Coding in Community

unified.diff

What is coding in community?

Codin' in a box

Stereotypes, there must be more to life...

Is solo coding bad?

● No● Yes● Kind of● Sometimes

Source: derivative work: JovianEye

Dangers of being a lone coder

Image: public domain, http://pixabay.com/en/computer-user-angry-danger-42657/

My own experience as a solo coder

Image by wiredforlego (creative commons)

● Joined company with more vibrant tech community

● Got involved in open source● Started going to tech meetups● Hack nights● Had the courage to get my code reviewed● Started blogging, discussing ideas

What changed?

Image: Felix Burton

My wishlist

● I wish I'd had a sense of how much I didn't know.

● I wish I hadn't thought I was so "complete" as a software developer.

● I wish I had been more humble.● I wish I had worked harder to find the wider

technical community.● I wish I had treated clients with more

respect.

Image: Joe Peter Brown, creative commons, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbsnaptures/3011951715/

Dangers of being a lone coder

Bad habits unchallengedBecoming "precious"Fearing pressure testingNarrow focusLoneliness

Image: public domain, http://pixabay.com/en/computer-user-angry-danger-42657/

How community can help

Contributing to Open Source

● Courage● Github/Bitbucket● Get your code

reviewed!

Source: http://opensource.org/trademarks

Hack nights

Open Sourcing knowledge

● Blogging● CoderWall protips● Book writing● Podcast● Tech meetups

public domain image

How about doing a podcast?

Meetups (thanks Aurelien!)

1. User groups2. Workshops3. Coding dojos4. Barcamps5. Hackathons6. Conferences7. Code retreat/masterclass8. Startup weekends

How unified.diff do meetups

● Since Feb 2012● Free● Non-competitive● Promote meetups● 25-75 attendees● Format:

○ Talks/panel○ Chat

unified.diff

How cardiffdevworkshop does meetups

● Since Nov 2012● Free● Teaching based● 10-20 attendees● Format:

○ Talks/panel○ Chat

Benefits of meetups

● New ideas and tech● New friends● Interesting debates● Teaching consolidates knowledge● It's fun!

My tips on starting things

● Just do it!● 2 people is a start● Get account on

Meetup.com● Pinch follow list

from similar meetups on Twitter ;-)

Source: Alma-de-Gato

Other community things

● Code reviews● IRC/chat● Pair programming● Mentoring● Skills exchanges

Benefits

● Commercial benefits○ Recruitment○ Broader skillbase○ Improved morale

● Individual benefits○ Broader perspective○ New skills○ Teaching consolidates skills○ Meeting new people○ Being constantly challenged

Coding in Community

unified.diff@unifieddiff

@cardiffdevworkshop