Exploring, Pathmaking, Traveling
Setting up a software project shouldn’t require a map, compass, and a well-stocked rucksack.
Simple is Complex
I started reading Vehicles, by Valentino Braitenberg. Braitenberg asks us to consider the implications of extremely simple notional machines. For instance, the very first machine has only a single motor…
Tools for turning descriptions into diagrams
Sometimes I have a picture of a software design in my head and I just want to draw it. If I don’t need to collaborate with anyone remotely I might…
Test-Driven Re-implementation with Josh Thompson
Yesterday Josh Thompson, one of my Rubber Duck Session clients, proposed a novel idea for deliberately practicing coding skills: take a popular open-source project with a good test suite, delete…
Faking Method Inputs with OpenStruct feat. Kerri Miller
During my RubyTapas script review with upcoming guest chef Kerri Miller, we spent some time refactoring a method toward lower complexity. In the process we needed to isolate it from…
How to meet people at tech events when you’re awkward and shy
Avdi Grimm and Jessica Kerr discuss strategies fro making meaningful connections at tech events.
Things I’ve Misunderstood About Promises
Since I’ve been mucking about with JavaScript more, I’ve discovered that for some reason the Promise pattern is a profoundly unintuitive one to me. In my quest to accurately model…
Why I suck at writing talks with good transitions (and how I’m improving)
Smooth transitions help hold the audience’s attention Saron Yitbarek has a great post about how improving your transitions can really spruce up a tech talk. Specifically, about how the transition…