18 Jul 2011

The old code is a mess, Please let me rewrite it from scratch!

For a programmer what is the most dreaded thing on earth?

To work on somebody else's code! 

I am sure all programmers would agree with me. It is very hard to work on somebody else's code and you always think you can do a much better job if given a choice to write the code from scratch.

But it seems YOU ARE WRONG! Why? Well to say it in one line...

"It’s harder to read code than to write it."

Read below article from Joel Spolsky to understand what I am talking about

14 Jul 2011

My version of "Getting Your Résumé Read"

I get lot of résumés via email on a daily basis. Mostly they come from our website or people just know my email address from some random database.

I almost immediately hit "Delete" in most cases.

Why? 

Well, here are some of the reasons in that particular order:
  1. It is sent to 100 HR email addresses at once.
  2. It is written using poor English. 
  3. It has spelling mistakes.
  4. It is written in a generic language i.e. it is a spam which is sent to multiple email addresses but one by one this time. It also means candidate has done no research whatsoever before applying to my company. I understand we are not a big or a very popular company and the candidate may have better things to do but in that case, please don't apply.
Now here are some tips on how to apply:
  1. Don't send to all HR email addresses at once. I am human too and I want to feel important when I receive an email which is sent only to me.
  2. Do some research about the company you are applying to. If it looks like just another company looking at the website, it won't take much time also. Mention some of their projects or products in your email and show some desire for working on such projects. I know you would be lying but it will make the receiver feel good.
  3. Mention about your academic projects. Most people won't even download your resume. Write about your work in email body only. Don't print the whole résumé here but write some highlights of your career so far. It shows you have done some real work and you are proud of it.
  4. Proof read your email or get it checked by somebody else with a good command over English.
  5. And last but not least, make sure there are no spelling mistakes. Please! 
I know above steps are time consuming and being a fresh graduate you don't have a lot of time on hands but believe me I am saving your time here.

Instead of 100 companies apply only to 10. Be selective. Look at their websites, do you find them different? You don't want to start your career with just another IT company right?

Follow what I said and it will work out better than spamming. I guarantee it.

Well you can ignore me on this but you simply can't ignore what Joel Spolsky has to say on this topic.

PS: I swear I didn't read above article before writing my own version of it! :)
12 Jul 2011

Make it possible for people to work

Peopleware is the classic and a must read book for anyone who has anything to do with Software Development. Especially for the managers.

I was just going through it and came across following:

In my early years as a developer, I was privileged to work on a project managed by Sharon Weinberg, now president of the Codd and Date Consulting Group.  She was a walking example of much of what I now think of as enlightened management.  One snowy day, I dragged myself out of a sickbed to pull together our shaky system for a user demo.  Sharon came in and found me propped up at the console.  She disappeared and came back a few minutes later with a container of soup.  After she'd poured it into me and buoyed up my spirits, I asked her how she found time for such things with all the management work she had to do.  She gave me her patented grin and said, "Tom, this ismanagement."

Sharon knew what all good instinctive managers know: The manager's function is not to make people work, but to make it possible for people to work.

- Peopleware, pg. 34, This Is Management

7 Jul 2011

College Advices Compilation

Once again I have something to share with you all Computer Science students (CE, IT, MCA, BCA, MSc IT etc).

I recently stumbled up on an old article while reading "Smart and Get Things Done" from Joel Spolsky. 

Joel on Software is one of the best blogs for programmers. His blog and this article is a must read for you. 

And yes if you have an Android phone, you can download the app also for that from Android Market. (Disclosure: The app is developed by my company)

OK enough of shameless promotion, let me come back to the point! 

After reading above article from Joel, I thought let me find out some more articles from the people I know and trust in the programming world for Computer Science students. 

So here is a small compilation for you:

I know it is a lot of reading but I am sure you get a lot of time in college :). 

So take time out and read each of the articles carefully (and also the articles linked from them). They can be the single biggest source of inspiration for you throughout your college life. 

If you really want to be a programmer, read them, they may change your life!

PS: Do you know any other articles which can help Computer Science students? Please share them in comments.
2 Jul 2011

10000 things CE and IT students do before graduating

Computer Engineering or IT students of Indian engineering colleges, this list should help you a lot during your graduation years.

http://tagide.com/blog/2011/06/things-ics-students-should-do-before-graduating/

Make sure you do at least some of it if not all before you come out of college.

All the best.

Abhishek Desai's Space

Co-founder of Digicorp, Sign in Style and Rivals4Ever

Search

Archive

2012 (5)
2011 (49)
2010 (12)
2009 (105)
2008 (70)
Obox Design