Modern Developer Tools
Going through the programming learning process can be really difficult and results in depression. Especially for self-taught developers, it can end in the middle of the coding journey, and then never come back.
Personally, I have learned 99% of my coding skills alone, from YouTube. Universities more or less are created to make you hate the material you learn or have the feeling that you practically know nothing. It is of course referring to most cases.
This year I have found an awesome trick to boost programming skills quicker and with more fun:
use automation and track your progress.
Track your progress
Tracking can be performed on a sheet of paper, in simple notes, or in more complex, but not difficult-to-use noting apps.
I have fallen in love with the notion because it gives the possibility to create notes and connect them with databases, make relations, and manage them with a simple user interface.
A hidden advantage of storing notes in databases is making them accessible for AI assistants (next chapters 👇)
Below you can see an example of a DEV DASHBOARD which will be released soon:
Such a dashboard should be able to:
- Track all of your work related to coding,
- Track the progress of learning tech,
- Store skills and developed features for CV updates,
- Store useful links,
- Store common bug cases,
- update coding goals,
- and many more...
Besides the previously mentioned dashboard, more templates will be developed to combine it into the MODERN DEVELOPER SECOND BRAIN.
Schedule work in time blocks
Todo lists often lead to multiple not-done tasks. Practically everyone, after some time, has met the bunch of unfinished tasks from previous days, weeks, or even months.
A better way is to plan work to do in time blocks. Below is an example from my account in the cron app (synchronized with Google Calendar).
Such planning increased my work done by nearly 50%, in the last weeks. I recommend trying it, but...
I still use todoist for the overall look of tasks to do. One method does not exclude another.
The current flow looks like this:
- adding tasks to todoist app,
- a preview of tasks to do,
- adding them to the cron app and assigning time blocks.
AI assistant update
This year was revolutionalized by AI, according to the concept:
"Learn how to use it, or you will be useless", I have started embracing features that give openAI.
After completing the AI devs course, every participant of the lessons had access to the core of an AI assistant made in the tech stack:
- portable (short-term memory),
- pinecone (long-term memory),
- make.com (mind),
- Tauri desktop app (interface for talking with an assistant),
- Shortcuts (quick actions from mobile, Apple watch, etc.)
Results are incredible, but possibilities are poorly limited. Using AI assistant for task management, giving access to the Google calendar, notion Second Brain, etc. can benefit in extremely boost efficiency and place a developer in the top skilled percentage of all programmers.
I am in the flow of customization to my own needs. More updates in the next newsletters.
Last Video
This week, a new form of YouTube video was released. This time I have explained how to build a custom react hook in 2 minutes. Let's drop a comment if you like it.
Minimal dopamine reset
This week I have not listened to any podcast, cause of the minimal dopamine reset. It means that all of the workouts I have performed, car driving or even work were in total silence. No distractions, only one activity at a time.
What does it give?
I have spotted the increased efficiency at work, better results in workouts, and overall, the state of happiness that was not observable before.
Thank you for reading and till the next time 👋
