Weekend Developer

Weekend Developer is a Substack focused on guiding aspiring and current software developers towards professional growth through coding best practices, career advice, and productivity strategies. It emphasizes mastering programming languages, understanding software development principles, and addressing common challenges like imposter syndrome, motivation, and technical debt.

Software Development Best Practices Career Development and Switching Productivity and Organization Techniques Coding and Debugging Techniques Understanding and Applying Programming Concepts Professional Growth and Mindset Technical Challenges and Solutions in Development Learning and Mastering Programming Languages

The hottest Substack posts of Weekend Developer

And their main takeaways

Technical Debt 101: A Short Quick Guide

19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Code Quality Project management Testing
  1. Technical debt is like borrowing time when you write code shortcuts that need to be revised later, similar to financial debt repayment with interest.
  2. Ways technical debt can occur: rushed development, lack of documentation, poor testing, ignoring refactoring, avoiding version upgrades, and lacking developer tools.
  3. Consequences of excessive technical debt include decreased productivity, increased bugs, higher costs, team morale issues, and security risks; managing it involves prioritizing refactoring, writing tests, documenting, reviewing code, and communicating with stakeholders.

Do You Want to Remove "If" Statements From Your Java Code?

19 implied HN points • 11 May 24
🕹 Technology Programming Refactoring Software Engineering Error Handling Testing
  1. To reduce reliance on 'if' statements in Java code, use guard statements at the beginning of methods or blocks to quickly exit when conditions aren't met.
  2. Consider using ternary operators as a concise way to replace 'if-else' statements within methods, but be cautious of overusing them for readability.
  3. Separate logic into reusable policy rules, encapsulating business rules into classes or methods, to promote code organization and maintainability.

Discover What Is Code Smell and How to Overcome It?

19 implied HN points • 04 May 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Design Code Refactoring Code Reviews
  1. Code smells indicate potential problems with code design, readability, and bugs. They serve as warning signs to refactor before issues compound.
  2. Common signs of code smells include excessive code comments, frequent bugs in certain areas, code duplication, divergent changes, and shotgun surgery.
  3. Tools like static code analysis, IDE plugins, code visualization tools, code review tools, and code metrics tracking help in identifying and addressing code smells in a codebase.

5 Myths About Growth Mindset That Are Sabotaging Your Goals

19 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
🚌 Education Mindset Learning Development Challenges Feedback
  1. Having a growth mindset involves more than just positive thinking; it's about accepting failures, learning from mistakes, and putting in consistent effort.
  2. You can't have a growth mindset in all areas of life at once; prioritize where you want to grow and focus your efforts there.
  3. Effort alone is not enough for growth; it must be combined with good strategies, feedback, and continuous commitment.
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5 Tips to Write Effective Code in Enterprise Organizations

39 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Coding Testing Collaboration Troubleshooting
  1. Writing code in enterprise organizations is different from startups due to legacy code, lack of tests, and constant changes.
  2. To write effective code in enterprise organizations, understand the system, write more tests, and collaborate with testers.
  3. Refactoring code, troubleshooting issues, and getting a birds-eye view are key to improving code quality and system understanding.

How you can quickly retrieve solution so you can improve productivity

39 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Organization Information Management Productivity Tools Knowledge
  1. The PARA framework can help organize digital information into Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives to improve productivity.
  2. With the PARA framework, information is stored based on when you plan to act on it, making it easier to access and utilize.
  3. Tools like Evernote, Notion, and Roam Research can be used to implement the dynamic PARA system and have information accessible across devices.

Mastering the Craft: Why Reading Other People's Code Makes You Code Like A Pro

39 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Coding Software Development Collaboration Learning
  1. Reading code written by experienced programmers exposes you to different techniques and approaches, enhancing your problem-solving capabilities.
  2. By studying established best practices in code, like proper organization and naming conventions, you develop good coding habits from the start, resulting in more maintainable and readable code.
  3. Understanding complex systems through reading code helps you build crucial skills for professional software development, such as the ability to work with large codebases and collaborate effectively with other developers.

Want to be an Expert Programmer? Master One Language First

19 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming
  1. Focus on mastering one programming language before moving on to others to prevent confusion and set yourself up for success.
  2. Learning and applying coding concepts is challenging, so trying to tackle multiple languages at once can be overwhelming and counterproductive.
  3. Businesses generally prefer specialists in one language over individuals with knowledge of multiple languages, which can lead to better job opportunities and higher pay.

How to stay motivated while learning Java?

19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming Learning Motivation Refactoring Testing
  1. When learning Java, start by writing code as if you're in a procedural language to ease the transition
  2. Writing unit test cases is important to become a seasoned Java programmer; it helps validate your code
  3. Refactor your code by breaking logic into simpler methods, identifying and grouping methods/variables into classes, and reviewing your code for improvements

8 Brilliant Debugging Ways to Quickly Identify the Problem

19 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Programming Debugging Coding IDE Documentation
  1. Reproduce the issue: To effectively debug, you must replicate the problem on your own laptop to utilize your IDE for quick debugging.
  2. Isolate the problem: It's crucial to narrow down the issue's location by understanding when the code stops working correctly.
  3. Use breakpoints: Employ breakpoints to stop code execution at specific points, making debugging more efficient.

Building Exceptional Code: 6 Not So Simple Steps To Make Code Simple

19 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Design Patterns Refactoring
  1. Understand the principles like Single Responsibility, Don't Repeat Yourself, Dependency Inversion, and Separation of Concerns to write modular and reusable code.
  2. Modularize your code by breaking it into smaller, focused modules, think of them as Lego blocks. Favor composition over inheritance for flexible and loosely coupled designs.
  3. Write testable code by isolating dependencies, mocking external dependencies, keeping methods small, and following Test-Driven Development. Apply design patterns judiciously and continuously refactor to improve code quality.

Find Your Mentor: The Secret Ingredient to Career Excellence

19 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
💼 Business Career development Networking Professional development Mentorship Software Industry
  1. Defining clear career goals is key to finding a mentor who aligns with your aspirations and needs.
  2. Seek out mentors who have the experience and expertise you admire to gain valuable insights and guidance.
  3. Leverage professional networks, such as industry events and online communities, to connect with potential mentors and build meaningful relationships.

Developers: Why do we need containers?

19 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Containerization DevOps Microservices Cloud Computing
  1. Containers are crucial for modern software development, solving issues with managing environments and configurations manually.
  2. Docker revolutionized development by providing a simple way to package applications with dependencies, ensuring consistency and portability across environments.
  3. Docker and containers have reshaped the software industry, enabling microservices, DevOps, and cloud-native development, but also brought challenges like container management, networking, security, and efficiency.

Debugging to Unplugging: 5 Powerful Ways to Unwind After Hours of Coding

19 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Relaxation Exercise Nature Socialization Reading
  1. It's important to take breaks after long coding sessions to recharge your mind and reduce stress.
  2. Engage in active relaxation activities like playing a sport, enjoying nature, meeting friends, reading fiction, or doing something with your hands.
  3. Unwinding after coding is essential for personal well-being, productivity, and long-term success as a developer. Find what works best for you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Unmasking Imposter Syndrome in Software Developers: Why Do Even the Best Doubt Themselves?

19 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Imposter syndrome Psychology
  1. The tech industry is constantly changing, with new technologies and programming languages being developed regularly, leading to feelings of inadequacy among software developers.
  2. The tech industry is competitive, making it challenging for developers to stand out and potentially creating feelings of insecurity and fear of being replaced.
  3. Setting high expectations and fear of failure can contribute to imposter syndrome in software developers, as well as comparing oneself to others and attributing success to external factors.

From Procrastination to Productivity: The Pre-Coding Checklist

19 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🚌 Education Productivity Routine Preparation Success Habit formation
  1. Having a pre-coding routine can help you focus and get started on your tasks more effectively.
  2. Visualizing and planning your tasks the evening before can help your subconscious start working on solutions.
  3. Creating cues, like setting reminders and writing down intentions, can help you establish productive habits and reduce the need for constant motivation.

[Video] A Brief Introduction to Kafka (with analogy)

1 HN point • 06 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Microservices Fault Tolerance Scalability
  1. Kafka ensures system consistency in the microservices world by allowing events to be recorded and processed consistently even during service downtime.
  2. Kafka enables a decoupled, event-driven approach to microservices communication, providing fault tolerance and scalability as the number of services grows.
  3. The benefits of Kafka in microservices include event-driven architecture, fault tolerance, and scalability, all contributing to a reliable and consistent system.

Stop the Language Wars: The Real Secret to Becoming a Great Developer

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Programming Career development Job Market
  1. Stop focusing on arguing about the 'best' programming language and instead focus on solving business problems effectively.
  2. Success as a developer comes from being comfortable with a language, understanding its constraints, and using it to provide solutions.
  3. Research the local job market to understand the demand for specific programming languages and tools, focusing on skills that will open up job opportunities.

Join me on Notes

0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media
  1. The author has created a new space called 'Notes' on Substack for sharing links, short posts, quotes, and photos that don't fit into the newsletter.
  2. Readers are invited to join the author on 'Notes' to engage with content like work-in-progress updates and quick questions in a different format.
  3. There's a 7-day free trial offer to subscribe to Weekend Developer and access the full post archives.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Newsletter
  1. There is a post coming soon on the website weekendprogrammer.substack.com
  2. The post includes a link to Dishit Devasia's profile on Substack
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to the Weekend Developer newsletter

The Hidden Secrets of Design Patterns: What No One Talks About

0 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Design Patterns Code Review Refactoring Learning
  1. Understanding design patterns helps in building robust and maintainable software by providing standard solutions to common problems.
  2. Challenges of design patterns include a learning curve, potential overuse, and selecting the right pattern for the context.
  3. To effectively use design patterns, invest time in understanding them, assess if they are necessary, regularly review and refactor code, seek feedback from peers, and document pattern choices.

From Messy to Marvelous: Mastering the Craft of Clean Code

0 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Coding Software Development Clean Code Refactoring Best Practices
  1. Clean code is essential for software maintainability, collaboration, debugging, scalability, and reducing technical debt.
  2. Principles of clean code include using meaningful names, avoiding code duplication, ensuring single responsibility, keeping functions small, maintaining consistent coding styles, focusing on testability, and continuous refactoring.
  3. Practical tips for writing clean code involve using descriptive names, breaking long functions into smaller ones, avoiding deep nesting, keeping comments updated, and removing dead code.

Supercharging Software Development with Smart Notes: Unleash Your Creativity and Productivity

0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Note Taking Tools ML models
  1. Smart Notes system helps organize information effectively for software developers, enabling quick access to knowledge and fostering innovation.
  2. The Zettelkasten method, pioneered by Niklas Luhmann, is a powerful system that supports dynamic organization and connection of ideas.
  3. Different types of notes (Reference, Literature, Fleeting, Permanent, Relevant) serve specific purposes in building a comprehensive knowledge repository, aiding in understanding complex concepts and facilitating quick retrieval of information.

Growth Mindset: A Cliché or a Secret Weapon?

0 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Mindset Learning Problem Solving Community
  1. Growth mindset is key for software developers to see challenges as opportunities and actively seek solutions.
  2. Having a growth mindset leads to continuous improvement, humility, and the ability to solve coding problems more effectively.
  3. To develop a growth mindset, change your self-talk, embrace challenges, practice consistently, and be willing to ask for help when needed.

Beginner Beware: The Mistake That Can Derail Your Programming Path

0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Programming Learning Projects Feedback
  1. Passionate programmers often fall into the trap of following others' advice blindly, which can hinder their career prospects and job opportunities.
  2. Building projects too early without a solid understanding of programming fundamentals can lead to challenges like lack of direction, inefficient problem-solving, and suboptimal code quality.
  3. To avoid the downsides of premature project building, focus on mastering programming basics, learn from others' code, start with simple problems before moving to projects, and embrace feedback and incremental learning.

Top 5 Kanban Tools to Streamline Your Workflow

0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Tools Productivity Workflow Software Project management
  1. Using a physical wall with sticky notes can be a simple and effective way to create a Kanban board for task management.
  2. Draw.io is a versatile tool that includes a Kanban template and can help in creating flowcharts and diagrams.
  3. Trello and Jira are among the top Kanban tools, with Trello being simple and suitable for personal projects, while Jira is commonly used in organizations and offers a free version for small teams.

Learning AWS: Why Doing AWS Certification Is a Big Mistake

0 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Certification Cloud Computing Programming Languages
  1. Certification makes you learn many AWS services, but most jobs only require a few. Focus on core services like EC2, Lambda, S3, DynamoDB, IAM for practical job readiness.
  2. Studying for certification often involves practice quizzes, but real-world experience is key. Building projects and solving actual problems is more valuable than just exam prep.
  3. Instead of broad knowledge with certification, aim for deep understanding of select services and hands-on projects. Learn cloud computing concepts, master a few key services, and apply them practically.