In this third article of our series about starting a career in IT, I’ll tell you why you should read lots of code from open-source projects, and how it will improve your sex life programming skills. We’ll also talk about why you should work at least as hard on open-source projects than on writing your CV.
Open Source software is like a dojo for programmers.
Learning how to type fast and without looking at the screen (touch typing) is really not that hard, and it will make a massive difference in your productivity as a developer. Plus, it will impress the ladies (maybe). It’s a useful skill in so many professional fields, and it’s baffling that they don’t teach that in school yet (do you know of many people that don’t use a keyboard at work at least some of the time? Exactly). Ah well, another thing we shall have to learn on our own…
With enough practice, it will allow you to write almost faster than you can talk. Imagine how much easier it’ll be to write those emails (not to mention that novel you’ve been itching to publish).
If you want to become a good programmer, touch typing is an essential skill that you need to master. It will make you faster, and free you from the mechanics of typing so you can focus on producing well-designed code. Your project of awesomeness will be finished in no time, thanks to your new-found keyboard mastery.
Thankfully, you can become proficient at touch typing within a few weeks. You just need to practice for about 10 minutes every day. To get started, just download TypeFaster (for PC users) or Typist (if you’re on a Mac), and just follow the instructions. You can also practice online using services like TypingClub. All these software packages work in a similar way: they show you a series of letters and words to type, and at the same type they display where the next key you need can be found on your keyboard (and which finger you should use for that key). It starts with j and f (see picture), then expands outwards to d and k, s and l, etc.
Do that every day for a few weeks, and you’ll be well on your way to impressing your friends (and future employers !) with your computers skills.
In the next item of this series, we’ll talk about the software you’ll use to show off your typing skills and, more importantly, create your awesome programming project.
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A Beginner’s Guide to Wireframing
Wireframes and grids are designers best friends. This long article details how to create and use wireframes in your web design process. If you’re looking to become a designer, this is a must read.
Wireframe are the foundation of web design
When I started out my career as a programmer, I had no idea what to do first. There’s so many things to learn, so many questions: how to make a web page, how to design a form and make it work, what’s a database, how do you make a link work in HTML, etc.
It’s exhilarating, but at the same time quite overwhelming and somewhat disheartening: how do you where to start ?
If you want to become a developer and you struggle with the same problems, this series of posts will put you on the right track. From the choice of programming language and software to the best attitude to have on the job, we’ll have deeper look at what it takes to kick-start a great career in IT.
So, first things first…
Confused? We’re here to help …
Antwort – Responsive Layouts for Email (Github)
Designing graphic emails in HTML is tough, to say the least. Email clients handle CSS badly (understatement of the century). If you want to create good-looking emails, you’ll be pulling your hair out or revert to 1990′s table-based design techniques. This HTML and CSS framework can help you solve the problems of email design, by providing markups and styles especially for emails. Antwort could be a God-sent for many designers. It supports many clients, including Outlook (version 2000 to 2013+), Hotmail, Yahoo! and more.
Ever had problems with email design? Let us know you misfortunes in the comments.
Antwort Responsive Layouts for Email
Building Deep Relationships on Facebook Multiplies Your Chances of Getting a Job (VentureBeat)
Facebook data scientist Moira Burke found that the strength of the relationships you form on Facebook helps you find a job faster. A strong argument for the formation of meaningful connection with people in business.
[..] Do yourself a favor and move to Github! Your open-source contributions will play in your favor
