This week starts a new series titled Developer Power Techniques. The series will not be in back to back fashion as the Health Series though each episode in the series will be announce and the series in general can be followed on the Developer Power Techniques page of the website.

Will starts the episode out explaining why he started tracking his own time. He describes feeling like his career wasn't going where he wanted and that he never had enough time to get everything done. The guys then discuss why using a time tracker can improve both your career and your personal life. On explaining how to use one they break it down into short and long term processes. In the short term they suggest tracking how you feel at regular intervals and then comparing this to what you have been working on and note correlations. Making yearly goals and re-evaluating them on a quarterly basis helps to track long term goals. Selecting and setting goals will be discussed further in next week's episode on goal setting.

Links

IoT News Network

Excel Templates

Toggl

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

This week starts a new series titled Developer Power Techniques. The series will not be in back to back fashion as the Health Series though each episode in the series will be announce and the series in general can be followed on the Developer Power Techniques page of the website.

Will starts the episode out explaining why he started tracking his own time. He describes feeling like his career wasn’t going where he wanted and that he never had enough time to get everything done. The guys then discuss why using a time tracker can improve both your career and your personal life. On explaining how to use one they break it down into short and long term processes. In the short term they suggest tracking how you feel at regular intervals and then comparing this to what you have been working on and note correlations. Making yearly goals and re-evaluating them on a quarterly basis helps to track long term goals. Selecting and setting goals will be discussed further in next week’s episode on goal setting.

Links

IoT News Network

Excel Templates

Toggl

In project management, a death march is a project where the members feel it is destined to fail, or requires a stretch of unsustainable overwork. The general feel of the project reflects that of an actual death march because the members of the project are forced to continue the project by their superiors against their better judgment.  ~Wikipedia

Will and BJ discuss the troubles and tribulations of the death march. They are typically characterized by heavy turnover, burnout, and timelines that are too aggressive to actually meet. Death marches usually come about though poor management or a disconnect between developers and other departments like sales. Rapid growth may also lead to a death march. Growth of the team or growth of the company if it is a startup. It is best to avoid working for companies or projects that have death march potential. To do this ask upfront what the expectations are regarding hours, overtime, and comp time during the interview. Remember you are choosing the company as much as they are choosing you.

Links

IoT is Over-hyped

Wikipedia Definition

Urban Dictionary

Portable Apps

Special Note

Excerpt of The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) by John Williams used in the discussion about the Episode VII was taken from The Music Of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition .

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Coming out of a holiday week the guys full on turkey and dressing discuss the impact that distractions have on developers and productivity as well as ways for both developers and management to minimize the amount to distractions faced by developers in a day. They begin looking at the effect of distractions on other professions and explain what a distraction means to a developer. Next Will and BJ talk about the effects of distractions on developers from the productivity as well as the psychological aspect. They end the episode discussing ways that developers and then management can work to minimize distractions.

Links

Hipster Ipsum

IoT List

Joel on Software

Wireshark

Editor's Note: Apologies for this being published a little later than usual. We ran into some technical difficulties with Audacity.

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This being a holiday week the guys chose to air a special episode on substance abuse. This was originally part of the Mental Health episode but BJ went "Full Med Student" on the notes and produced a few shows. As many of us gather with our families this week we can see issues with substance abuse come out more than at other times. Part of this is from not having the responsibility of getting up and going to work and part from the stress that usually comes with travel and large gatherings. In this episode Will and BJ discuss some of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse as well as what to do if you suspect you or someone you know may need help. They begin by defining Substance Abuse as an over-indulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs. Next Will reviews physical, behavioral, and psychological warning signs of a substance abuse disorder. They guys then delve into the medical signs and symptoms of substance abuse and how they may appear different within the development community. Next they take a look at specific workplace behaviors and how drug abuse can effect the workplace, coworkers, and job retention. In the end they provide information on where to look for help if you or someone you know may be suffering from a substance abuse disorder.

Links

Oracle

Java Definition

Learn Java Online

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

Alcoholics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous

Al-Anon

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Markdown Pad

Daring Fireball

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This week the guys discuss ways to find motivation and self motivate in times when developers are down and discouraged. They begin by looking at Frederick Hersberg's study on the two factors that influence employee satisifaction: hygiene and motivation. Which leads them to talking about how different companies motivate their employees from by providing autonomy, mastery and purpose to developers. In the bulk of the episode they discuss different strategies to find your own motivation starting with how developers respond to expectations. Then they look at intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in motivating ourselves. BJ gives a preview of the goal setting episode and even writes some code in his outline. The guys wrap up the episode talking about how to create and sustain self motivation.

Links

IoT T.A.R.D.I.S.

Nine Things Developers Want More Than Money

Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose

How Successful People Motivate Themselves

Be Self Motivated As A Software Developer

Form Successful Habits

Find What Motivates You

WinMerge

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

This week the guys discuss ways to find motivation and self motivate in times when developers are down and discouraged. They begin by looking at Frederick Hersberg’s study on the two factors that influence employee satisifaction: hygiene and motivation. Which leads them to talking about how different companies motivate their employees from by providing autonomy, mastery and purpose to developers. In the bulk of the episode they discuss different strategies to find your own motivation starting with how developers respond to expectations. Then they look at intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in motivating ourselves. BJ gives a preview of the goal setting episode and even writes some code in his outline. The guys wrap up the episode talking about how to create and sustain self motivation.

Links

IoT T.A.R.D.I.S.

Nine Things Developers Want More Than Money

Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose

How Successful People Motivate Themselves

Be Self Motivated As A Software Developer

Form Successful Habits

Find What Motivates You

WinMerge

In this the tenth episode Will and BJ discuss ten reasons a programmer or hobbyist might not want to go into full time development. It is best to know early on in your career or training if this is the life for you. The guys are not out to discourage anyone from going into the field but want those entering to be able to make an informed decision. They address some of the challenges that face developers as well as aspects of the working environment that make a career as a developer unique. The episode concludes with a discussion on the matter of programming as a job or programming as a craft. To be successful a developer needs to be a craftsman.

Links

Learn C++

Psychology of Computer Programming

Six Signs You're Not Meant To Be A Programmer

Notepad++

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In this the tenth episode Will and BJ discuss ten reasons a programmer or hobbyist might not want to go into full time development. It is best to know early on in your career or training if this is the life for you. The guys are not out to discourage anyone from going into the field but want those entering to be able to make an informed decision. They address some of the challenges that face developers as well as aspects of the working environment that make a career as a developer unique. The episode concludes with a discussion on the matter of programming as a job or programming as a craft. To be successful a developer needs to be a craftsman.

Links

Learn C++

Psychology of Computer Programming

Six Signs You’re Not Meant To Be A Programmer

Notepad++

But They Are NEVER Wrong!

In Episode 9 Will and BJ discuss a common misconception in the workplace. The idea that the customer is always right. They begin by looking at why this attitude is hurtful to employees, other customers, and management explaining why the customer is not always right. Then the guys delve into why the customer is never wrong and how it is the job of employees to guide the customer. Next they take a look at who is the customer from direct customer access in freelance work to internal customers within the same company. The show ends with a detailed look at each of these customers and how developers can best serve them by realizing that they may not always be right but should never be wrong.

Links

StartX Fails on Raspbian

Customer Service

No, The Customer is Not Always Right

Entrepreneur

Why Developers Always Say No

Development vs Production

Vampires and Werewolves

Managing Developers

Why Programmers Think They Know Best

f.lux

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