What I learnt in my 20s, A reterospective
Learn to touch type
This is an underrated skill which I only learnt one year ago. There is a huge improvement in bringing my thoughts into the computer, if I just did not look at the keyboard often. It's easier said than done. But well worth it. I use the colemak keyboard layout.
No solution is perfect
Whatever works, works. Let it be.
Don’t over engineer or over program
There is a philosophy called KISS. Basically means “Keep it simple stupid.”
Write down notes and docs
You will need it for the future. Handwritten notes are good too.
Pomodoro Technique is total nonsense
Work till you are tired. But move around often.
Get a physical timer
https://www.amazon.in/Kitchen-Clock-Countdown-Auto-Off-Mechanical/dp/B0CMQ4NS4D/ref=sr_1_6
Don't track your time but set a timer and move around often when time is up.
FUZZY Match
An alternative to regex match. Pretty cool and useful concept.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximate_string_matching
https://github.com/junegunn/fzf
Use this site. Read some code.
Never try to setup your own server for email or website
It's a total waste of time. Maintenance is a hassle.
Purchase a cheap domain and set up your mail and website with google workspace.
Follow programming blogs
YYYYMMDD
Use this date format, or follow ISO 8601 date format.
Exercise
More Blood flows into your brain, the better your work.
Use AI/ChatGPT when you can but don't depend on it
Read the help manual, Don't google all the time.
Cryptocurrency is total scam
But hey, the tech is interesting.
Rules for coding effectively
I am an intermediate programmer and I have been programming for about 6 years. My time writing code taught me this.
- Simplicity is better than complexity
- Good code is better than bad code
- Less code is better than more code
- No code is better than any code
Avoid coding at all costs and only write code when we cannot solve the problem by any other means.
Use terminal as much as you can
More you work inside your terminal. The better your work will be. (Programming wise) TMUX+VIM or Emacs will take you places you have never been before.
You need to have a website
Turn off youtube watch history
It's a rabbit hole. Same goes for reddit, other social media apps.
Cut your nails
Definitely improves your typing speed and finger strain.
Develop fundamental skills
Athletes and musicians pursue virtuosity in fundamental skills much more rigorously than knowledge workers do
https://notes.andymatuschak.org/zMX9Lfuz8sGfDUivWZcyWT
Don't shoot yourself in the foot
http://howto-pages.org/shootfoot.php
Talk to people
Usually most problems at work are solved by just talking more and clearly. Describing the problem properly takes care of the solution by itself. And chit-chat often. I need to do more of this myself 🙂
Review your code every year
365 days is a good number of days where your mind would have changed significantly. Maybe you could think of a better way to solve it.
E-Mail People
Have a question? E-Mail people. Most people at work and tech bloggers will definitely respond.
You need a business card
Neat. Only a little information. Carry 5 with you always.
Join programming Discord servers and chat with more people
Most people are friendly. So far my experience has been good. Less toxic than Stack Overflow. You can always leave the server and join a better one or create one yourself.
Contribute and donate to open source
Report bugs. If I can do it, you can too.