Dear new developer, It's paradoxical, but sometimes the best thing you can do is not write code. Remember, the value you provide is to solve the problem you are faced with (the outcome), not to write code. Custom code has value, but comes with costs. It needs to be deployed, maintained and upgraded. It has … Continue reading The best code is no code
Dear new developer, Searching is important to writing and understanding software. Less so for giving you a base of knowledge. For that, I'd seek out books, video classes or side projects, depending on how you learn. Googling well is tough if you don't know what terms to use. (I'll use google as a synonym for … Continue reading Learn to use Google, and use it well
Dear new developer, If you are sure where you want to go in your shiny new development career, pick that and follow it. Whether that is embedded programming or high frequency trading or generic web development, pursuing a career with focus is a great option. If you are just looking for that first job, remember … Continue reading Start at a small consulting company
Dear new developer, I highly suggest using an RSS reader. I use Newsblur, but there are several good ones out there. This will let you keep on track of any publishing platform that has an RSS feed. This includes this site, but many many others. You can use it to keep tabs on your favorite … Continue reading Use an RSS Reader
Dear new developer, This post from Charity about the choices you face as an engineer, and the challenges of technical management, is wonderful. As a new developer, you're probably a few years away from thinking about that (but perhaps not. If you join a startup rocketship, it's possible you'll be managing people in months). But … Continue reading Think deeply about engineering management
Dear new developer, I suggest you take some of your ample free time (if you have it) and write a technical book. I've written one book and doing so gives you a deep understanding both of the technology you choose to write about and of the difficulties of doing so. It will give you instant … Continue reading Write a technical ebook
This is a guest post from Rishi Malik. Enjoy. Hello New Developer! Right now, it’s Q1 2019. And there’s a lot of advice you’ll find out here on the internet. Much of it is good, some of it is bad, but the important thing to note is that these are all points of view from … Continue reading The Cacophony of the 2019 Tech Landscape
Dear new developer, If you want to be good at interviews, learn your algorithms. Loads of companies treat algorithm knowledge as a proxy for general problem solving ability. It makes a certain sort of sense--you have to break down a problem into pieces, turn it into something software can digest, and implement it in code. … Continue reading Learn your standard library
This is a guest blog post from Rick Manelius. Enjoy. Dear new developer, Can you name all 50 US states? How about their capitals? Every city in the US? Every town? Could you list the GPS coordinates of every coffee shop? Of course, you can’t, wouldn’t, and don’t. It would be absurd to spend the … Continue reading Avoid The Impossible Goal of Being a Know It All
Dear new developer, I talked previously about a technique to help you network with strangers. But networking isn't just about meeting strangers and starting up conversations easily. The easiest way to build your network is to foster it at work. Again, this will help you if you are looking to hire, learn more about an … Continue reading Tips for Building Your Work Network
Letters To A New Developer 