Dear new developer, I taught technology courses for about a year and a half, but have been teaching folks almost my entire career in one way or another (everyone has something to teach), primarily through my blog. One thing I've learned over time is that if you can't explain a technology choice in a way … Continue reading Learn To Explain Concepts To Non-Technical Users
Dear new developer, This post discusses writing and how learning to write well can really level up your engineering experience. You can also view over 300 comments about this post on one of my favorite online communities, Hacker News. The author has some suggestions on how to become better: So how can you work on … Continue reading Writing Is An Undervalued Engineering Skill
Dear new developer, Don't be penny wise, pound foolish. Your time is worth a lot, and it's worthwhile to spend some money to accelerate toward your goals. I heard a client say once that their time was essentially free. I understood the sentiment, but the reality is that if you can be working on tasks … Continue reading Trade Money For Time
Dear new developer, We all make mistakes. Yes, this is not news, but it's worth repeating. We all make mistakes. I have made them, you have made them, your boss has made them, the person you are interviewing with for the job you really really want and need has made them. The one thing about … Continue reading Mistakes Are Forgiven, Hiding Them Is Not
Dear new developer, Sometimes you just have to grind. It's easy to find yourself beaten up. Development, while not physically difficult, can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Screwups can be big. You're typically on the sharp end of the stick when it comes to building something. Sometimes you're part of a team, but often you're … Continue reading Consistency Is Key
Dear new developer, I appreciated this post which talks to people who are interested in being a developer, rather than someone who is newly a developer. I still think a lot of things apply. This especially resonated: ...programming is terrible, so learn to enjoy it. If you are “on the net” learning about what programming … Continue reading Programming Is Terrible, So Learn To Enjoy It
Dear new developer, I wrote this post years ago, but it still applies today. Ah, the arrogance of software developers. (I’m a software developer myself, so I figure I have carte blanche to take aim at the foibles of my profession.) Why, just the other day, I reviewed a legal document, and pointed out several … Continue reading Beware Of Your Arrogance
Dear new developer, This post is worth reading in full, but is advice that holds for all developers, not just folks starting out. I especially liked Fight for what you believe, but gracefully accept defeat. Understand that sometimes your ideas will be overruled. Even if you do turn out to be right, don't take revenge … Continue reading Egoless programming
Dear new developer, I remember the first month of my first job. I wasn't sure who was who, what was what or even why was why. It was hard to find tasks that I felt helped the team. I wasn't sure what words people used off-handedly meant. I'd read and re-read instructions, fearful that I … Continue reading Work through the first month of trepidation
This is a guest post from Tim Tyrrell. Enjoy. Dear new developer, New developers are making mistakes. They are making mistakes every day. As a new developer, one’s job is to recognize one’s mistakes, implement a change in behavior, and help others implement that same change when similar mistakes bubble to the surface of one’s … Continue reading Be a great developer today
Letters To A New Developer 