How to get the attention of a busy person

Dear new developer, This post talks about how to ask for mentoring, but the principles apply to getting in touch with any busy person. Busy people are by definition busy, and get a large number of emails and requests every day. (Here's a VC talking about the difference between ignoring and not replying, and how … Continue reading How to get the attention of a busy person →

Advice to New Developers From A Googler

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 →

Avoid Working Alone

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 →

Everyone, Including You, Has Something To Teach

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 →

What is HackerNews’ Best Advice to New Developers

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 →

Programming Is Terrible, So Learn To Enjoy It

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 →

Work through the first month of trepidation

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 →

Be a great developer today

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 →

It will turn out mostly fine… if you have the passion

This is a guest post from Jenn Chu. Enjoy. 'Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks' ~Yo-Yo Ma Dear new developer, I've always taken the quote above to heart… fast-shooting myself into the named camp of 'Career Switchers` when talking about … Continue reading It will turn out mostly fine… if you have the passion →

Avoid being an expert beginner

Dear new developer, This post by Erik Dietrich covers the situation where a developer becomes an "expert beginner". This is something to avoid as you build your career--don't work in a place where you are isolated or unable to progress. He breaks progress in any area down into a number of components--Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Competent, … Continue reading Avoid being an expert beginner →