Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur

One of the most influential ways to improve your site is through recording users.  When I say record, this is not just noting where they clicked.  This is a recording that allows you to see the site as they do and watch as they navigate around.  It is data that can be viewed on a per visit basis or aggregated to produce a heat map of common destinations. Tools Aplenty The good news for us modern d...

In this episode, we continue the series of overview discussions.  This time around we will cover a databases overview.  We looked at SDLC in the prior installment of this series and will discuss databases in a two-parter.  This first part includes definitions and high-level summaries of database engines, types, and terms. Databases Overview - The Engines To the untrained observer, a database is a...

It is not uncommon to hear some give you free advice and follow up by saying you get what you pay for.  Sometimes that is true.  Unfortunately, bad advice can cost a lot if you follow it.  On the other hand, paying for advice does not guarantee its value either.  It is important to consider the pros and cons of the source before taking action in any case. Paid Advice is More Thoughtful The biggest...

There are many ways to improve productivity.  When hockey coaches substitute a goalie for no apparent reason, they are looking to spark a response by making a change.  This same approach can be used in business or with any group you lead or manage.  It is all about the difference you make and the message that is sent. Making A Change Breaks Comfort The best outcome of a change is that it will caus...

A few years ago we created a one day course to teach IT to those that were not technical but still needed a general understanding of it.  We covered six main topics, and the first was SDLC.  Short for S oftware D evelopment L ife C ycle, this topic is much more mysterious than it needs to be. SDLC is a Set of Steps The life cycle boils down to steps that are taken to create software.  Let me say t...

I do not know about you, but my most significant challenges in life come from assumptions.  When I am right, I can be ahead of the game and look like a psychic.  On the other hand, mistaken assumptions can make me look foolish or lead to total failure.  I have found that patience plays a part in this battle and that a smarter approach can reduce stress while increasing happiness. Lessons Learned T...

In my years of managing and coaching, I have found that the most significant challenge is often building a team out of the individuals.  A good team will have a diverse cast of characters.  This diversity is essential for the team to be successful.  However, that means that a leader or manager has to find ways to provide benefit to the members of the group.  This task is not a trivial one as you n...

Sooner or later we all face the challenge of selling our boss or team on using the latest tool or technology.  We love our work so selling new technology is a labor of love.  The technology will help us grow professionally, progress in our career, and maybe even bring world peace.  Ok, I went a little too far much like we sometimes do. Selling New Technology As An Improvement The best selling poin...

You are more likely to be focused on business and technology than pop culture if you listen to this podcast.  However, there is a value in keeping up with such general knowledge areas.  One can argue that the time required to keep up with pop culture can be spent on better things.  I would have a hard time disagreeing but the good news is that we can keep up without spending much extra time.  Also...

When you start building a business there are two extremes you can follow.  There is the all-in approach on one end and the bootstrap approach on the other.  Fortunately, these are not mutually exclusive options so you can find a middle ground that works best for you. All In For Building A Business This approach is one that seems to be in most people's heads.  There is the vision of the entrepreneu...

Object-Oriented Design has been around for a few decades now.  Therefore, we have whole generations of developers that have been taught OOD in their college courses as well as in their studies.  I am a big fan of this approach to software.  However, this, like many other theories, must be taken in moderation.  You can over-design your objects just as databases can take normalization too far. Sand...

You might find it odd that anyone would recommend bingeing of any sort.  We all know that moderation is always best.  Nevertheless, I think there is good that can come from binge-watching your way through a season or even a series.  Let us count the ways. Binge-Watching Saves Time And Reduces Stress I am not a doctor, nor have I looked up research on binge-watching.  However, let's think about som...

One of the hardest choices to make with a business is to close the doors.  Many of us have the "winners never quit" quote floating around in our head.  That quote keeps us from ending things when that may be the best step to take. It also is likely a prime factor in the sunk-cost fallacy.  In fact, knowing when to quit is almost as important as finding a window of opportunity.  That idea that we h...

We can code for a quick solution, or we can focus on developing automation for the same.  There are times when we stumble across the latter while concentrating on the former.  However, it is better to focus on automating the solution.  This approach is not science, but the steps can help you overcome obstacles when you hit a brick wall. Steps For Developing Automation It is critical to understand...

It may seem odd, but one of the great things to embrace in life is puzzles.  Whether you prefer crosswords, sudoku or any of the other puzzles out there, they can all provide more than a fun past-time. Stay Sharp The first benefit of puzzles and mental challenges is that they help you stay sharp.  This may seem like just more work.  However, one of the keys to good health is keeping mentally healt...

One of the attributes of a successful entrepreneur is a sense of what not to do.  They still take risks, but the successful ones are either very lucky or have a good set of business skills.  These skills can be learned but experience is often the best teacher.  That is why those that are successful find a way to learn from others in prior jobs as an employee. One Step At A Time The idea of being a...

How often have you been too busy to consider ways to improve productivity?  Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon problem.  We can easily get buried in day-to-day tasks and details.  However, our best way forward often requires us to pick our heads up. Improve Productivity With Planning I think we all learn somewhere along the way that design and planning make us more likely to be successful in a...

Once we become adults we often relegate playing as something that died along with our childhood.  This can often be a mistake.  A trip for buying toys may look very different as an adult.  However, it can still be one that refreshes us and triggers those same positive feelings we get with any reward. Buying Toys Can Be Practical The first thing to get clear is what toys mean.  These are anything t...

In a simple way of looking at solutions, the decision comes down to build or buy.  We run into this a lot in planning and running a business.  Time after time we are faced with the decision of either doing something ourselves or finding someone else to handle it.  Yes, even the decision to outsource boils down to a build or buy conundrum. Build Or Buy - Common Themes Although very situation requir...

It is hard to imagine how different software development was even a few decades ago.  We used to have to write our applications manually.  Heck, even copy and paste was complicated.  Luckily, code generation is becoming common no matter which language you use.  This may be in the form of direct generation of code or tools that make the process easier.  However, that is not always the best way to g...

The good and bad news about being truly happy is that it comes down to individual taste.  We are only going to be truly happy when we are doing the things we enjoy.  That means that focusing your success on what others want will not bring happiness.  You must be true to yourself, and a little honesty does not hurt either. Know Yourself The scary thing is that we do not always know what is best for...

When you start a business, the idea of proper compensation of employees is not often a primary concern.  There may be a budget and a business plan.  However, compensation is just a number at that point.  The challenge changes once you put people into those positions and the discussions of compensation come up. Fair And Balanced Compensation Fair and balanced is not just a phrase for Fox News.  Thi...

Of the countless tips and tricks I have learned over the years, none is more valuable than a personal code repository.  We put so much time and effort into our source code it only makes sense to reap the benefits as long as possible.  That is made possible by keeping track of what we have done and how to grab it for future use. Personal Code Repository Challenges One of the most significant challe...

We spend a lot of time talking about how to squeeze every drop out of each day.  That includes ways to stay driven and avoid distractions.  Although all of this is important, we also need to focus on keeping things light where possible.  We have too much that is unquestionably serious to not take advantage when things can be casual. Keeping Things Light Requires Perspective The hardest part of kee...

The type of networking where you shake hands and pass out business cards has its purpose.  However, passive networking is a far more valuable tool for building your brand.  This is where you build your network by offering help and support to others with no strings attached.  Let's look closer at how this can work for you and how to avoid being taken advantage of. Passive Networking Is A Relationsh...