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"12 Steps to being a Better Programmer" by Gregg Pollack from Code School gives a talk on the lessons they don't teach in programming class. Gregg talks on setting expectations, getting outside of your comfort zone, moving from independence to interdependence and understanding software development as a craft. Using examples from his own experience at his company Envy Labs, Gregg goes through these 12 steps very concisely sharing many anecdotes that offer a great perspective.
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12 Steps to be a Better Developer (aside from the coding part)
Gregg Pollack @GreggPollack
Code is not Enough
- Steve Jobs“ ”technology alone is not enough
- Steve Jobs
“
”
technology alone is not enoughIt is in Apple’s DNA that
it’s technology married with liberal arts,married with the humanities,that yields the results that make
our heart sing.
- Steve Jobs“ ”technology alone is not enough
12 principles
SET EXPECTATIONeven when you’re not asked to1
Estimation is hard,kinda like riding a bike
Why did your last project fail?
Client closer to Team
Client with the Team?
Short Feedback Cycles
Project Management Tools
Be mindful of yourengineering background 2
Listening to Ideas
Kills Collaboration
Often diagnosis soundslike criticism
“In my wide association in life, meeting with many and great people in various parts of the world, I have yet to find the person, however great or exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than he
would ever do under a spirit of criticism.”
~Charles Schwab
Beware of giving Diagnosis
“yes, and”
Give Attention
You might be shy
Be mindful of yourengineering background 2
Software Developmentis an art form3
Software Developmentis an art form3
Software Developmentis a craft
3
"Craft means making useful objects with perhaps decorative touches. Fine art means making things purely for their beauty." Richard Stallman
Beautiful Work
Beautiful Work
Insert Rant Here
ConsultingIs usually more challenging
Consulting takes another set of skills
Scratching your own itch is easy.
(see all the PM tools)
Want a challenge? Scratch someone else’s itch.
Software Developmentis a craft
3
Learn how to delegateand improve the system4
Project Managers
Scheduling Meetings
Writing expectations
Invoicing
Organization
Can you think of things you can delegate
Just because you CANdo something doesn’t
mean you should!!!
Do the math
80 people
average 1 cup a day
15 minutes wasted
80 people
average 1 cup a day
15 minutes wasted
= 1200 minutes = 20 hours
Do the math
But I’m not running my own business!
If someone does a task better than you
First Independence,Then Interdependence
Learn how to delegateand improve the system4
Continue to learninside and outside your company5
INSIDE
Internal Presentations
Screencasts!
Retrospectives
OUTSIDE
http://ruby5.envylabs.com
Stay out of yourcomfort zone6
Your Task List
The Difficult Tasks= More Learning
But naturally we gravitate towards
the easy
Example = Email Trap
Want to learn the most while you work?
Stay out of yourcomfort zone6
Make friendsand build relationships
7
“Individuals and interactionsover
processes and tools”-Agile Manifesto
More friendships = happiness
More friendships = happiness
happiness = better work
How much time do you spend at work nurturing
friendships?
One way you can make everyone around you better:
Become a better friend.
One way you can make the Ruby community better:
Make more friends
People love talking about themselves
Set a goal for yourself.Try to meet 5 new people.
Make friendsand build relationships
7
don’t be afraid toASK FOR HELP
8
2 hourses)mate
2 hourses)mate
4 hours
2 hourses)mate
8 hours
What would have happened if you asked for help?
Is it better to fail after 2 hours, or fail after 8 hours?
It’s natural
Kerplakistan
Kerplakistan
Kerplakistan
Kerplakistan
Kerplakistan
Kerplakistan
Kerplakistan
It’s human nature
Give yourself 30 Mins
If something is taking too much time, you’re probably doing it wrong
Who do you ask?
Preempt the problem
Learn to eliminate distractionsand get in the zone
9
It is not natural to be productive 100% of the time
20% Fun80% Productive
Optimally.....
Turn offcommunication
Asynchronous Communication
Alternative workspaces
Learn to eliminate distractionsand get in the zone
9
the most COMPLEX solutionis rarely the BEST solution
10
communicate better thaneveryone else
11
“Creating quality software is x% code and y% communication where
y is greater then x.”
~Carlos Souza
HIRE GREAT WRITERS
HIRE GREAT WRITERS
Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking.
How do you communicate more effectively?
Leverage the right PM tool
Force yourself to communicate
Be more effective withSkitch and JingMonosnap
Communicate through imagesand video. Not words.
communicate better thaneveryone else
11
understand what willbring you happiness12
People aren’t usually good at choosing what will make them happy
It’s not money
It’s not fame
It’s not fame
It’s not ONLY code
- Steve Jobs“ ”technology alone is not enough
Doing meaningful work
SET EXPECTATIONeven when you’re not asked to1
Be mindful of yourengineering background 2
Software Developmentis a craft
3
Learn how to delegateand improve the system4
Continue to learninside and outside your company5
Stay out of yourcomfort zone6
Make friendsand build relationships
7
don’t be afraid toASK FOR HELP
8
Learn to eliminate distractionsand get in the zone
9
the most COMPLEX solutionis rarely the BEST solution
10
communicate better thaneveryone else
11
Each of these can createmore meaning in the work
that you do
understand what willbring you happiness12
name author URLCanon EFS 17-85mm nickwheeleroz http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickwheeleroz/2663377622
NEGATIVE APPROACH ALL CHROME http://www.flickr.com/photos/allchrome/5049275868
Kup,Kup & Chloé Kup Kup Land http://www.flickr.com/photos/13937854@N00/416735964
Disney - Partners at Dusk Express Monorail http://www.flickr.com/photos/23322134@N02/3108405260
Darkening Clockwork matthelio http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthileo/3552898254
afternoon perfection janhamlet http://www.flickr.com/photos/janhamlet1/4647870872/
friendship bracelets. amanda.venner http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandavenner/4939925977
SAF#2 Robby Ferarri http://www.flickr.com/photos/roberto_ferrari/281640001
Meeting Table mnadi http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnadi/32325828
Money! Tracy O http://www.flickr.com/photos/37108241@N00/61056391
CareerTech Hall of Fame okcareertech http://www.flickr.com/photos/okcareertech/2234107433
Creative Commons
name author URLdiary Calinago http://www.flickr.com/photos/65691836@N00/221416101
BarCamp Vancouver kk+ http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503002894@N01/230544325
The Grotto Stuck in Customs http://www.flickr.com/photos/95572727@N00/161483435
His Holiness Dagchen Wonderlane http://www.flickr.com/photos/71401718@N00/3242519210
poor walter JKonig http://www.flickr.com/photos/83156837@N00/470817175
Project Opus Launch D’Arcy Norman http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035644987@N01/398070036
Flickr Mints Neal. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31878512@N06/4704140020
Máquina de Rube Goldberg freshwater2006 http://www.flickr.com/photos/freshwater2006/693945631
Communist Unicorn zoomar http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoomar/141098807
Planet Express gabrielsond http://www.flickr.com/photos/41819939@N00/4665230659
Return Undefined nyuhuhuu http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyuhuhuu/4443886636/
Human Reproduction Vinicius Teles http://improveit.com.br
Creative Commons
http://envylabs.com http://ruby5.envylabs.comRuby5 Podcast
Presentation by:
http://www.CodeSchool.com
