Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur Rob Broadhead

Welcome back! In our ongoing discussion on improving life and technology, today's focus is on a more dramatic scenario: saving customers from potential disaster due to legacy code. When does legacy code need to be retired, and what signs indicate it's time for a major overhaul? We'll dive into these questions through real-world examples and expert insights.


Listen to Rob and Michael Discuss ways to Deal with Legacy Code





The Legacy Code Conundrum

Legacy code refers to outdated software that still performs necessary functions but is based on old technology. The core question is: when does maintaining legacy code become impractical or even risky?


Our host recounted an experience with a client who had a custom application built on the Eclipse foundation RCP with additional dependencies like Adobe Flash. When the host encountered this system in 2021-22, the last update to the code had been in 2014. The application's underlying technology was so outdated that it was incompatible with modern systems. This scenario is not unique; many organizations rely on aging software that becomes increasingly difficult to maintain as technology evolves.


The Case Study: A Ten-Year-Old Application

In the host's case study, the client's custom application was built on an old version of Java and Eclipse, using technologies like Flash that are no longer supported. The application worked fine until system upgrades rendered it inoperable. Initially running on multiple machines, the application was eventually down to a single operational machine. This machine was critical: if it failed, the entire application would be lost.


Despite having the source code, the modernization process was fraught with challenges. The task involved updating libraries, replacing deprecated technologies, and rewriting significant portions of the code. After six months of effort, it became clear that a complete rewrite was necessary. The core JDBC connections were outdated and incompatible with modern systems, necessitating a significant redevelopment effort.


When to Rewrite: Key Considerations

Technology Obsolescence: If the technology stack is no longer supported, it's a red flag. Modernizing might involve not just updates but a full-scale rewrite.

Compatibility Issues: New system upgrades may not support old applications. As seen in the host's example, upgrading to a newer operating system rendered the application unusable.

Developer Expertise: Often, the original developers are no longer available, and current teams may lack the knowledge to maintain or update the legacy code effectively.

Cost and Risk: Maintaining old code can be costlier and riskier than starting anew. Constant patching can introduce new bugs, and outdated software may pose security risks.


The Modernization Approach

The podcast highlighted the importance of understanding the existing system and planning a phased approach to modernization:


Assessment: Conduct a thorough assessment of the current system, identifying critical components and dependencies. Determine what can be salvaged and what needs replacement.

Data Migration: Plan for data migration from the old system to the new. This may involve extracting data manually or through automated scripts.

Incremental Development: Instead of a big-bang approach, develop the new system in phases. This allows for continuous integration and testing, reducing the risk of total failure.

User Experience: Consider whether the new system needs to replicate the old user experience or if a new, modern interface would be more beneficial.


Real-World Challenges

Michael, the co-host, shared his current project in the healthcare sector involving an old IBM AS/400 system. This green-screen, keyboard-driven application was solid but outdated. Key challenges included integration with unsupported systems and the need for continuous deployment and integration.


Leg

Welcome back to another insightful Develpreneur conversation with Rob and Michael on communication. In this episode, they focus on tools and expectations. Over the years, communication methods have evolved significantly, and with them, the expectations surrounding their use have also changed. Today, we'll explore different types of communication tools, the appropriate contexts for each, and how to manage expectations around them.


Let's listen to what Rob and Michael say about Navigating Communication Tools in Modern Workplaces.





The Evolution of Communication Tools

When many of us started our careers, options were limited to email and newsgroups. Text messaging was unheard of, and instant messaging platforms were still in their infancy. Today, we have many communication tools, each serving different purposes and contexts, both personal and professional.


Instant Personal Communication

Text messaging on personal phones represents the most immediate form of communication. This is akin to someone tapping you on the shoulder, expecting a quick response. In a professional setting, tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams serve a similar purpose. These platforms are more passive compared to text messages but still imply a need for timely responses during work hours.


Dialog-Based Communication

Moving beyond instant communication, we enter the realm of dialog-based tools, such as email. Unlike instant messaging, emails allow for more thought-out responses and generally have a lower expectation for immediate replies. Social media messages, like those on LinkedIn or Facebook, also fall into this category but often carry even less urgency.


Setting Communication Standards

With the variety of tools available, setting clear standards within your organization or personal workflow is crucial. Understanding the urgency and expected response times for different communication methods helps manage both sender and receiver expectations.


Personal and Professional Boundaries

A key point raised was the importance of setting boundaries, particularly when juggling personal life, primary job responsibilities, and side hustles. The type of job you have significantly impacts how you manage communications. For instance, those in mission-critical roles, such as healthcare, need to be more responsive to urgent communications, even outside regular working hours.


Prioritizing Communication Channels

To maintain a balance, prioritize communication channels:


Phone Calls: Reserved for urgent or critical issues requiring immediate attention.

Personal Texts: Quick but less urgent than phone calls.

Professional Messaging Tools (Slack/Teams): Used for work-related communications during business hours.

Email: For detailed, non-urgent communications that allow time for a thoughtful response.

Social Media: Generally for personal use, but can also serve professional networking purposes with a lower expectation for immediate response.


Managing Notifications and Availability

Modern tools offer ways to manage availability and notifications effectively:


Do Not Disturb: Most smartphones have features to limit interruptions during non-working hours.

Status Indicators: Use status indicators on platforms like Slack to communicate availability. However, use them judiciously to avoid them being ignored.

Scheduled Quiet Times: Tools like Apple’s Screen Time and similar features on other devices help enforce boundaries by limiting access to apps during designated times.


Effective Use of Calendars

Utilize calendars to block out time for focused work, meetings, and personal breaks. This transparency helps colleagues understand your availability and plan accordingly. Additionally, communicate your working hours clearly to manage expectations around response times.


Avoiding Digital Overload

It’s crucial to take control of digital tools rather than l

In this episode, we delve into the intricate world of brand protection, drawing inspiration from the meticulous strategies employed by industry giants like Disney. From safeguarding your own brand to respecting the intellectual property of others, we explore essential lessons in maintaining a reputable online presence.






Understanding Brand Aggression: Lessons from Disney

We kick off our discussion by examining the legendary brand aggression demonstrated by companies like Disney. With their iconic characters and symbols, Disney has set the gold standard for brand protection. Learn why aggressive brand strategies are not only prudent but essential for companies looking to establish longevity and trust in their markets.


Brand Protection Strategies: Crafting Your Online Persona

Transitioning to personal branding, we emphasize the significance of curating a consistent and authentic online persona. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned developer, projecting a clear and compelling image can significantly impact your professional trajectory. Discover practical tips for aligning your digital footprint with your personal and professional goals.


Navigating Intellectual Property: Safeguarding Your Creative Assets

As we explore the complexities of intellectual property, we shed light on common pitfalls and best practices for safeguarding your creative assets. From trademarks to copyrights, we unravel the legal intricacies surrounding content creation in the digital realm. Gain actionable insights to mitigate risks and uphold the integrity of your original work.


Respecting Others' Rights: Ethical Brand Protection Practices

In our conversation, we underscore the importance of respecting others' intellectual property rights. Whether sourcing images, music, or videos, exercising diligence in content creation is paramount. Learn how to navigate licensing agreements and fair use guidelines to steer clear of copyright infringement and uphold ethical standards in your creative endeavors.


Building Reciprocal Relationships: Collaborative Brand Protection Approaches

Finally, we emphasize the value of fostering reciprocal relationships in the digital ecosystem. Whether collaborating with fellow creators or engaging with brands, transparency and communication are key. Explore strategies for navigating licensing agreements, permissions, and attributions to foster a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.


Empowering Responsible Brand Stewardship

As we conclude our discussion, we reinforce the importance of responsible brand stewardship in today's digital landscape. By embracing proactive brand protection measures and honoring the intellectual property rights of others, individuals and organizations alike can cultivate trust, credibility, and longevity in their respective domains. Remember, in the ever-evolving world of digital branding, integrity is the cornerstone of success.


Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development.


Additional Resources

Copyright And Trademarks – Interview With Richard Gearhart

Cover Your Assets Anti-Pattern : Protection Over Production

When to Give In When To Hold Your Ground

Trust But Verify – Avoid Business Assumptions

Behind the Scenes Podcast Video

This episode covers a key aspect of developer career advancement: short coding videos. Drawing from "Source Code for Happiness," we discuss how skills, projects, and hustles shape careers. We'll be focusing on the mindset behind creating coding video shorts. As well as offering a glimpse into the potential career boost this practice provides.






Getting Started: The Accessibility of Short Coding Videos

With the ubiquity of smartphones and PCs equipped with cameras, creating coding videos has never been more accessible. Whether you're learning Python, SQL, or building apps, the barrier to entry is minimal. You can showcase skills by recording and narrating your coding process. Documenting projects this way enhances coding abilities. Simply hit record to highlight your skills.


Verbalizing Your Thoughts: Why It Matters

Verbalizing thoughts while coding helps with problem-solving and improves the ability to articulate decisions and approaches. This practice prepares you to explain code rationale professionally and fosters crucial communication skills for collaborative work environments.


Building Your Brand: Leveraging Coding Videos for Career Growth

Coding videos are more than instructional content - they build your professional brand. Embedded in blogs, used as lead magnets, or on YouTube - they showcase coding skills. These videos tangibly demonstrate proficiency. They also provide valuable references for future projects and troubleshooting.


The IDE Environment Debate: Finding Your Comfort Zone

While IDE choice varies, using industry-standard options like Visual Studio Code or PyCharm offers familiarity. These align with real-world development practices potential employers recognize. Ultimately, choose an IDE based on personal comfort and efficient workflow. This ensures seamless recording sessions and effective code demonstrations.


Structuring Your Videos: Balancing Preparation and Authenticity

Creating short coding videos requires balancing preparation and spontaneity. Scripting or outlining code segments streamlines recording. However, allowing room for organic exploration and problem-solving adds authenticity. Find a workflow that suits your style while ensuring clarity and coherence for viewers.


GitHub Integration: Sharing and Showcasing Your Work

Integrating GitHub with coding videos adds professionalism and documentation. Sharing code repositories gives viewers access to project evolution, commit history, and supplementary materials. This includes README files and other documentation. The transparent approach enhances credibility and fosters community engagement.


Embracing the Potential of Short Coding Videos

In conclusion, short coding videos are a multifaceted tool for developer career advancement. Benefits include honing coding skills, building a professional brand, and fostering community engagement. Embracing this practice and integrating it into your development journey unlocks opportunities. Growth and recognition await in the ever-evolving tech landscape.


Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development.


Additional Resources

Create a A Better Professional Network Through Planning

Be Intentional In Choosing Tasks For Career Growth

Turning Extra Effort Into A Better Career – Season Review

Behind the Scenes Podcast Video

Welcome back to our podcast series! In this episode, we're delving into the realm of technology certifications, building upon our previous discussion on the deep versus wide skill set dilemma. Certifications have long been a hallmark in the tech industry, offering professionals a tangible validation of their expertise. However, their significance and value have evolved over time, shaping the landscape of technological proficiency.






Understanding the Evolution of Technology Certifications

We start by tracing the trajectory of certifications, from the early days of Novell to the ubiquitous presence of Microsoft and Java certifications. Each era brought forth its own set of coveted certifications, reflecting the dominant technologies of the time. Today, these span many languages and platforms, with some, like those in the security and project management realms, being almost mandatory.


Navigating the Technology Certification Landscape

Our discussion highlights the nuanced role of certifications in different career paths within technology. While some sectors demand specific ones as prerequisites, others offer more flexibility. We emphasize the importance of aligning certification pursuits with individual career goals and interests, cautioning against pursuing them solely for title enhancement.


The Value of Application and Practical Learning

Certifications serve as valuable entry points into new technologies, providing a structured framework for learning. However, we underscore the significance of practical application alongside certification acquisition. Merely obtaining these certs without actively applying the knowledge gained can lead to skill deterioration and render the certificate obsolete.


Strategies for Maximizing the Impact of Your Technology Certificates

We delve into practical strategies for effectively leveraging certifications. Emphasizing the "use it or lose it" principle, we advocate for ongoing application and reinforcement of certified skills. Moreover, we explore the benefits of aligning certification pursuits with job roles and organizational objectives, thereby ensuring relevance and career advancement.


In conclusion, technology certifications are invaluable tools for skill validation and career advancement. However, their true value lies not in the credentials themselves but in the practical application of acquired knowledge. By strategically selecting certifications aligned with career aspirations and actively applying learned skills, professionals can maximize the impact of certifications and chart a path toward sustained growth and success in the dynamic tech industry.


Feedback and questions are welcome at info@develpreneur.com. We invite listeners to connect with Develpreneur on YouTube for more insights and discussions.


Additional Resources

Benefits of Certifications and Training

Expired Certifications And Stale Resume Items

Three Technical Certifications To Advance Your Career

Behind the Scenes Podcast Video

Our latest podcast episode explores a key developer's dilemma: Should they go deep or wide in technical mastery? Hosts Mike and Rob dissect this decision, focusing primarily on platforms and technology.


The Developer's Dilemma: Technical Mastery Unveiled





Embracing Breadth: The Power of Versatility

First, Rob advocates for a broad approach. He emphasizes being well-versed across technologies, languages, and frameworks. Create a technical roadmap and regularly explore new tech. Stay adaptable and informed with wide skills. This enhances career prospects and understanding of tools' strengths/weaknesses.


Going Deep: Delving into Technical Mastery

Alternatively, Mike advocates deep specialization in one area. He promotes technical mastery and specialization in that domain. Broad knowledge has benefits, but going deep excels. However, continued learning and adaptation within specialization avoid stagnation, which remains relevant in rapidly evolving fields.


Practical Application: Building Projects for Technical Mastery

Next, the hosts discuss the importance of using practical applications. They recommend building projects/apps to solidify learning and showcase skills. Repositories like GitHub are valuable for storing and revisiting projects. Utilizing these tools allows developers to learn and grow over time.


Finding Balance: Navigating the Depth vs. Breadth Conundrum

In addition, the hosts emphasize the need for balance. Listeners are encouraged to find their own path and combine depth and breadth in their technical expertise. They suggest investing time and effort into learning and experimentation through side projects or professional development opportunities.


Forge Your Path to Technical Mastery

Finally, the hosts remind listeners that technology is constantly evolving. Therefore, the key to success requires adaptability and continuous learning. Whether specializing or generalizing (deep vs. wide), developers must stay curious and flexible. They must proactively pursue knowledge and technical mastery.


Feedback and questions are welcome at info@develpreneur.com. We invite listeners to connect with Develpreneur on YouTube for more insights and discussions.


Additional Resources

Software Development Challenges and How To Navigate Them

Leverage Your Unique Skills – Interview With Tyler Foley

Run Towards Success Not Away From Challenges

Learning From Challenges – A Season With a Positive Focus

Behind the Scenes Podcast Video