Big Time Full Year Reflection

I can't even comment on how much I have learned in the past year. As far as how my project is going, it's going well... there are still a handful of things to be done. Partially because of scope creep and partially because "90% of the work is done with 10% to go" (I forget who said that to me, may have been a commenter let me know if it was you.)

I started this blog in April of this year, between this thing and Project 007 my knowledge and confidence in my ability have hextrupled (yeah, I made that up, ten points to the nerd that knows the real word for that). The best part, is, that I've met a whole bunch of people in the process.

If I were to start this project all over again what would I do different? Well, I mean, I wouldn't have gone halfway up a few paths. Like wasting time checking out MVC, LINQ, and other directions I decided not to go in... but that is a necessary for any project, I suppose. I maybe would have spent the first few weeks writing admin screens for people gathering data, but back then I didn't have the confidence in my data structure that I have now, so my fear was that it would change over time. It is a pain doing this data import now, even though it was made MUCH easier by the locating of a SW tool to import images from FMP to SQL. I would have started the consultant earlier, and asked more questions about layers to people that knew more than I do. I would have been cleaner in the structuring of my folders. I would have been more realistic on my time estimates, but that is something I'm getting much better at, so I'm proud of my growth.

What did I do right? Well, I think that the best thing I did was keep up the iterative process in the form of sprints. I think that my data structure was strong, and though the consultant disagrees, NHibernate is awesome. I like how most of my content is database driven, and I took the extra time to set things up that way. I like that I took a stand on some things that I thought were important. All in all, I like that I took a big risk, and I really thing things are coming to a great fruition. 

Later this week I'm going to post everything I have to go and how I am breaking it down. Hopefully some people can give me some wisdom when they were in just this situation. 

Good night and happy new year!!!

(PS like the new GD tee? I can thank Lloyd Humpereys for the design. They are available at all the high end Girl Developer stores near you. )  

Merry Christmas (or whatever) from Sara and Steven

                                                                                     

So, this will be my only post this week (vacation and all). I, however, wanted to make sure to get out my Christmas card to the intarnette (I have gotten 235902 cards with my friend's beautiful families, so instead of sending one out of me and my cat I figured I should post it instead.) As you can tell, Steven is much cooler than me, and felt the need to pretend to sleep because I was embarressing him with my incessant picture taking. 

I hope everyone has a good and gadgety holiday. I think this is a great time to enjoy the company of the people in our lives, whether it be family, friends, or just strangers on the street. I'm not a big fan of the Christmas Season myself, I find people to be stressed and hurried. However, it is a great time to get some gas in your karma tank to distribute all year.

Stay tuned for adventures in automated builds and unit testing.

Oh, and GET OFF THAT KEYBOARD FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, GEEZ.

Christmas Party and Nerd-nitiation

Last night was our company Christmas party... it was a lot of fun. I love the crew I work with.

The point is our "IT" team (pseudo) is now outfitted with the finest in Nerf defensive gear. Lazer sights and everything. For secret santa I got an autographed Joe Smith as #35 baseball! How awesome is that? Will post more over the weekend. For now I'm in recovery. Pictures are below. Apparently no one on the corner got swagga like us.

I've Concluded That You Guys Don't Think I'm an Idiot - A Reflection on the Sexes and the Field

My biggest fear used to be asking questions at user groups. I would get all shaky and nervous, I would have a question and go over it in my mind 20 times. "Is this a dumb question? Will people start throwing batteries at me chanting 'stupid girl?"'" I would go home and ask someone if it was a dumb question, or figure out myself that it was a decent question (there were some dumb ones, I'm not going to lie), and be mad at myself for not asking it. When I finally got the guts to ask a question it was easier then I ever could have imagined, and no one yelled! No one looked at me in disgust, and people were super friendly. I was shocked when guys started writing ME with questions about issues they have run into, or questions about development. 

I've actually really enjoyed being a part of this community. I mean, it stinks that there are so few women in it. There have been times that I have been going through something I felt like only a woman could understand, and have wanted a buddy to talk to. However, everyone has been really warm and friendly. I might even say that being female might be an advantage (sorry guys) because it's so different. 

I feel like the men I have met are really kindred spirits. Why? Because we share common interests, mainly, a love of Software Development and the improvement of our craft. We enjoy debating frameworks, and methodologies, and the advantages of different programming languages.  One thing I have maintained through all of this is my femininity. I, in fact, have unapologetically embraced it. Many would consider this unwise, the male : female ratio in Computer Sciences is about 8:1, even less women persue a career in software development.  Only 10% of this year's Com Sci grads in the US were female. I will admit that while sometimes it is easier being female hardly anyone looks at me with my fake blond hair and shiny lip gloss for the first time and says "wow, that girl looks like she's an amazing developer." A girl does have to work hard to garner respect from her peers in this situation, yes. However, don't think that being a woman who is outstanding in this field and being feminine is mutually exclusive. I believe that many women in the sciences believe that the need to “tone it down” a little in order for men to consider them an equal. I think that kind of thinking is the highest form of sexism, and we're doing it to ourselves.

 

When we turn our backs on traditionally female behavior we tell, not only men but younger women that being a woman does not equal intelligent. We tell them if you love fashion, or homemaking, or sewing, or spending time with girlfriends you can't be respected as someone with a valuable opinion. That you must turn your back on those things you enjoy, don your Birkenstocks and throw your hair up and get in there and show them who's boss. This does nothing but diminish the awesomeness of being a woman and being good at what you do. This sends a clear message "In order to be as respected as a man, you must be androgenous, or look like a man. Otherwise when they see you they wont respect you."

 

Of course, the young ladies in Hollywood who accomplish nothing with their lives but be skinny and try not to pass out in a public place do nothing to help us kill this stereotype. Giving pause and press to people like this hurts all women, because it says if you are someone that makes feminine appeal a priority you automatically give up your self-respect. You will never catch me reading celebrity magazines, or giving a crap about who is dating who. I think the women who capitalize on "I'm a pretty girl, so you should like me" are a shame to the gender. They are holding all of us back. Why can't we idolize women that have attained both ideals of being intelligent and appealing like Marissa Meyer of Google, or Amy Brinkly of Bank of America.

 

We need to teach this younger generation that the marriage of being a woman and being smart is a beautiful thing. We need to encourage them in all their persuits, whether traditionally “male” or “female.” We need to make sure they know that even if all the other people that do what they enjoy don't look like them, that's ok. That it's up to them to change the industry, and instead of conforming in order to “fit in.” They need to try that much harder to be the best they can, so that they can be an example and shining star to the women out there who are afraid to make that step. Because, possibly, if we start doing that this “glass wall” we've created for ourselves by turning our backs on our gender can finally be broken. I'd love to see more women in Software, I think we should start by first telling them "Hey, if you like computers, or math, or science it only adds to your beauty as a woman." Because everyone likes a pretty girl when she's silent, but pretty and smart? That's just beautiful. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy always told me I was witty

Actually, she never told me that, I just figured it would be better than "I'm witty."

New Arti-shizzle

Feel free to comment here.

I am Feature Complete

And 90% code complete. **dance dance dance***

I will be sending out links for testing soon, we are getting our flash nav done.

I have taken this week off for two reasons:

1. My generous boss gave it to me

2. To do a hard reset (of me)

I never travel and I need to. I kind of hibernated, I do that sometimes. We all deal with stress differently I suppose. I even slept through the Central PA code camp today which was a real bummer because a good friend was speaking and I missed it. Sometimes you just need that refresh? It will feel good to get back to work.

There is an NYC code camp in Jan! One of the Scotts is talking too. I'm sure it will be fun. If anyone is going it would be cool to get a group together.

Don't Be Afraid of People Better Than You

 

 

 

At a previous job I had been placed in charge of finding some new engineers for our development team. When asked for his advice on how to filter candidates my boss's boss said “Try to find people that are better than you guys.” My initial reaction was “Wow, forget you, because that would be impossible because those people don't freakin exist, thank you very much.” However, after giving it some thought, and knowing his confidence in the team it was the best suggestion I could have gotten.

 

It takes some real guts to hire someone you would consider a superior. The natural place you go in your mind is “I've worked hard to get where I am, I'm not going to have some wunderkind come in here and take all the glory.” However, once you get over that initial apprehension there are many reasons it would behoove you to go against that instinct and humble yourself for a hot second.

 

When you end up working with this person (because you've set your pride aside and hired them) you have the opportunity to become more valuable than you ever could on your own .I mean, first of all, not only will your team start producing a better product, but this will reflect on you in a positive way as a good decision maker and manager. I mean, you know you're awesome, but putting together a team of amazing individuals like yourself makes you a rockstar.

 

Secondly, there is no bigger motivator than being afraid the new kid's star will shine brighter than yours. Who can't use a good kick-in-the-pants? We all get in ruts, or stop being at our best because we take things for granted.

 

Also, explore WHY they are better than you. What about them strikes you as a talent you haven't YET attained? How did they get there? What are their habits? You're not trying to BE them you are trying to assimilate their ability to your own. Maybe it's a lack of self confidence that makes you THINK they are better than you. You will learn this as you work with them.

 

Lastly, it never sucks to learn new things. Things about yourself especially. We, as software developers, can have egos as big as all out of doors. A little humbling ever so often can't hurt. Just keep that in mind when hiring and don't hire someone who THINKS they are better than you. Because in this industry that's much easier than finding someone that actually is.