Categories
Blog

Productivity Tools

Good blog post from Seth Godin today titled “A productivity gap“.

You’d think that with all the iPad productivity apps, smartphone productivity apps, productivity blogs and techniques and discussions… that we’d be more productive as a result.

Are you more productive? How much more?

I wonder how much productivity comes from new techniques, and how much comes from merely getting sick of non-productivity and deciding to do something that matters, right now.

He makes  a great point and I agree, lots of people get these new apps, but are they are they really getting more shit done?

But I also see the other side of the coin – all these new apps are out there as tools that work for different people and different projects. I think it’s great there are so many great productivity apps, it gives me the opportunity to use the app that is going to make my productivity the highest and fit my current project or work style. I personally love Podio because it fits my work style and is great for collaborating.

So are you just using apps because it’s new and you can? Or are you using apps because they fit your work style and actually make you more productive?

Categories
Blog Uncategorized

Bicycle Commuter

“Of every 100 American commuters, five take public transit, three walk, and only one rides a bicycle to work or school.” I’m very fortunate enough to be close enough and have a community that is conducive to bike riding. I also have to bike through snow in the winter.

But honestly, biking is just as fast as driving for me, so it makes total sense.

Read this neat article here:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/12/10/why_cul_de_sacs_are_bad_for_your_health_happy_city_by_charles_montgomery.html

Categories
web

Becoming a “Real Programmer” is more than just writing code

Many students come out of college as great programmers – but that doesn’t mean they have all the skills they need. When I look for student workers for our office, I ask our School of Business for Management Information Systems students. Unlike Computer Science or Technology majors, MIS majors are required to take the business core courses as well as their programming/networking courses. This creates a more-rounded programmer with skills like:

  • Gather and analyze requirements when they aren’t directly given to you.
  • Design and analyze architecture with near endless possibilities.
  • Create test plans and act on them to evaluate and improve the quality of a system.
  • Work collaboratively on a team of people with different backgrounds and experience levels.
  • Estimate and plan work even if you don’t know exactly what to build.
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders who have different needs that don’t necessarily align.
  • Negotiate schedule, budget, quality, and features without disappointing stakeholders.

Read more here:

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/12/whats-the-difference-between-college-level-and-corporate-programming/

Categories
Uncategorized

Web Advent is Back: URL Rewrites

If you don’t, please follow 24Ways’ Web Advent. They kicked off the 2013 Advent Calendar with an amazing article on URL Rewrites. Well worth the read!

http://24ways.org/2013/url-rewriting-for-the-fearful/