become a better engineer through writing
TRANSCRIPT
2015
Become a Better Engineer
Through Writing
Kristina Thai
iOS Software Engineer
Intuit
#GHC15
2015
@kristinathai
2015
Engineer Checklist*
Technical skills
Strong coder
Domain expert
Problem solver
“Soft” skills
Communicates well
Passion for learning
Learns from
mistakes
Teacher/mentor
@kristinathai
*Not a comprehensive list
2015
Personal Journal
@kristinathai
📓
What is it?
− Private place to record your technical
challenges
2015
Personal Journal
@kristinathai
📓
Benefits
− Reflection time
− For your eyes only
− Easy to get started
Challenges
− Hard to keep up
− Doesn’t benefit
anyone else
− No one to correct
you if you’re wrong
2015
Developer Q&A Forums
@kristinathai
❓
What is it?
− Places where people go to for help with their
technical problems
− Knowledgeable experts answer questions
2015
Q&A Forums
@kristinathai
❓ Benefits
− Learn what others
are struggling with
− Easy to pick up
whenever you want
− Bite-sized chunks
− Builds reputation
Challenges
− Negative comments
2015
Blogging
What is it?
− Public place to record your technical
challenges
− Your own personal site, or a part of a
blogging community
− Most popular form of technical online writing
@kristinathai
📖
2015
Blogging
Benefits
− Public exposure
− Builds reputation
− Reflection time
Challenges
− Lots of time &
commitment
− Keeping your blog
fresh & unique
@kristinathai
📖
2015
Technical Tutorials
What is it?
− Step-by-step technical walkthroughs that teach
others how to do something
− Usually has a working demo project at the end
− Your own personal site, or a part of a tutorial
community
@kristinathai
📝
2015
Technical Tutorials
Benefits
− By far the absolute
best to build
reputation
− Reinforces learning
− Build full projects
Challenges
− Even MORE time
and commitment
− Find
unique/undiscovered
solutions
@kristinathai
📝
2015
Engineer Checklist
Technical skills
Strong coder
Domain expert
Problem solver
“Soft” skills
Communicates well
Passion for learning
Learns from
mistakes
Teacher/mentor
@kristinathai
2015
Tips for Getting Started
@kristinathai
🎓
👭
💻
Don’t have to be THE expert
Check out your side projects
Find a blogging buddy
2015
More Resources
@kristinathai
Websites & apps for personal journals
Great beginner question and answer sites
Blogging & tutorial writing platforms
Tips on how to keep it up
kristinathai.com/writing
2015
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