I’m afraid so.

The other day I realized just how much I depend on google, and how much I rely on articles and blogs freely posted by kind technologists. As a software developer this information has increased my productivity immeasurably. It’s my hope that I can help someone out with a niche problem or technique, and pass along the favor.

I’ve been a software developer for over twenty years. I stopped counting at twenty, because after twenty years, images of Milton from Office Space spring to mind. You may have encountered such a person in your career, mumbling and stumbling along in a cloud, oblivious to new ideas and technologies.

It’s the new stuff that keeps things interesting. Sometimes we grab an idea and a few lines of code from something we read online, to use as a building block, as part of a greater implementation, without caring much how it works. Other times we pull things apart, because we need to understand how it works, to improve upon it and shape it to our purposes.

Sharing code is the nicest thing you can do. It helps you when you help others, and removes the possibility that you will be banished to the boiler room. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.  If I contribute something to this blog that helps you complete a task, helps you to knock off early and meet your friends at the pub for happy hour, then I will have accomplished my goal. If you take something I contribute and point out some flaws or improvements, you will make my day. If I’m hopping down a bunny trail with an approach to something, and you point that out and suggest an alternative, you’ll be my hero.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find something useful.

-- Michael

Tags: beer, office space, milton, code, sharing, productivity