new development languages
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Use Experience To Help You Learn a New Development Language

To become a better developer, we need to grow our skills beyond one or two languages that we use.  This is a challenge we face throughout our careers as technology advances, and new platforms are created.  It may seem like this is an overwhelming obstacle.  However, we can use what we have learned to make learning new languages easier every time we do so. The Basics of a New Development Language Anytime you learn a new platform there are steps that are taken.  It starts with the “Hello World” application however that may exist in the new development language.  One of the reasons this is a standard first step is that it teaches some core requirements for the platform.  The application may have little... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Podcast

Coding Standards – A Personal Approach

Most of us were just getting started on our career when we were introduced to coding standards.  These are common in the industry and more so where there are entry-level developers.  Although the purpose of coding standards is often related to easing team development, there are far more benefits as well.  Thus, you should create these for your improvement as well. Coding Standards As A Productivity Tool The first benefit you will get from a standard approach is a template for writing code.  We spend more time thinking about naming and structure than we realize.  This cost dwindles away as we gain experience because we do tend to have standards we adopt.  This occurs even when we do not have... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Podcast

Master Remote Work Through Preparation and Planning

The Gig economy has many facets.  One of the big positives for many people is the option of remote work.  There is a freedom that comes from being able to get away from a desk and an office outside of the home.  This goal is achievable.  However, some planning is required to be productive while working remote and making this your regular routine. A Good Workspace We have discussed your workspace in a recent episode and touched on a home office.  That is a good starting point, but remote work requires some tools as well as an eye for comfort.  For example, you need to have a reliable Internet connection, a way to be reached (cell phone is ordinary), and general... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Podcast

Defining An MVP Properly for Your Goals

When you need to create a minimum viable product (MVP) the process is not that different from designing any other product.  However, the process is more challenging.  The process requires tighter control over the scope of requirements through to deployment.  This type of product is becoming a standard way to step towards funding and is worth closer examination. Why Create An MVP? As with any software product, the decision to create an MVP needs to be made.  Thus, we need to look at whether an MVP is a better choice than a full-blown product.  The first thing to understand is that an MVP must be a product that has value and is usable.  That is the “V” of the equation. ... Read more

software components
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Plan and Estimate Your Project Better With Software Components

One of the challenges of building software applications is the planning and estimation required to get started.  This can be a daunting task as we see more complex software every year.  However, we can learn from experience and build a list of components that we know will be required.  This list provides us some everyday tasks to be completed for software as well as easy chunks of work to estimate. Logical Software Components There are software components that are a feature or construct of some languages and platforms.  In this case, we are talking about logical pieces instead.  For example, a login, logging, general user interface facets (header, footer, navigation), and a database setup/configuration are all components of most applications.  There might also... Read more

fund your learning
Posted on Become a Better Developer

Fund Your Learning and Efforts To Become a Better Developer

By this point, you have likely said to yourself, “This is all good, but how do I afford it?”  The good news is that you are in an excellent position to get paid while you advance your knowledge and career.  In fact, learning new tools while building real-world experience is a common trait among the best developers I have met.  We will explore the details of how to fund your learning in more depth in future posts.  For now, let’s just start the wheels moving with things you can do. It Takes Skills To Learn Skills When you are starting out, it can be easy to underestimate the value of the skills you already have.  Once you have a degree, you... Read more