Dear new developer, Sometimes you are confronted with decisions for which you simply don't know the correct answer. This has happened to me many times over the years. A recent example is that the client wanted to build an online quiz. They wanted to be able to edit quiz questions and answers. They wanted it … Continue reading What if I have to make a technical decision and I don’t know the right answer?
Dear new developer, Sometimes you only learn through experience. This post catalogs 30 years of experience. As I read this, I nodded my head often. Good points include: Be ready to throw your code away A lot of people, when they start with TDD, get annoyed when you say that you may have to rewrite … Continue reading Things learned the hard way
Dear new developer, I want to build perfect systems. There's something so beautiful about a perfect bit of code that solves a problem elegantly and succinctly. Especially if it comes with a set of unit tests and great documentation. But, every time I start to work on any real world problems, tradeoffs come into play. … Continue reading There is no perfect system, it’s all about the tradeoffs
Dear new developer, I enjoyed this post from Rick Manelius (who also did a guest post a few months ago) about assuming positive intent. From the post: Chris [a client] could have crushed me, and yet he didn’t. In fact, he did the exact opposite and taught me an incredibly valuable lesson. Amidst the bickering … Continue reading Assume Positive Intent
Dear new developer, I remember the first full time coding job I had. I was able to work on a great team, on interesting problems. I was able to get into the "flow" that is such a magical state. I was paid well. I had free snacks. I remember going into my manager's office and … Continue reading Someday, You Won’t Want To Code For A Living
Dear new developer, Monica Dinculescu, who works at Google, has some good advice for new developers. I don't agree with everything she says (ah, the cacophony) but some of it definitely resonates. She has a unique approach to an AMA (ask me anything) using GitHub issues. My favorite answer was to this question: Sometimes I … Continue reading Advice to New Developers From A Googler
Dear new developer, I suggest that the first job you take be the one with the highest learning potential, not the highest earning potential. (This post contrasts the two, in the context of entrepreneurship.) This can vary depending on your skills and needs, but I've seen over and over again that you learn more with … Continue reading Avoid Working Alone
This is a guest blog post from Don Abrams, lightly edited. Enjoy. Dear new developer, When starting out, the hard part is balancing two things: Asking questions Banging your head against the wall Additionally, as a new developer you'll likely be encountering something for the first time: a codebase that is really really large. Like … Continue reading Balance Questions With “Banging Your Head”
Dear new developer, I am happy and amazed when new developers help out other developers. I've seen several new folks go back and mentor at a bootcamp. Or present at a meetup. This is great, because everyone has something to teach. You may think to yourself: "No! I am learning so much right now. I … Continue reading Everyone, Including You, Has Something To Teach
Dear new developer, I have previously written about joining an online tech community. My personal go to right now is Hacker News. I find it has a nice mix of tech, startup/business and other interesting content for me. Here's a thread from a few months ago with advice for junior developers. Here are a few … Continue reading What is HackerNews’ Best Advice to New Developers
Letters To A New Developer 