Perpetual Learning

A talk given to students at the Iron Yard about how their learning doesn't stop after graduation.

Transcript

1. Perpetual Learning a talk about always learning and never giving up
2. Hi! My name is JB. @rookieone learningwithjb.com github.com/rookieone
3. I have shipped software in all these languages and frameworks C# Rails Node WPF Angular React Visual Basic WinForms ASP.net WebForms COBOL iOS Android Backbone Knockout Phoenix Ruby Elixir Ember Hapi Meteor
4. What words of advice do I have for you today?
5. “Always start with the hard truths first.” - Terry Pratchett
6. Being a developer can suck
7. We have to know a lot of things to build software
8. Things we need to learn are constantly evolving
9. Always new things being invented
10. A lot of knowledge we learn has a shelf life
11. If you think that after a few months at The Iron Yard and a few years of work that you will be done with learning and a master programmer, then I am here to correct you on that opinion.
12. BUT….
13. You will never get bored
14. Every year is new, exciting, and unpredictable
15. AND….
16. Learning is a skill
17. And like all other skills, you can get better at it
18. This is a talk about how to become a better developer by being better at learning
19. Too much to learn so don’t try to learn it all
20. Databases Operations Design Frameworks Programming Project Management Business Security You need to know all these things to build an app
21. Trying to learn it all is just INSANE
22. TIP #1 Learn enough to be well versed
23. Technique #1.1 Read books and articles on the subject
24. Technique #1.2 Listen and watch talks on the subject
25. Technique #1.3 Make friends with experts in those fields and listen to their conversations
26. TIP #2 Learn the basics in order to be productive
27. Original programmers could learn all aspects of the computer from the base electronics all the way up to the higher programming languages
28. Today’s computers and systems are simply too complex for you to understand all aspects of how they work
29. Technique #2.1 Embrace the magic
30. There is value in understanding all aspects on how things work, but there is also great productivity to be gained by embracing magic
31. How does this even work?
32. I, Pencil: My Family Tree as told to Leonard E. Read
33. Change and innovation are rapid and constant
34. 10,000 Hour Rule
35. Bearkat Arithmetic 30 hours a week 50 weeks a year 7 years = 10,500 hours
36. Lets examine the technologies you will learn about
37. Rails 2005 11 years old iOS 2007 9 years old Node 2009 7 years old
38. iPhone Timeline 2007 iPhone 1 2008 iPhone 3G 2009 iPhone 3GS 2010 iPhone 4 2011 iPhone 4S 2012 iPhone 5 2013 iPhone 5S 2014 iPhone 6/6+ 2015 iPhone 6S/6S+
39. iOS Changes 9 hardware upgrades 9 os versions 1 new language
40. 9 years of rapid change
41. Why do we keep inventing new things?
42. "I know engineers, they love to change things" - Dr McCoy
43. Tip #3 Learn when to catch the wave
44. Adoption Curve
45. Technique #3.1 Follow thought leaders
46. Technique #3.2 Monitor the mindshare
47. Everything has a shelf life
48. All code is eventually legacy code
49. Revisit my experience C# Rails Node WPF Angular React Visual Basic WinForms ASP.net WebForms COBOL iOS Android Backbone Knockout Phoenix Ruby Elixir Ember Hapi Meteor
50. JavaScript Frameworks
51. Tip #4 You don’t have to move on
52. Legacy applications are written in legacy technologies
53. Business runs on legacy applications
54. Legacy applications still need developers
55. There is no end to learning
56. It is a never ending treadmill of learning, doing, and never quite mastering
57. The true skill of a developer is the ability to learn new technologies and integrate them with their current knowledge base
58. Like a giant Katamari Ball
59. How to get better at programming
60. Programming is a skill
61. Skills need to be practiced
62. It isn't about memorization It is about application Like shooting a free throw
63. Tip #5 Practice, Practice, Practice
64. Technique 5.1 Side projects
65. “Make tables legs just to make table legs” - Greg Young
66. Technique 5.2 Katas
67. Tip #6 Sample technologies for exposure
68. New technologies challenge your abilities and assumptions
69. They provide a different perspective on how to solve problems
70. Tip #7 Deep dive into technologies for mastery
71. How to improve the speed and quality of your learning
72. Tip #8 Learn with others
73. Technique #8.1 Attend meet ups
74. Technique #8.2 Pair program
75. Technique #8.3 Hackathons and Code Nights
76. Tip #9 Teach others
77. “If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” - Albert Einsetin
78. Technique #9.1 Speak at meet ups
79. Technique #9.2 Write blog posts
80. Technique #9.3 Record screencasts
81. Technique #9.4 Make a cheatsheet
82. Tip #10 Break it down to manageable chunks
83. Technique #10.1 Use Pomodoros
84. Technique #10.2 Make a list
85. Make the list Pick a an item to learn Learn it Check it off the list Rinse Repeat
86. Technique #10.3 Flash Cards
87. How to not be discouraged
88. Don’t play catch up
89. You don't need to out learn everyone else but just need to out learn yourself
90. Tip #11 Track your progress
91. Always take stock at how far you have come
92. Traveling by arrows
93. Tip #11.1 Keep a journal
94. Tip #11.2 Keep your lists
95. Tip #12 Everyone started out not knowing
96. At some point in time, the thing they "know" they didn't "know"
97. Everything is learned No one got up as a baby and started coding JavaScript
98. Technique #12.1 Simply Start
99. Tip #13 No one is the best at everything
100. Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments
101. Tip #14 Admit you don’t know
102. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. - Socrates
103. Technique #14.1 Ask Questions
104. Technique #14.2 Accept Help
105. Tip #15 This isn't a death sentence
106. When things stop being fun, stop
107. Technique #15.1 Take a break
108. Lets Review
109. You will never finish learning You will never finish struggling You will never be a master There is no end
110. But you get better…
111. I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more. I'll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is. - Jiro Ono
112. Tips & Techniques 1. Learn enough to be well versed 1.1. Read on the subject 1.2. Listen to talks on the subject 1.3. Make friends with experts 2. Learn the basics in order to be productive 2.1. Embrace the magic 3. Learn when to catch the wave 3.1. Follow thought leaders 3.2. Monitor mindshare 4. You don’t have to move on
113. Tips & Techniques - part 2 5. Practice, Practice, Practice 5.1. Side projects 5.2. Katas 6. Sample technologies for exposure 7. Deep dive into technologies for mastery 8. Learn with others 8.1. Attend meet ups 8.2. Pair program 8.3. Hackathons and Code Nights
114. Tips & Techniques - part 3 9. Teach others 9.1. Speak at meet ups 9.2. Write blog posts 9.3. Record screencasts 9.4. Make a cheatsheet 10. Break it down 10.1. Use Pomodoros 10.2. Make a list 10.3. Flash Cards
115. Tips & Techniques - part 4 11. Track your progress 11.1. Keep a journal 11.2. Keep your lists 12. Everyone started out not knowing 12.1. Simply start 13. No one is the best at everything 14. Admit you don’t know 14.1. Ask questions 14.2. Accept help 15. This isn’t a death sentence 15.1. Take a break
116. What am I currently learning…
117. How to be a better writer writing on my blog: learningwithjb.com working on a book proposal drafting online content to teach Ruby
118. Unity Game Programming pairing with Ben Scheirman every Tuesday 8am-10am watching Unity videos and running through tutorials GitHub Repo: https://github.com/subdigital/blades- edge
119. Phoenix and Elixir pairing with Chris every Thursday 2pm-4pm reproducing the https://lobste.rs/ in Phoenix GitHub Repo: https://github.com/RookieOne/ phoenix-lobster
120. Virtual Brown Bag every Tuesday 12:30pm-1:30pm developers get together and share tips, tricks, and news virtualbrownbag.com
121. I’m not the only one still learning…
122. Any recommended books or movies?
123. Books The Goal Authority I’m Fine Thanks Jiro Dreams of Sushi Movies
124. Any Questions? @rookieone learningwithjb.com github.com/rookieone Thanks, my name is JB You can find me online at: