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RailsConf 2017: Rough to Fine: Programming Lessons from Woodworking by Mark Simoneau Woodworking has experienced quite a renaissance as of late, and a very popular style involves using power tools for rough work and hand tools for detail and precision work. Using both defines each woodworker's speed and ability to produce beautiful/functional pieces. The same can be true of developers. Automation, convention, powerful IDEs, generators and libraries can make each developer go from nothing to something very quickly, but what about diving deeper to get the precision, performance and beauty you need out of your applications? Come find out.
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Rough to Fine: Programming Lessons from Woodworking, presented by Mark Simoneau at RailsConf 2017, draws parallels between woodworking and software development, emphasizing the craftsmanship inherent in both fields. The talk begins with Simoneau sharing his background as a remote developer and his burgeoning interest in woodworking, framing the craft as a valuable metaphor for development practices. Key points discussed include: - **Safety in Craftsmanship**: Emphasizing the importance of safety, both immediate and long-term, in woodworking. Simoneau relates this to developer health, urging investment in ergonomic tools and fostering good habits to mitigate risks such as RSI and vision problems. - **Repeatability in Processes**: The use of repeatability to enhance speed and consistency is highlighted through the use of jigs and measurement strategies in woodworking. The analogy connects to software development practices like using generators in Rails to streamline project setups. - **Understanding and Improving Tools**: Simoneau discusses the significance of knowing one’s tools and maintaining them, illustrating this with experiences from woodworking where fighting faulty equipment hindered progress. He encourages developers to regularly refine their development environments. - **Tackling Known Problems**: The speaker stresses that addressing known issues is more productive than fearfully contemplating all potential problems. He shares a personal anecdote about facing fears of making mistakes while building a table, concluding that a known flaw is manageable, while uncertainties can paralyze progress. - **Project-Driven Learning**: The necessity of having a specific project to encourage learning and expertise development is asserted. Simoneau illustrates this point by sharing his journey of building a table, which grounded his woodworking skills. In conclusion, the presentation outlines several key takeaways for developers: - Invest in safety tools and cultivate good habits to ensure long-term health. - Search for ways to achieve repeatability in processes for greater efficiency. - Focus on resolving known problems rather than worrying about potential issues. - Maintain tools and systems to enhance work effectiveness. - Finally, consider a project-based approach to learning new skills or technologies. Simoneau's insights encourage a mindset that appreciates craftsmanship, whether in woodworking or software development, urging the audience to observe or participate in crafts that foster continuous improvement.
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