12^th Practical Class:
Developer Mindset

Opinions 🤷‍♂️

• 💁‍♂️ As best we see it now
• 🤦‍♂️ In 5 years we may see a lot of it differently
• 💆‍♂️ But it is useful to try new things
• 🙆‍♂️ You may always go back to status quo
• 🙋‍♂️ Questions / Suggestions / Opinions

Developer Mindset 🤔

🙂 Rational optimist

• to create things you have to be "rational optimist"
  • rational te see the world as it is
  • optimistic about your capabilities and about you getting things done

You can be a critic, but provide solution.

Source: https://youtu.be/FOcD1ngbsXk

Vim jokes 🤦‍♂️

🤷‍♂️ I don't know...

• ...shell not be an answer
• ...at least for some things
• JavaScript?
  • closure
  • prototype
  • , , , , ...
• TypeScript
  • utility types
  • generics
• Things you know, that you don't know
• 🤔 For how long do you want to avoid it?

🥷 Master some topics and tools

• things you use every day ⌚
• things that feels exciting 😍

📖 Learn now & ⌚ save time
in the long term.

Develop a Taste 👨‍🍳

• "This can be solved using ________ or ________."
• "This could be problematic in case of ________."
• ♟️ chess patterns
  • See many ways how to solve the problem
  • inspiration from other languages, libraries, professions
• pre <- Redux -> post
• Elm => React => SwiftUI
• Snowball effect

🚫📦 Antifragile

🚫📦 Antifragile

• When introduced to "chaos"...
• ... fragile: breaks
• ... resilient: stays the same
• ... antifragile: benefits

🚫📦 Antifragile Practices

1. Cap your downside
2. Seek eustress ("beneficial stress")
3. Overcompensate

🧘 Focus

• Focus is about saying no.
  — Steve Jobs

• avoid: 🤯
  • no for me:
    • 3D printing
    • backend development
    • MobX, Flutter, Kotlin, Rust, Kubernetes...
  • yes for me:
    • functional programming
  • ...at least for now 😊

💡 Try New Things

• ✅ free time
• ✅ on project: be like The Beatles

Each album something small different...

— "The Beatles"

• 😠 change what you didn't like
• 🛟 usually safe to change ~5-10%
  • one or two libraries, tools, ...
  • sometimes more
• 🚸 could be dangerous!
  • but sometimes necessary
  • 🧘‍♂️ have a backup plan

🤝 Convince Others

🤝 Traps ⚠️

• XY problem: https://xyproblem.info/
• X problem
• Y solution
• asking about Y
• without explaining X
• "Can you show it to me from user perspective?"

🤝 Convince Others

🤝 Convince Others: Be Understood

• start with why (the problem by example)
• from concrete examples to bigger concepts

🤝 Convince Others

Focus (to Be Understood)

• max 3 priorities
• >3 priorities == no priorities
• only important issues (simplify!)
• pick your battles

🤝 Convince Others

Suggest Solution

• "This will not work":
  • create "proof of concept" and see how it feels
• "Not enough time now":
  • focus on long term vision
• "Too risky":
  • backup plan
    • status quo (continue how it is now)
    • easy switch to different solution (Yarn vs. NPM)

🤝 Convince Others

Debate

• lay down arguments (benefits, consequences, risks, ...)
• listen and accept counterargument
• sometimes: repeat how you understand it (simplify!)
• but lay down possible downsides with it (if there are any)

🤝 Convince Others

Let them decide!

Revisit later in case of issues...

✊ Respect

• ...is earned
• "You know stuff"
• "You are right" (most of the time)
• If you have it, it's easier to convince others.

✊ Respect Hacks

• be focused
  • during workshops and meetings
    • no emails, coding, chatting, ...
  • listen = care
• say your opinions
• be prepared
• focus on big picture (if others are on details)
  • think few steps ahead
• or on details
  • specific use case issues

⚖️ Balance ⚠️

• don't push it too hard 😡
• you can always improve later 😇