gone now and who the heck is using Visual COBOL anymore?
As a Web Developer working for a web development firm, you may be asked by a customer to do a mobile application or a windows application to complement their other work you may have done.
I strive every day to learn something new. I learn it until I know it well enough to be productive. I also practice what I have learned in the projects I work on in my spare time. .
In my current job I am a Web Developer, SQL Developer, Windows Developer, Mobile Developer and a Support Specialist. I have also worked where I had a single focus as a Web Developer at a web development firm, but I stretched myself to do business needs analysis. It is important to be forever evolving as a developer. Just don’t speak of the new technologies. Learn the new technologies and know and practice what have you have learned.
Eleven Items That Makes a Developer Great
Here are a few items that makes a software / web developer great:
Updated to twelve items thanks to some input.
- Knowing they are not perfect
- Listens to business needs
- Always evolving by striving to do better
- Never hides a mistake, but acknowledges and learns from it
- Does not blame the user for the error
- Always tries to learn something new
- Makes notes
- Listens to teammates
- Does not blame the previous developer
- Willing to dive in and do the work no matter what
- Ask questions when they do not know [ Shawn Adamsson rTraction @late2game ]
- Thinks and plans before coding. Know where you’re expected to go and plan the path to get there carefully [ Shawn Adamsson rTraction @late2game ]