The Most Important Optimization: Happiness (Big Ruby)

Closing presentation at Big Ruby Conf 2013 in Dallas, TX.

Metaprogramming. It's awesome, right? Powerful? Maybe a little scary?

Let's kick things up a notch. If writing code that writes code is powerful, what's hacking the life of the programmer writing the code? That's got to be an 11 on the meta-meter. *At least.* We'll talk about some of the bad assumptions we've made, lies we've bought into, and why we have the most awesome job ever.

Transcript

1. The Most Important
   Optimization:
   HAPPINESS
   

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3. we’re hiring.*
   * “we’re hiring” is not part of the LivingSocial brand, but totally should be
   

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4. HOW’S YOUR NEW YEAR’S
   RESOLUTION GOING?
   (mine’s just dandy)
   

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6. “You’re interesting to listen to.”
   ― Mom
   

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7. IS THIS REALLY
   NECESSARY?
   

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14. PROTIP:
    IN ORDER TO POWER ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER
    

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15. PROTIP:
    IN ORDER TO POWER ON A DESKTOP COMPUTER
    YOU MUST FIRST PLUG IT IN.
    

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16. SOMETIMES...
    

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17. I AM AN
    IDIOT.
    

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18. WE MAKE BAD ASSUMPTIONS.
    

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19. WE SKIP STEPS.
    

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20. TDD
    

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21. RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    

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22. describe Life do
    it { should be_awesome }
    end
    

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23. require 'minitest/autorun'
    class LifeTest < MiniTest::Unit::TestCase
    def setup
    @life = Life.new
    end
    def test_that_it_is_awesome
    assert @life.awesome?, 'Sucks to be you.'
    end
    end
    

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24. RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    

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25. RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    make it clear
    

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26. RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    make it clear
    make it real
    

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27. RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    make it clear
    make it real
    make it better
    

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28. The Most Important
    Optimization:
    HAPPINESS
    

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29. HAPPINESS?
    

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30. View Slide

31. Dr. Martin Seligman
    

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32. Dr. Martin Seligman P
    E
    R
    M
    A
    ositive Emotions
    ngagement
    elationships
    eaning
    chievement
    

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39. RESOURCES
    TO DO STUFF
    

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40. STUFF TO DO
    

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41. PEOPLE
    

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42. PEOPLE TO DO
    STUFF WITH
    

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43. FACT:
    ACRONYMS AND PICTURES
    HELP US REMEMBER THINGS
    

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44. CAR
    

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45. C
    A
    R
    CTIVITIES
    APACITY
    ELATIONSHIPS
    

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46. C
    A
    R
    CTIVITIES
    APACITY
    ELATIONSHIPS
    

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47. C
    A
    R
    CTIVITIES
    APACITY
    ELATIONSHIPS
    

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48. CAPACITY
    Time
    Money
    Physical
    Mental
    

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49. ACTIVITIES
    Fun
    Challenging
    Meaningful
    Beneficial
    

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50. RELATIONSHIPS
    Family
    Friends
    Romantic
    Professional
    

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51. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
    

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52. BE
    INTENTIONAL
    RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    ==
    

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53. RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    

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54. RUN
    YOUR
    SPECS!
    RED
    GREEN
    REFACTOR
    

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55. exercise,
    nutrition,
    and sleep.
    

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56. EXERCISE,
    NUTRITION,
    and
    SLEEP.
    

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57. EXERCISE,
    NUTRITION,
    and
    SLEEP.
    (see what I did there?)
    

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58. CAPACITY
    RELATIONSHIPS ACTIVITIES
    

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59. CAPACITY
    RELATIONSHIPS ACTIVITIES
    

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60. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!
    

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61. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!
    class Greeting
    def initialize(greetable)
    @greetable = greetable
    end
    def to_s
    "Hello, #{@greetable}!"
    end
    end
    class Greeting
    def initialize(greetable)
    @greetable = greetable
    end
    def to_s
    "Hello, #{@greetable}!"
    end
    end
    

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62. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!
    class Greeting
    def initialize(greetable)
    @greetable = greetable
    end
    def to_s
    "Hello, #{@greetable}!"
    end
    end
    class Greeting
    def initialize(greetable)
    @greetable = greetable
    end
    def to_s
    "Hello, #{@greetable}!"
    end
    end
    Coded in Louisville Coded in San Francisco
    

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63. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!
    Source: Sperling’s Best Places - http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
    

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64. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!
    Source: Sperling’s Best Places - http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
    

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65. Capacity Activities Relationships
    Time Fun Family
    Money Challenging Friends
    Physical Beneficial Romantic
    Mental Meaningful Professional
    IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION
    ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
    

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66. Capacity Activities Relationships
    Time Fun Family
    Money Challenging Friends
    Physical Beneficial Romantic
    Mental Meaningful Professional
    IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION
    ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE
    

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67. IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION
    ON YOUR VALUE TO AN EMPLOYER
    

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68. IMPACT OF PHYSICAL LOCATION
    ON YOUR VALUE TO AN EMPLOYER
    * for qualified employers
    *
    

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69. Time (one-way) People (x1,000) %
    < 10 min 18,565 13.4
    10 - 14 min 19,328 13.9
    15 - 19 min 20,775 15.0
    20 - 24 min 19,559 14.1
    25 - 29 min 8,040 5.8
    30 - 34 min 17,874 12.9
    35 - 44 min 8,321 6.0
    45 - 59 min 9,834 7.1
    60 - 89 min 7,160 5.2
    90+ min 3,218 2.3
    TIME SPENT COMMUTING TO WORK
    Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey - http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf
    

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70. Time (one-way) People (x1,000) %
    < 10 min 18,565 13.4
    10 - 14 min 19,328 13.9
    15 - 19 min 20,775 15.0
    20 - 24 min 19,559 14.1
    25 - 29 min 8,040 5.8
    30 - 34 min 17,874 12.9
    35 - 44 min 8,321 6.0
    45 - 59 min 9,834 7.1
    60 - 89 min 7,160 5.2
    90+ min 3,218 2.3
    TIME SPENT COMMUTING TO WORK
    Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey - http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf
    33.5%
    

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71. WHERE DO YOU
    WANT TO BE?
    

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73. LIFE’S TOO
    short
    TO SPEND
    SO MUCH
    OF IT
    IN BETWEEN
    THE PLACES
    YOU TRULY
    WANT
    TO BE.
    

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74. Hacker News
    

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75. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site. And since your energy is a zero sum game, being
    excellent at these things steals energy from building.
    You need to expend time and energy on:
    “
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings
    • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals
    • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the
    water cooler
    • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people
    • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind”
    You kinda get the idea. If you can be excellent at these things, great.
    Otherwise, be prepared to see your work suffer.
    — edw519
    

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76. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people
    • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind”
    — edw519
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings
    • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals
    • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the
    water cooler
    

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77. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people
    • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind”
    — edw519
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    WRONG
    • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings
    • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals
    • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the
    water cooler
    

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78. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people
    • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind”
    — edw519
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    WRONG
    WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN
    • Dealing with conference calls and web-based meetings
    • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals
    • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the
    water cooler
    

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79. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people
    • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind”
    — edw519
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    WRONG
    WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN
    • Building relationships without benefit of breaks and meals
    • Understanding the human terrain without benefit of gossip and the
    water cooler
    

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80. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    • Being noticed and recognized for who you really are by new people
    • Being included when you’re “out of sight, out of mind”
    — edw519
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    WRONG
    WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN
    POLITICS
    

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81. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    — edw519
    • Preparing precise specs instead of explaining and interacting
    • Interpreting precise specs instead of questioning and interacting
    • Writing precise e-mails
    • Interpreting precise e-mails
    • Guessing body language and tonality from written communication
    WRONG
    WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN
    POLITICS
    INSECURITY
    

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82. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    — edw519
    WRONG
    WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN
    POLITICS
    INSECURITY
    WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
    

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83. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    “
    — edw519
    WRONG
    WHAT IS THIS I DON’T EVEN
    POLITICS
    INSECURITY
    WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
    ?!
    

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84. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent
    “
    — edw519
    at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    WRITTEN
    COMMUNICATION
    

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85. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent
    “ at a lot of things that don't matter
    when you're on site.
    WRITTEN
    COMMUNICATION
    PROGRAMMING IS
    

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86. The single biggest problem with working remotely is that
    you have to be excellent
    “
    WRITTEN
    COMMUNICATION
    PROGRAMMING IS
    .
    

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87. “
    BE EXCELLENT.
    

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88. “
    — me
    BE EXCELLENT.
    

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89. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, MGM,1989
    

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90. View Slide

91. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, MGM,1989
    

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92. CODE ≠ YOUR PRODUCT
    

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93. YOUR PRODUCT
    YOU =
    

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94. YOUR PRODUCT
    MANAGER
    YOU =
    

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95. Painstakingly assembled at the Cartoon Doll Emporium: http://www.cartoondollemporium.com/scene_hemanandshera.html
    

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96. US National Archives and
    Records Administration
    

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97. US National Archives and
    Records Administration
    

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98. US National Archives and
    Records Administration
    

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99. US National Archives and
    Records Administration
    

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100. JOB SECURITY
     

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101. JOB SECURITY
     “ ”
     is a myth propagated by big
     companies to keep you trapped
     in an unchallenging and
     unfulfilling job.
     

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102. STRIVE
     TO FEEL
     STUPID
     

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103. STRIVE
     TO FEEL
     STUPID
     

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104. Q. What’s it like to always be the
     smartest person in the room?
     

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105. Q.
     A.
     What’s it like to always be the
     smartest person in the room?
     It sucks. It means you’re in the
     wrong room.
     Source: http://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-always-be-the-smartest-person-in-the-room/answers/201107
     

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106. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE
     BENJAMINS
     

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107. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE
     BENJAMINS
     

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108. IT’S NOT ABOUT
     THE PEOPLE
     

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109. IT’S NOT ABOUT
     THE PEOPLE
     

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110. View Slide

111. View Slide

112. DON’T FORGET TO PLUG IN.
     

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113. THANKS!
     Ernie Miller / @erniemiller
     Recommended reading:
     

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