Reading the first chapter of Apprenticeship Patterns: Guidance for the Aspiring Software Craftsman by Dave Hoover and Adewale Oshineye made me feel both anxious and optimistic about entering the software development field upon graduating this spring. As the authors very clearly point out, there is now an overabundance of developers but a scarcity of good developers in the workforce. In an effort to become one of the good developers, I have in the past kept up with many of the so-called masters referenced in Apprenticeship Patterns including Uncle Bob and Martin Fowler. I hope that by following the advice of Hoover and Oshineye I am able to make begin a career where I will make a difference as a software developer, and that someday I am able to pass along my experiences to future generations in an effort to continue the advancement of the industry.

What I found perhaps most interesting and important about the first chapter were the disclaimers that the authors gave. Statements like, “These tools are not algorithms that guarantee the same results on every execution,” really helped to reinforce the idea that there is no magic recipe for success. The truth that Hoover and Oshineye are trying to convey to new developers is that being successful is not easy. The path to becoming a great developer has many hurdles, it takes more than simply following an apprenticeship pattern or any other set of instructions. What the apprenticeship patterns hope to offer, rather, is assistance in beginning a software development career and advice on how to become outstanding rather than simply proficient.

As a new developer trying to make it, motivation and drive are key. Perhaps most important, however, is a willingness to learn. Not being afraid to make mistakes, and being able to turn mistakes into learning experiences is crucial to personal and professional growth. It is also important to share your experiences with others, rather than hoarding them. Just as apprentices learn from journeymen, so too can one apprentice learn from another. This collaborative scheme was especially interesting to me. Far too often, especially as a student, I feel that individuals are selfish about sharing information with one another. While this is certainly understandable in situations where only one party benefits, collaboration can be an extremely powerful tool. I feel lucky to be entering a field that places such a high value on teamwork and collaborative success. Working together is what most often leads to the most profound or impactful discoveries and advancements.

Although the first chapter of Apprenticeship Patterns did not go into much detail on any particular subject, I am looking forward to discovering how to improve my chances of a beginning a successful and rewarding career as a software developer.

From the blog CS@Worcester – ~/GeorgeMatthew/etc by gmatthew and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

I will be using this blog in the Spring 2018 semester for CS-448 and an independent study project.

From the blog CS@Worcester – ~/GeorgeMatthew/etc by gmatthew and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.