If you ask any software developer, there’s a decent chance that they have tried their hand at game development. It seems like a natural fit since it uses many of the same skills. What’s more, programmers come into it with the knowledge that most aspiring game makers lack: how to write good code and create effective software. Read more on 7 Reasons Game Development Is the Perfect Side Hobby for Software Developers…
Extracurricular Activities
A Docker Pipeline for Mirroring & Archiving a Website
I monitor a handful of websites with some critical information on them. I also have a Synology NAS. Here’s how I created a pipeline for mirroring and archiving these key sites onto my NAS. Read more on A Docker Pipeline for Mirroring & Archiving a Website…
Fixing the External Monitor Color Problem with My 2018 MacBook Pro
I recently upgraded to a 2018 MacBook Pro. I’m enjoying the additional cores and memory (😀) and coming to terms with the touchbar (🤨). A low point of my first week came when I plugged into my external display, and the image looked really bad. In this post, I’ll describe what I learned and how I managed to fix it. Read more on Fixing the External Monitor Color Problem with My 2018 MacBook Pro…
How to Draw the Path of a NavMeshAgent in Unity
One of the most convenient new features added to the Unity game engine is the NavMesh system. These built-in components allow for automatic pathfinding with minimal configuration in a scene. They also offer an impressive amount of customization out-of-the-box, such as dealing with more complex geometries and adding multiple custom agent sizes and step heights. Read more on How to Draw the Path of a NavMeshAgent in Unity…
Solving Bathroom Contention with MQTT: Atomic’s A2 Office Gets a PottyMon
It’s been nearly four years since Scott Vokes made the first version of the “Callaloo” bathroom occupancy monitoring system in our Grand Rapids office. As we grew in size and moved to a brand new building, I revamped and expanded the system to fit our new office. And now with our Ann Arbor office growing in both team and office size, it’s time that they got a Callaloo system of their own! Read more on Solving Bathroom Contention with MQTT: Atomic’s A2 Office Gets a PottyMon…
How Many Sprints Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb?
I haven’t touched a light switch in weeks. Over the past few months, I’ve been rolling out a smart light network throughout my house. To successfully complete the project, I followed a simple Agile process that we use all the time at Atomic to help clients navigate large software projects with lots of stakeholders. If you’re thinking about starting a software project, or you just want to play around with home automation, here’s what you’ll want to do. Read more on How Many Sprints Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb?…
Programming Meets Music with Sonic Pi
At the recent GOTO Chicago conference, Sonic Pi creator Sam Aaron gave a rocking presentation about his code-turned-music program, which is aimed at getting anyone from kids to professional musicians interested in software development. After the keynote, Sam gave a performance for the conference, an entertaining demonstration of the power of code. Read more on Programming Meets Music with Sonic Pi…
“Light Foot” Shoes: How to Make Your Own Light-Up High Heels
Everything is better with LEDs, including shoes! When my friend and co-worker Rachael got married, I wanted to give her something really special as a wedding gift. After seeing some DIY LED shoes online, I decided to create my own. Read more on “Light Foot” Shoes: How to Make Your Own Light-Up High Heels…
Design and Dance, a Graceful Pairing
This past year, I returned to one of my life-long passions: dance. In doing so, I was surprised to find a number of dancers who were also designers and developers. Thinking on this further, I believe there are a few key habits that designers can hone through, or borrow from, dancing.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Side Projects without Going Crazy
Lots of developers have side projects, but if you ask about them, they’ll probably say, “I’ve got a bunch of ideas and a few things in progress, but nothing I’ve finished.”
It seems to be a common theme. Lots of interesting problems and big ideas, but not enough follow-through. A lot has been written about how to break through this barrier—how to manage your time, how to hold yourself accountable, how to maintain motivation and interest… It all starts to sound an awful lot like work. Read more on How to Get the Most Out of Your Side Projects without Going Crazy…