What I Learned Running a Remote Programming Competition in 2020

Our recruiting efforts for the Atomic Accelerator include hosting a programming competition we call the Atomic Games. Students team up to write AI, then compete against one another to win a game we designed. It’s usually an in-person event we run in both our Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor offices. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 […]

Reading Making Work Visible with the Atomic Accelerator

Published in 2017, Making Work Visible by Dominica DeGrandis is an introduction to what she terms the “five thieves of time,” how they impact our ability to get work done, and how to expose them to be more productive. While the book is geared toward software development and IT-related work, I think the content is […]

Finding Remote Work Inspiration from Sudoku

I recently came across this excellent video about solving a very unique Sudoku puzzle. On top of the normal Sudoku rules, there were some additional restrictions on how the digits could be placed within the grid. The puzzle solver, Simon Anthony, was initially convinced that he was being pranked and that the puzzle wasn’t actually […]

Welcome New Remote Employees with a Personalized Video

Successfully onboarding and welcoming your new employees is an important challenge. And when you’re hiring remotely — as we are, temporarily, during the COVID-19 crisis — that challenge is heightened. This month, two new employees joined Atomic Object’s Ann Arbor office as part of our Accelerator program. I wanted to find a way to replicate […]

Creating an Equitable, Respectful, Values-Based Hiring Process

I’ve spent some time recently restructuring our hiring process for software developers. The goal of this project could probably be copy+pasted by any tech company actively hiring developers these days: We want to hire competent, talented, and diverse software developers to be great Makers at Atomic Object. To accomplish this, we need to ensure that […]

Kick out the JAMstack: A Reading List for Beginners

After my Ok Boomer post, I wanted to dig into “JAMstack” technologies and try to challenge my assumptions about modern web development. As it turns out, while this is a term I’m only recently familiar with, the JAMstack concept is actually about four years old (at the time of this writing), which feels like forever in […]

OK, Boomer – Musings From a Software Developer

I was struck by something I read on a social media platform about the “OK, Boomer” meme. What am I, as a member of a younger generation, doing to assure that at some point down the road, I don’t have “OK, Millennial” thrown back in my face?

Now Hiring: 2020 Developer Grads for the Atomic Accelerator in Ann Arbor

I’m very excited to announce that recruiting is in full swing for our third Accelerator cohort in Ann Arbor (Cell Gamma). What’s the Accelerator? A truly bespoke mentorship program designed to shepherd new developers through the first couple of years of their career. We’re aiming to provide a professional development experience that our new hires […]

Creating a Developer Escape Room, Part 2 – Puzzles & Setup

Yesterday, I outlined some concepts and criteria for the creation of a successful escape room. I also illustrated parallels between escape rooms (as a fun pastime activity) and creating custom software. Hopefully, you’re now ready to consider running your own escape room, and I’m back to provide a clear template for doing just that.

Creating a Developer Escape Room, Part 1 – Why & How

Creative problem solving. Collaboration and communication. Working calmly under pressure. These are traits that can make for a good developer or just a good coworker in general. They also happen to be excellent qualities for breaking out of an escape room!

Atomic Spin

Atomic Object’s blog on everything we find fascinating.

By: Dylan Goings

Author: Dylan Goings