Faster coding does not equate to better coding. This week Will and BJ put together five tips for faster and better coding to improve performance on the job and in personal projects. From continuing to drill basic typing skills to learning your IDE's shortcut keys the guys discuss improvements that can be useful no matter your level or skill.

1. The absolute basics (typing skills, equipment, and code editors)
2. Reduce the amount of code you write
3. Reduce the number of errors you make
4. Ways to improve your speed while coding
5. Continue to practice daily

Links

Fever Scout

Typing Practice

Will's Ultimate Affordable Keyboard

BJ's Dream Keyboard

Windows Shortcut Keys

Basic Shortcut Keys

Editor's Note:

Will had the beginings of an unpleasant sinus infection during the recording of this episode. Most of the sniffles and coughs have been edited out though please bear with us this week. He has since recovered and is feeling much better.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode begins with BJ detailing his recent experience writing his first technical spec for a client and what he learned from that along with questions about the process. Will then leads the conversation into a discussion of best practices for writing technical specs that will help both junior and senior developers while answering BJ's questions along the way.

Links

Foobot

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode begins with BJ detailing his recent experience writing his first technical spec for a client and what he learned from that along with questions about the process. Will then leads the conversation into a discussion of best practices for writing technical specs that will help both junior and senior developers while answering BJ’s questions along the way.

Links

Foobot

This week the guys broke the episode into two parts. BJ starts out with a study from Harvard University on the perceptions of asking for advice. The first half of the episode then outlines good question asking strategies for newbies and junior developers. Starting with closed ended questions leading into longer open ended questions and when to use each. This can also apply to senior developers as well in areas they don't have as much knowledge. They then talk about planning out your questions and detailing what you have already attempted.

The second half of the episode Will gives advice to senior developers on giving advice to junior developers. Starting out by realizing that you are helping junior developers and know they will mess up. Also keep in mind that you might be wrong. Tell them how to do something or show them but do not do it for them.

Links

Bike Navigator

Harvard Study

Biz Success

How To Ask Questions

Amazing Questions

Bringing Novice Developers Up To Speed

Editors Note:

Unfortunately there was a technical error with the recording of Will's microphone and therefore the body of the episode was taken from BJ's recording. Also throughout the episode there is a high pitched sound that could not be removed in post production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the guys broke the episode into two parts. BJ starts out with a study from Harvard University on the perceptions of asking for advice. The first half of the episode then outlines good question asking strategies for newbies and junior developers. Starting with closed ended questions leading into longer open ended questions and when to use each. This can also apply to senior developers as well in areas they don’t have as much knowledge. They then talk about planning out your questions and detailing what you have already attempted.

The second half of the episode Will gives advice to senior developers on giving advice to junior developers. Starting out by realizing that you are helping junior developers and know they will mess up. Also keep in mind that you might be wrong. Tell them how to do something or show them but do not do it for them.

Links

Bike Navigator

Harvard Study

Biz Success

How To Ask Questions

Amazing Questions

Bringing Novice Developers Up To Speed

Editors Note:

Unfortunately there was a technical error with the recording of Will’s microphone and therefore the body of the episode was taken from BJ’s recording. Also throughout the episode there is a high pitched sound that could not be removed in post production.

Being the first episode of 2016 the guys give their predictions for the tech world this year. Some optimistic and some not so optimistic predictions from both. Will and BJ give six predictions each for 2016 five in the development or technology field and the last prediction about the future of the podcast. Enjoy the discussion when they have similar predictions and the debate when they disagree.

Links

Toddler Spoon

Editor's Note:

Due to technical difficulties Tricks of the Trade will not be in this episode. Check back next week to see what Will has for us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guys start off the episode with a year in review of their journeys this past year as well as a brief description of setting up the podcast and how it all started. Following this they each give their resolutions for the new year.

Links

Bowtie Beej Blog

The guys start off the episode with a year in review of their journeys this past year as well as a brief description of setting up the podcast and how it all started. Following this they each give their resolutions for the new year.

Links

Bowtie Beej Blog

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach the end of the year BJ and Will discuss strategies for setting goals to take back control of your life. Actively setting and reviewing goals helps to maintain focus and motivation. It gives significance to our long term improvements. The guys take a top-down approach to setting goals with analogies to programming structure. They start with lifetime goals and work down to daily to do lists to achieve those goals. The majority of the episode is spent discussing the well known S.M.A.R.T. criteria for goal setting and how it applies to programmers at work and in personal life. The episode closes with some tips on prioritizing and maintaining goals in the long term.

Links

* IEEE Authors

* Forbes Article

* Top Achievement

* Mind Tools

* 30, 60, 90 Day Plan

* SMART Goals PDF

* Your Goals Must Matter

* BareTail

Offline Referrences

Doran, G.T. (1981). There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives. Management Review, 7(11), 35-36.

As we approach the end of the year BJ and Will discuss strategies for setting goals to take back control of your life. Actively setting and reviewing goals helps to maintain focus and motivation. It gives significance to our long term improvements. The guys take a top-down approach to setting goals with analogies to programming structure. They start with lifetime goals and work down to daily to do lists to achieve those goals. The majority of the episode is spent discussing the well known S.M.A.R.T. criteria for goal setting and how it applies to programmers at work and in personal life. The episode closes with some tips on prioritizing and maintaining goals in the long term.

Links

• IEEE Authors


• Forbes Article


• Top Achievement


• Mind Tools

• 30, 60, 90 Day Plan


• SMART Goals PDF


• Your Goals Must Matter


• BareTail

Offline Referrences

Doran, G.T. (1981). There's a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management's goals and objectives. Management Review, 7(11), 35-36.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.