401matthall

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Last post: Feb 12, 2024
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Why am I struggling?
Feb 12, 2024 · original
I've been really struggling to get into the right head space to complete a ticket at work. It's not a terribly complicated ask. It's just an export of a flat-file with very clear specs for 5 record types. It'll need to be connected to the front-end GUI so a user can trigger the export and select what records should populate the flat-file. I have been struggling for days to get into some kind of groove with this thing. What is it about starting that is so damn difficult? It finally hit me this evening. Like standing on a dark stage when the single follow light illuminates and it's pointed right at your face. !!ZAP!! Oh... I can't iterate on this. Why can't I iterate on this? I don't have a single meaningful test for this code. I don't even have a completed front-end to back-end loop that I could test manually. If I can't verify my progress how can I move onto the next piece, method, modul
Game Design as it applies to Application Design
Feb 11, 2024 · original
I play a lot of computer games. I'm not a 'mainstream' gamer but I play a lot of computer games. I have literally spent thousands of hours playing games. Particularly the ones that are made up of simple, clear systems that allow for emergent gameplay . I love the systems in simulations. I love tinkering and modding those games to push the systems to their limits. I love watching systems interact with each other. Sometimes I think of it as a digital ant farm. At some point the, obvious-in-hindsight, idea occurs to me that game design and application design borrow from each other heavily. There's probably a heap of value to be gained by understanding game design. Like many software developers and engineers I know, I got into software to create things. Simulated systems and games were definitely on that list. I simply never studied game design before. To that point, I've barely scratched th
I don't like writing code...
Feb 10, 2024 · original
I've been struggling with this thought for a long time. I've been convinced that I don't like writing code. Perhaps, I'm not meant to write code. Other people seem to be so much more prolific at it. They generate reams of code and move through their work at a good clip. Observationally, I'm the 'problem', right? Maybe. Maybe. However, upon some recent reflection I don't think I am. I'm not sure there is a problem. I finally decided I don't like writing code like other people I know. In my previous post I noted that I find I often think obliquely compared to my coworkers. This has a direct impact on how I think about my code. I wrestle with my code, I struggle to surface clarity as much as possible in my code. If this sounds like an attempt at a brag it's not even remotely that. It's my thought process while I'm working. When I write code I try to do a number of things: solve the stated p
It's the cognition, stupid.
Jan 30, 2023 · original
I encounter many wonderful, helpful people in my day-to-day. They love to share productivity tips and I'm always happy to hear them. I think on occasion people are offended to find out I haven't implemented any of their ideas or suggestions. My peers seem to be confused when I haven't adopted the latest shortcut, key-combo heavy IDE or Vim or Emacs (I'm absolutely not having an Emacs v Vim conversation). I'm always fascinated by how much focus is placed on physical action . So many people try to help under the impression that my primary struggle is the speed at which I can get information from my brain to my finger tips/code editor. In my case, the limitation isn't the speed at which I can type syntax. In fact, often times taking the time to type all of the syntax including the boilerplate helps me to focus my thoughts. It's taken me a long time to start to understand how differently I t
First!
Jan 28, 2023 · original
First posts are the worst. They're the worst to write. They're the worst to read. They're usually brimming with enthusiasm for the New Year because when else does someone start a blog or write a second First Post. Ugh. I'm not going to do that to you. I'm not going to do that to me. I want to give informal writing, with an attempt at doing so regularly, a try. I want somewhere to put my thoughts and opinions on things. I want somewhere to exercise my thoughts. That's really what I find writing useful for. Testing, challenging, clarifying my thoughts. Annnndd we nearly wandered back into the pretentious part of First Posts. That was close. When did we stop adding two spaces after closing punctuation in a sentence? I miss that other space.

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