3 Easy Steps

Short talk given to a high school web development class in Spring 2014.

Transcript

1. Becoming a Professional Developer In 3 Easy Steps Monday, March 17, 14
2. 1 Learn several languages Monday, March 17, 14
3. Learn Several Languages • HTML, CSS, JS are just foundations • Preprocessors • Frameworks Monday, March 17, 14
4. Learn Several Languages • Modern stack uses several technologies • Ours: • Python (logic, automation, deployment) • Django (templates, SQL abstraction,) • JSON, XML, YAML (API responses, configs) • Ruby (devops via Chef, CSS preprocessor) • Apache, nginx, gunicorn (web servers) • Bash (configuration) • JavaScript (client-side, jabber bots) • Also: SMTP servers, proxies, caching, asynchronous message queuing, etc • Interconnected nodes running independent technology stacks, all powered by the most appropriate language. Monday, March 17, 14
5. Learn Several Languages • Learn: JavaScript • Learn: Ruby or Python • Learn: Linux • Don’t fear the command line • Learn: C++ or Obj C Monday, March 17, 14
6. 2 Learn to Make Things Monday, March 17, 14
7. Learn to Make Things • Go make something! • Turning a Vision to a product is hard • Fail (got bored) • Fail (way harder than I thought) • Fail (too much time) • Success! Monday, March 17, 14
8. Learn to Make Things • Gain experience that can’t be taught • Most (even Jr.) positions require experience • Demonstrate passion Monday, March 17, 14
9. 3 Learn to collaborate Monday, March 17, 14
10. Learn to Collaborate • Master VCS (okay, Git) • Screw up. Royally. • Then fix it • Use CLI Monday, March 17, 14
11. Learn to Collaborate • Read other peoples Code • Read logic • Discover other (better) methods of problem solving • Conventions are often undocumented • Read the src Monday, March 17, 14
12. Learn to Collaborate • Contribute to Open Source Software • Find a library/tool • Fix issues • Even better, create OSS Monday, March 17, 14
13. Learn to Collaborate • Too much to master • Someone is better than you at something Monday, March 17, 14
14. 1. Learn several languages 2. Learn to Make Things 3. Learn to Collaborate Monday, March 17, 14
15. Questions? Github demo? Monday, March 17, 14