develpreneur podcast
Posted on Common Anti-Patterns

The Golden Hammer Anti-Pattern

The next anti-pattern we look at is the golden hammer.  It is another situation that seems to come up often.  Thus, it is one we need to keep an eye out for in order to avoid it. Defining the Golden Hammer Anti-Pattern This time we steal the definition from Investopedia to help highlight how pervasive this anti-pattern is.  Note that software is not even implied in the definition. [Click Here to See The Page] “Golden hammer is excessive dependence on a specific tool to perform many different functions. In investing it is when a trader depends on one particular analysis tool or viewpoint to make all decisions. Golden hammers also happen in the business world when a company uses a single demographic or... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Common Anti-Patterns

The Blob Anti-Pattern

We will kick off the new season with a look at the Blob anti-pattern.  This is one that is common and easy to fall into.  The tendency to kick design decisions down the road is often a slippery slope that leads to a Blob. Defining the Blob Anti-Pattern I like the definition of a Blob found on the SourceMaking site. [Click Here to See The Page] “The Blob is found in designs where one class monopolizes the processing, and other classes primarily encapsulate data. This AntiPattern is characterized by a class diagram composed of a single complex controller class surrounded by simple data classes. The key problem here is that the majority of the responsibilities are allocated to a single... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Common Anti-Patterns

A General Anti-Pattern Definition – New Season Kick-off

It is time to kick off a new season.  Thus, we will set the tone by providing a general anti-pattern definition.  Spoiler alert, this season will focus on anti-patterns much like we did software patterns of design a few seasons back.  We will drift away from software design and implementation at times due to the more general applicability of anti-patterns. Finding An Anti-Pattern Definition There are a number of functional definitions out there.  However, we will go to the source of truth on the Internet, Wikipedia. [Click Here to See The Page] “An anti-pattern is a common response to a recurring problem that is usually ineffective and risks being highly counterproductive. The term, coined in 1995 by Andrew Koenig,[3] was... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on General

Success vs. Successful

Some recent pondering has me considering the whole idea of being successful.  I think we can find success and happiness without worrying about being successful.  On the contrary, a focus on success alone is more likely to lead us to short-term goals and fulfillment over the long run. Success Is Tactical The beautiful thing about determining success is that it is well-defined.  We either achieve a goal (and thus success), or we do not.  This is often a black or white situation.  I either complete my tasks to find success, or I do not.  The length of time required to find success varies, but it is often a single cycle or short period.  For example, a team can win a championship... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on General

Creating a Podcast – Not Just a Lot of Talking

There are a vast number of tutorials for creating a podcast.  These cover the technical issues and often include some suggestions to help you be successful.  In this episode, I explore your attitude, desires, and whether a podcast makes sense for you.  It often needs to be a labor of love.  Thus, we start by examing that. Creating A Podcast Topic It is probably stating the obvious when I say a podcast starts with a topic.  However, that does not always seem to be the case.  A general concept or theme exists, but you will often see podcasts wander and even flounder in the early episodes.  While it is usually recommended to launch a podcast with three to five episodes ready... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Writing A Book – What You Should Know Before You Begin

One of the popular suggestions for passive income is writing a book.  There are some pros to doing so.  However, it is not a project to be undertaken lightly.  Whether you are aiming for a fiction or non-fiction work, there is a lot of effort beyond putting words on paper.  Here are some things that will help you decide whether this is something you genuinely want to do. Writing a Book Includes a Lot of Writing It will come as no surprise to you that a book requires a lot of writing.  In my experience, this goes beyond what most of us experience.  I have blogged for years, written white papers, produced a vast array of term and research papers, and produced... Read more