When you know what might go wrong, you can prepare for it — “To understand how something works, figure out how to break it.” Nassim Nicholas Taleb When you understand how software can break from a technical perspective or a business process perspective, you understand how it works. There are key parts software that have to work, or it’s broken. When you know…

Asking why stops stupidity — First, solve the problem. Then, write the code. — John Johnson We ask other people why, but few people ask themselves why. Asking why helps you question assumptions and forces you to think. An insight why can wake you up from a career slumber and it can help you see…

Your actions, ideas and experience make you the developer you are — No one is born a developer, they have to be made into a developer You think that’s a stupid, obvious statement barely worth typing out? If developers know they have to be made, why do so few developers spend improving and making themselves better? Developers know they aren’t born, but…

What doesn’t help software development, hurts it — “The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that creating software was easy” Enemies provide inspiration and focus, they give a target to aim to at and motivation to achieve it. When there is someone to beat, we work harder to do it. …

Always Keep Moving Forwards — Keep making progress on a software project and the problems slowly fade away There is a panic when creating software to go as fast as you can because creating software is expensive, plans have set and expectations are sky high. The faster you try to create software, the more mistakes…

Experience enables you to make fewer mistakes — “I like people admitting they were complete stupid horses’ asses. I know I’ll perform better if I rub my nose in my mistakes. This is a wonderful trick to learn.” Charlie Munger You Cannot Create Software Without Bugs, Problems and Mistakes. …

Developers are made, not born. How will you make yourself better — “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” — Sheryl Sandberg If you don’t take control of your career, you leave other people to run it for you. …

Work with the developers you want to be, not those you want to avoid — “Good developers make you better, bad developers make you mad” The developers you work influence the developer you become. The developers you work closely with will be the biggest influence on your attitude, approach, standards, design. You are the average of the five developers you spend you the most time…

Words count for little if they are not backed up with action — “Software projects fail for one of two general reasons: the project team lacks the knowledge to conduct a software project successfully, or the project team lacks the resolve to conduct a project effectively.” Steve McConnell What does a Theranos a technology company who tried (and failed) to change the world…