Breaking Things Down for Success: How Developers Can Build Better Habits
Posted on Building Better Habits Uncategorized

Breaking Things Down for Success: How Developers Can Build Better Habits

Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche host Episode 7 of Building Better Developers. They explore how to Breaking Things Down for Success. Their discussion centers on maintaining a personal backlog. This practical tool helps streamline both project management and professional growth. Through real examples, they demonstrate how this approach enhances productivity. Breaking Down Projects into Manageable Chunks Rob discusses how breaking things down can make overwhelming tasks more achievable. The hosts suggest starting with identifying core project elements. For developers, they recommend breaking features into backend, frontend, and testing components. Breaking down work helps maintain momentum and creates a systematic approach. This method prevents developers from feeling overwhelmed while ensuring thorough completion. Creating a Personal Backlog for Better Task Management The concept... Read more

Planning and Scheduling: Essential Habits for Building Better Developers
Posted on Building Better Habits

Planning and Scheduling: Essential Habits for Building Better Developers

Welcome back to “Building Better Developers” as we continue our journey through Season 23, focused on building better habits. In Episode 6, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche dive into the fundamental skill of planning and scheduling as a daily practice. This episode stresses the importance of structuring your day with a manageable, prioritized list of tasks. We will show you how doing this can improve productivity and mental clarity. Here’s a recap of the key takeaways on how to build a sustainable planning habit. The Power of Daily Planning and Scheduling Rob starts by emphasizing the need to tackle tasks with intention. Careful not to jump into work or focus on the sheer volume of items on our plate. Instead,... Read more

Improving Coding Skills: Building Better Developers by Building Better Habits
Posted on Building Better Habits

Improving Coding Skills: Building Better Developers by Building Better Habits

In the latest episode of Building Better Developers, Rob and Michael continue their journey through Season 23, “Building Better Habits.” In Episdoe 5 the focusing on improving coding skills. Like diving into why developers should consistently refine techniques, stay updated with evolving coding standards, and explore new tools. This hosts go beyond just writing code; it’s about forming habits that make continuous learning an essential part of a developer’s daily routine. Tools and Techniques Rob shares insights on the importance of regularly updating coding habits and exploring new languages and techniques. While it’s easy to rely on familiar coding methods, especially in stable languages like Java, doing so can lead to missed opportunities to improve coding skills and write more... Read more

Automation for Better Habits: Streamline Your Workflow and Boost Productivity
Posted on Building Better Habits

Automation for Better Habits: Streamline Your Workflow and Boost Productivity

Welcome to episode four of Building Better Developers. This season, we are focusing on “Building Better Habits.” This episode shows how automation can handle repetitive tasks in your daily routine. By automating mundane work, developers can focus more on creative and strategic projects. These automation practices help build a more efficient development process. The Power of Automation in Development This episode centers on how automation can dramatically improve productivity by eliminating repetitive tasks. The hosts highlight that developers often perform redundant tasks that, though small, can add up to significant time losses. They encourage listeners to reflect on their daily routines and pinpoint actions that automation could streamline. These might be running scripts, batch processing, or setting up CI/CD pipelines.... Read more

Kitchen Sink App: The Ultimate Developer Tool for Consistent and Scalable Software Design
Posted on Building Better Habits

Kitchen Sink App: The Ultimate Developer Tool for Consistent and Scalable Software Design

In the latest Building Better Developers episode, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche discuss the “Kitchen Sink App.” This season emphasizes building better habits for developers. The Kitchen Sink App involves creating a prototype or template with essential project controls and elements. It helps developers refine designs, ensure consistency, and facilitate productive client conversations. Introducing the Kitchen Sink App The hosts reintroduce the concept discussed in previous episodes. The Kitchen Sink App serves as a foundational tool for early-stage software development. By creating a prototype with key UI controls, styles, and functionalities, developers establish a solid visual and functional baseline. This approach promotes design consistency, encourages code reuse, and enhances client communication about the app’s look and feel. Rob’s Experience with... Read more

Pomodoro Technique: Boost Your Focus and Productivity with Time-Blocking
Posted on Building Better Habits

Pomodoro Technique: Boost Your Focus and Productivity with Time-Blocking

In the latest season of Building Better Developers, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche delve into the essential topic of building better habits. Season 23, episode 2 starts with a deep dive into a powerful productivity method: the Pomodoro Technique. This episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for elevating your focus and productivity. What Is the Pomodoro Technique? The Pomodoro Technique, named after the Italian word for “tomato,” is a time-management method designed to boost focus and efficiency. The name comes from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer used by its creator, Francesco Cirillo. The technique involves breaking your work into intervals of 25 minutes, called “Pomodoros,” with short 5-minute breaks in between. This method helps combat distractions, enhances focus, and encourages... Read more