Avdi Grimm

@avdi@avdi.codes
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Head gardener at Graceful.Dev; Author, "Exceptional Ruby" and "Confident Ruby"; coach, consultant, and code cleric.
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Avdi GrimmMay 15

Developer Tooling is a Lousy Business

Back in 2017 Slava Akhmechet wrote a post-mortem on the RethinkDB project: If you do set out to build a developer tools company, tread carefully. The market is filled with good alternatives. User expectations are high and prices are low. Think deeply about the value you’re offering to the customer. Remember – wanting the world to be a certain way doesn’t make it so. As a veteran of a developer tools startup, my view of that market is similarly jaundiced. Every hacker has a great […]

https://avdi.codes/developer-tooling-is-a-lousy-business/

Developer Tooling is a Lousy Business

It's a trap.

Avdi GrimmMay 9

I made a keychain

On ivar and strict_ivars and how I’m not always as clever as I like to think

https://avdi.codes/keychain/

I made a keychain

On ivar and strict_ivars and how I'm not always as clever as I like to think

Avdi GrimmMay 9

Agents Aren’t Juniors, They Are Amnesiac Spies

If this is what you think working with a junior is like, you probably suck at mentoring

https://avdi.codes/agents-arent-juniors-they-are-amnesiac-spies/

Agents Aren't Juniors, They Are Amnesiac Spies

If this is what you think working with a junior is like, you probably suck at mentoring

Avdi GrimmMay 8

Ivar is a Ruby gem that automatically checks for typos in instance variables.

https://avdi.codes/announcing-ivar-rubys-missing-instance-variable-typo-warnings/

#Ruby

Announcing Ivar: Ruby’s Missing Instance Variable Typo Warnings

Ivar is a Ruby gem that automatically checks for typos in instance variables.

Avdi GrimmApr 17

How to Understand a New Codebase Quickly

In the course of my career, I've jumped in headfirst to dozens of projects. There was a period of time when people would hire me for 2 hour slots, and in that time I would have to learn enough about their project and their code to not just understand it, but offer useful insights. And as a consultant, I've often needed to quickly come up to speed and be able to make useful changes to a codebase within days. What not to do Here's what I can tell you about what not to do: Don't start with […]

https://avdi.codes/how-to-understand-a-new-codebase-quickly/

How to Understand a New Codebase Quickly

To quickly get up to speed on an unfamiliar project, try to break it.

Avdi GrimmApr 11

Alternatives to Alexa/Google/Siri?

Are there any viable alternatives to Hey Google / Siri / Alexa for coordinated home voice assistant? Having Google Home devices dotted around the house has been a big help to this solo dad - especially being able to say "Hey Google, set a 10 minute timer" and "Hey Google, add onions to the grocery list" while my hands are full. And "Hey Google, play some music" has been a nontrivial boost to my mental health. But the way things are going I'm getting nervous about having Big Evil around the […]

https://avdi.codes/alternatives-to-alexa-google-siri/

Alternatives to Alexa/Google/Siri?

Are there any viable alternatives to Hey Google / Siri / Alexa for coordinated home voice assistant? Having Google Home devices dotted around the house has been

Avdi GrimmApr 7
Not usually a fad guy but I’m pretty stoked about “vibe coding”.
Avdi GrimmMar 20

The hardest part to teach isn’t the answer, but the path that got us there.

https://avdi.codes/how-did-you-know-to-do-that/

#ExtractedFromSIGAVDI

How did you know to do that?

The hardest part to teach isn't the answer, but the path that got us there.

Avdi GrimmNov 21, 2024

I read this in a business book once:

People don’t buy products, they buy a better version of themselves.

I’m not sure what book I saw that in. It’s something Kathy Sierra talks about a lot. But somehow I find it very easy to forget.

And while I encountered this quote in the context of marketing, it’s equally important to remember when building software solutions.

When writing software I […]

https://avdi.codes/youre-not-selling-a-solution/

#business #ExtractedFromSIGAVDI

You're not selling a solution

I read this in a business book once:People don’t buy products, they buy a better version of themselves.I'm not sure what book I saw that in. It's so

Avdi GrimmSep 19, 2024

Oh no! There are so many technologies to learn! You are falling behind! How do you choose what to learn? What if you learn the wrong thing? What if you don’t have the right buzzwords?!

https://avdi.codes/how-to-cope-with-technology-fomo/

#ExtractedFromSIGAVDI #learning #practices

How to cope with technology FOMO

Oh no! There are so many technologies to learn! You are falling behind! How do you choose what to learn? What if you learn the wrong thing? What if you don't have the right buzzwords?!