Keep Meetings on Track with a Time Timer
Are your meetings constantly running long? Do you feel like your team is getting off in the weeds and not focusing on the important points? I’ve felt these concerns.
The Software Life
How I’m Getting a Business Education Without Going to B-School
For several years now, I have wanted to further my professional development in business administration and management. I researched MBA programs and other related certificate programs, but the timing never felt right for me in terms of the time and financial commitments that business school would require, and the other life goals and activities I […]
Getting into Open-Source Projects: Three Ways to Contribute
If you’re a developer, you’re probably aware of the benefits of open-source technology (software that’s licensed, publicly posted, and free for developers to use and contribute to). One of the big ideas in the open-source community is that it’s good for all developers to give back. In return for using software that others spent time […]
Considering a Non-Technical Role? Think about these 6 Things
Almost three years ago, after spending 13 years as a software developer, I took on the role of Delivery Lead here at Atomic. It was a step away from code and toward all things related to project delivery: project management, backlog management, reviewing completed work, managing the team’s Scrum process, etc. It was a move I […]
The Two Most Important Software Development Skills Aren’t Technical
Software development is a profession that requires a unique skill set. However, over the course of my career, I’ve come to appreciate two important characteristics of good developers that aren’t unique to software at all. I’ve found these traits extremely helpful in my work, and both of them involve habits that I’ve had to make […]
Your Smartphone Is Stealing Your Brain. Here’s How to Take It Back.
Living in the 21st Century is amazing, and one of the most incredible developments of the past couple decades is the smartphone. I remember watching Steve Jobs introduce the iPhone in 2007. I understood how useful it would be. What I didn’t understand was how that device would change everything for everyone.
How I Got Involved with Volunteering to Help Kids Learn to Code
Recently at work, I’ve been reminded how lucky I was to get interested in computer science while I was in high school. My school offered both regular and AP computer science, and I was allowed to do an independent study one semester. These were pretty great opportunities that allowed me to foster and then pursue […]
Want to be a Better Consultant? Learn to Work Strategically
Looking to level up your consulting skills? One thing I’ve observed among our more senior Atoms is a mastery of approaching work strategically.
Computer Science for Middle Schoolers – BOGO Sort, Insertion Sort, and Bubble Sort
Once every couple of months, I get an opportunity to teach middle schoolers/high schoolers about computer science. Computer science and software development are very broad disciplines, so I could cover anything from web styling to computer networks. Among all of those possible topics, I find that I like to work on sorting algorithms.
Three Ways that Blogging Helps Me Reflect & Learn
At Atomic, we all share the pain of writing blog posts to help with our marketing efforts. As well as helping the company, I’ve found that writing a regular blog post also helps me. The obvious benefit is that it improves my writing skills, encouraging me to share my ideas and thoughts in a succinct […]