WE can CODE better - Sapporo Ruby Kaigi 2012

The talk has shown what developers can learn from professional athletes, bodybuilders and circus performers (sic!). I've introduced concept of programming workout.
The idea in its core is really simple.

It consists of regular and methodical practice of following skills: - programming building blocks/high level skills (OO design, TDD, refactoring, strategies for dealing with legacy code etc.) - auxiliary skills/low level skills (touch typing, editor commands, shell scripting, git wizardry, creative thinking etc.)

In a similar way as bodybuilders, athletes and performers have routine workouts to train their muscles, primary and auxiliary skills.

In order to be successful they need to be consistent, persistent and smart about how they train.

The hard part lies in designing a routine that is challenging, effective and interesting enough to make sure you will still follow it after few weeks.

Transcript

1. Programming
2. Programming is a complex skill
3. Guitar
5. Martial arts
6. Martial arts
7. Talent
9. Practice
10. Practice ... a lot of it.
11. Taszycki MichaŁ •applicake.com •@mehowte λγπΩɹϛϋ΢
12. My journey
13. My journey
23. Japanese Art And Technology Center
28. 2nd Edition - Spring 2013 • Call for papers will open soon • visit railsberry.com
32. Programming Workout
33. How to stay on the path?
34. And choose optimal one?
35. PROGRAMMING WORKOUT
37. PROGRAMMING WORKOUT
38. PROGRAMMING WORKOUT.com
39. PROGRAMMING WORKOUT.com
40. PROGRAMMING WORKOUT.com
41. PROGRAMMING WORKOUT.com 500 people signed up!
42. Beginner
43. Beginner “I have no idea what I’m doing”
44. I have no idea what I’m doing
45. Learn consistency first
46. Become proficient with git. Learn more vim. Become a better touch typist. Improve OOP skills. Learn functional programming basics. Become a better mathematician. Make a wish
47. Pick simple exercise rubykoans.com rubyquiz.com D C Dr
48. Beginner’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Anything Anything Anything Anything Anything Anything Anything
49. Beginner’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Touch Typing VimGolf Ruby Quiz Touch Typing Git Practice Code Kata VimGolf
50. Create a habit • Simplify the behavior • Start it after existing habit • Celebrate success • Don’t punish failure
51. Novice
52. Novice “I know what I can’t do”
53. Make goals SMART
54. Few SMART examples • Improve WPM by 3 next week. • Solve 10 Project Euler problems this week. • Do all Array ruby koans till Wednesday. • I’ll learn to implement and be able to prove complexity of QuickSort in a month.
55. Find a good teacher
56. Focus one skill
57. Novice’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun One Thing One Thing One Thing One Thing One Thing One Thing One Thing
58. Novice’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Touch Typing - focus on digits for 5 minutes Touch Typing - focus on accuracy for 5 minutes Touch Typing - race for 5 minutes Touch Typing - focus on digits for 5 minutes Touch Typing - focus on $#%^&* for 5 minutes Touch Typing - focus on speed for 5 minutes Touch Typing - race for 5 minutes
59. Keep working hard
60. Adept
61. Adept “I know what I can do”
62. Change intensity
63. • add exercises • make them more complex • cycle workouts focused on different skills • experiment Change intensity
64. Measure Progress • improve a number (WPM) • solve harder problems • record yourself • observe
65. Find weaknesses • complex exercises are great (Code Kata) • they cover a lot of skills • but be vigilant
66. Fix them • find simple exercises • focus on them • check your progress with complex ones
67. Adept’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun A B Rest A B Rest Rest Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun A B C A B C Rest or
68. Adept’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Touch typing Code Kata Rest Touch typing Code Kata Rest Rest Tools - zsh Refactor - extract method (x10) Tools - vim (text objects) Refactor - extract class (x10)
69. Share your story
70. Master
71. Master “I can do”
72. How do you know you are the Master ?
73. Keep up the good work
74. Master’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Anything Anything Anything Anything Anything Anything Anything
75. Become a beginner
76. Try teaching others
77. “A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.”
78. “Preparation for tomorrow is hard work today.”
79. WE CODE
80. WE CAN CODE BETTER
81. Programming Workout
82. • programmingworkout.com • facebook.com/programmingworkout • twitter.com/ProgrammingWOD • twitter.com/mehowte • facebook.com/mehowte • applicake.com/team#michal