Dear new developer, Story time. Many years ago, I was a contractor doing web development. I focused on web/database apps in unix-like environments. I wrote primarily php, java and perl. (Like I said, it was many years ago.) A friend and former colleague reached out and said they had a client seeking development help. It … Continue reading Stretch, don’t contort
Dear new developer, I was reviewing a book outline for a friend who is writing a book on software development. As I read over his (quite detailed) outline, I realized he was missing this concept, which I feel all devs should learn: It is far better to build the correct piece of software than it … Continue reading Ship the right thing
This is a guest post from Stephen. Enjoy! Dear new developer, I have been looking for a nice definition for mentoring, and I finally found one that was short and concise on oxforddictionaries.com: An experienced and trusted adviser. I like this quote because it does not go into details, nor does it mention higher qualification … Continue reading The power of mentoring
This is a guest post from Matt Schellhas. Enjoy. Dear new developer, I personally look for some of the same things as my peers: Is your resume/LinkedIn fine? It doesn’t need to be awesome. You don’t have a ton of experience to show, so please don’t try and oversell your experience — that just makes … Continue reading What I look for when hiring new grads
Dear new developer, I remember the first time I decompiled a java file to debug an issue. The first time I recorded a video. The first time I presented to a meetup. The first time I wrote professional code in a new language and had it reviewed. All of these are distant memories now, but … Continue reading The first time
This is a guest post from Vincent Ng. Enjoy. Dear New Developer, You have embarked yourself in a tech journey full of opportunities. You will encounter and overcome many obstacles and challenges along your journey. You must make the most of your opportunities and excel in them. Below are nine skills that you can practice … Continue reading Nine ways of looking at a developer
This is a guest post from Rowell Belen. Enjoy. Dear New Developer, What I am about to say may be seen as controversial and somewhat unpopular, but I believe it is important. You are responsible for your career. No one else is. It doesn't matter if you have a great boss or work at a … Continue reading You are responsible for your career. No one else is.
Dear new developer, When you are coding, you must be precise. If not, the compiler yells at you (if you are using a statically typed language) or you have runtime errors (if not). A mistake as simple as misspelling a word or omitting a single quote can and have caused me debugging pain. This rigor … Continue reading Answer the question someone wants answered, not the one they ask
Dear new developer, As a new developer, you have a lot of flexibility when looking for a job. This is great in some ways, but makes it difficult to hone in on particular a job opportunity. What should you do when you are looking for a position? After all, if you are open to any … Continue reading What should you look for in a job?
This is a guest post from Rizel Scarlett. Enjoy. Dear Developer, If you're experiencing impostor syndrome, you're not alone. For some people, impostor syndrome will never "go away," but you can create a healthy relationship with it. Impostor syndrome in technology is pervasive. Part of the problem is that tech is rooted in elitism and … Continue reading Own Your Power
Letters To A New Developer 