Articles from April 2017

Where Is Your Virtual Library? I Asked in a Interview Session

In any interview sessions, I usually ask candidates about

  • Books they read
  • Famous authors, developers they know
  • Sites they visit most.
  • …..

I call them the “virtual library“. Some candidates were confused, surprised by my question. Guess what? Most of their answer were close to nothing. They did not have it. They could not name any books, authors, or developers.

“You said you love technologies. How did you learn new stuff?”, I asked. I got many of these

  • I learn from doing projects, doing real tasks in my company
  • When I need something, I google. (Luckily they still remember there is a website called google).
  • I read some code examples….

Why Did I Ask?

First, I know that books, blogs, sites, … are not the only ways to learn technologies, learn new skills. But they are essential.

The mind is a central factory. It controls every aspect of your life including your programming skill. Just like your body, the mind needs food. What is the food of the mind?

  1. Information
  2. Wisdom
  3. Concept
  4. Good thinking habits from others

There are more. But you get the idea. The mind needs food.

The mind needs food.

When I want to hire a developer, I need to know how he fed his mind.

When you come to Google and ask a question, you must know what to ask. And sometimes, you must know why you ask.

Reality

If one consist that they do not need to enrich their virtual library, ask yourselves these questions

  • How are you doing as a developer?
  • What is your improvement since last year, last 3 years?
  • Have you ever asked why a piece of code works the way it works?
  • Have you ever asked what and how to improve a piece of code?

To many developers, the unit test concept is not new. But how many people actually learn to make a proper unit test? a good unit test? If you are asked to improve your unit test skill, what do you do?

Have a Nice Day

A human being is unique. Our body and mind both need food. You feed them well. They work best for you.

If for some reasons, you have not read books before, you should give it a trial. Pick a technical book (because you are a programmer). Read it.

You cannot know what works for you unless you try it.

Good luck and be a great developers, my friends.

Become a Better Developer

Once upon a time, I asked myself and was asked this simple question

How to become a better developer? Becoming a better developer means will get better salary ($$$$)

Right Question?

Here is the fact. If you want to become a better developer, you have to keep learning new skills, master your old skills, … The list of what you should/could/will learn go on forever. Technologies change daily.

If you ask Google: Google, Google on the net ….

How To Become Better Developer
How To Become A Better Developer Google Answered

What if we forgot to ask the first right question?

Better Questions

Do you really want to become a better developer? What are you willing to pay to be a better developer?

Sounds like silly questions. Because many will quickly answer: Yes, of course.

Oh Really? Are you serious?

I do not expect to see a silent moment. But I am serious to ask you “are you serious?”

You got to be serious, man! You cannot get better if you are not serious. Technologies are tools. They are there to help you accomplish your dream, your intention. Therefore, please do not blame the technologies: Hey, they change so fast, I cannot keep up …. Those are excuses, not solutions.

Yes. I am Serious

If no, then the rest of the post is not important to you. Thank you for your time to read.

When you are serious, you should be able to repeat this sentence many times (as many times as possible)

I want to become a better developer. I am serious.

Repetition is the key. It reminds you your intention and you are serious.

Commitments

One moves nowhere without commitments.

  1. I will not write crappy code
  2. I will not write crappy code
  3. I will not write crappy code

Whenever you write a single line of code, repeat your commitment. It is very simple.

 

Here are my favorite wisdom from Mr. Jim Rohn

It is easy to do. It is also easy not to do.

Success is a few simple disciplines practiced every day.

If you have not tried, give it a chance now. Just give a trial of a week. It costs you nothing, right? You do not have to tell anyone.