In this post, I’ll be discussing my thoughts primarily on Chapter 1 of Apprenticeship Patterns. I really like the idea of being a “Software Apprentice,” as I think it is a good representation of the attitude I have adopted over the years. I’ve always viewed myself as someone who is constantly learning and evolving in this field, and the apprenticeship model seems to align perfectly with that. It’s not about arriving at some endpoint but about growing, making mistakes, and improving.

What stood out to me the most was the idea of viewing the development process as a journey, not a destination. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of “Software Craftsmanship” as more than just technical skill, but also as a mindset of continuous learning. This was particularly thought-provoking because I think there’s a tendency, especially early in our careers, to think of coding as a task to be completed or a skill to be mastered and then moved beyond while in pursuit of some computer science career. However, the idea that becoming a Software Craftsman is an ongoing process—a commitment to constant improvement and a mindset that thrives on learning—is something that I think is a better description. It shifted my perspective on what it means to be good at coding- it’s not enough to know how to do something today, it’s about always finding a way to improve your code in the future.

In the past, specifically in my career, I’ve often gotten caught up in the day-to-day rush of just getting whatever piece of code done. I’ve rushed to get things coded, with the focus being on completing projects rather than developing deeper expertise or refining my approach to coding. After reading this chapter, I think I’m more likely to focus on the long-term value of writing quality code and the importance of standards. It’s not just about writing code that works; it’s about writing code that lasts, is readable, and contributes to a more sustainable project. I’m going to start to approach my coding tasks with a deeper goal, rather than rushing through them for the sake of completion.

As for the chapters that seem most relevant to me, I’d say Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 are particularly interesting. Chapter 2 addresses the Apprentice phase, which is where I find myself right now. It talks about how to build your foundational skills, seek out learning opportunities, and adopt the mindset of a lifelong learner – things I’m actively working on. Chapter 3, which discusses the Journeyman phase, is also relevant to me because it’s about expanding your skill set and finding ways to deepen your experience. I’m interested in how this phase encourages finding ways to take on more responsibility and become a more well-rounded developer, which is exactly where I want to focus next in my development journey.

From the blog Mr. Lancer 987's Blog by Mr. Lancer 987 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

 In this post, I’ll be discussing my thoughts primarily on Chapter 1 of Apprenticeship Patterns. I really like the idea of being a “Software Apprentice,” as I think it is a good representation of the attitude I have adopted over the years. I’ve always viewed myself as someone who is constantly learning and evolving in this field, and the apprenticeship model seems to align perfectly with that. It’s not about arriving at some endpoint but about growing, making mistakes, and improving.

What stood out to me the most was the idea of viewing the development process as a journey, not a destination. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of “Software Craftsmanship” as more than just technical skill, but also as a mindset of continuous learning. This was particularly thought-provoking because I think there’s a tendency, especially early in our careers, to think of coding as a task to be completed or a skill to be mastered and then moved beyond while in pursuit of some computer science career. However, the idea that becoming a Software Craftsman is an ongoing process—a commitment to constant improvement and a mindset that thrives on learning—is something that I think is a better description. It shifted my perspective on what it means to be good at coding- it’s not enough to know how to do something today, it’s about always finding a way to improve your code in the future.

In the past, specifically in my career, I’ve often gotten caught up in the day-to-day rush of just getting whatever piece of code done. I’ve rushed to get things coded, with the focus being on completing projects rather than developing deeper expertise or refining my approach to coding. After reading this chapter, I think I’m more likely to focus on the long-term value of writing quality code and the importance of standards. It’s not just about writing code that works; it’s about writing code that lasts, is readable, and contributes to a more sustainable project. I’m going to start to approach my coding tasks with a deeper goal, rather than rushing through them for the sake of completion.

As for the chapters that seem most relevant to me, I’d say Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 are particularly interesting. Chapter 2 addresses the Apprentice phase, which is where I find myself right now. It talks about how to build your foundational skills, seek out learning opportunities, and adopt the mindset of a lifelong learner – things I’m actively working on. Chapter 3, which discusses the Journeyman phase, is also relevant to me because it’s about expanding your skill set and finding ways to deepen your experience. I’m interested in how this phase encourages finding ways to take on more responsibility and become a more well-rounded developer, which is exactly where I want to focus next in my development journey.

From the blog Mr. Lancer 987's Blog by Mr. Lancer 987 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

In the Apprenticeship Patterns readings, the first thing that caught my attention was the passage about how people perceive apprenticeships and that being contrasted with what this book posits apprenticeships should be. Usually when I personally think about working under and expert to further a skill, I usually equate that to a physical trade that would be difficult to learn without hands on experience but just like those other typical apprentice jobs, but it would make sense that the same experience with working under an expert and learning any other skill would also help a lot more. The growth mindset is something that I hear a lot with math, and I think that it’s a good to have in all respects when trying to learn something new. This also pairs well with what the book states on always having more to learn and that those topics can’t always be learned in a traditional classroom setting or is lost in online tutorials. The author puts in a few personal stories where the times he was able to really learn something new and furthered his mastery over the subject was when he wasn’t afraid to be behind others and develop by observing and listening to everything that they had already found through experience and invested time into the field. This is vital when you are working in computer science, because it is a rapidly advancing field with new techniques and practices and discoveries. It may be daunting to try and keep up but that can serve as motivation to continue growing and not growing satisfied with just enough. Personally, in my experience with computer science through college, the academic learning part is straightforward, and everything is laid out for you to memorize and complete but in situations where you are given an abstract or very broad problem to solve, it can be challenging to figure out where to start or what to do because of my own inexperience with coding that would be analogous to a real world project. I think that recently with more frequent research done on my own time for blogs such as these and different classes, I have started to strengthen my understanding of computer science by knowing that there is so much more to learn than what can be taught in four years.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Computer Science Blog by dzona1 and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

As the end of my education comes closer and closer, friends and family always ask about any jobs in the field and the future overall. This worries me because I have nothing planned whatsoever, I have no idea what is going to happen, and that scares me. I would love to have a job in software development, but at the same time, I fear I do not know enough to compete, and even if I do get one, I will not know enough to keep up. However, after reading a small part of Apprenticeship Patterns, I felt a little better about the future, to know that many others have felt this way. It also was nice to read that learning still continues once I get in somewhere, which sounds silly, but in my mind, and I am sure others would think the same way, in order to get a job, you need to know everything. So to see that people who think they know everything can still continue to learn something new is promising and also scary. Although I have spent my entire university education learning computer science and software development, I still feel like I know nothing. After reading this, it does not change the fact that I feel that way, but it makes me more optimistic about my time after university. Something that really stuck to me was the part about the guy who had a stack of certificates saying he knows all this stuff, and then he runs into some hackers that are doing stuff that he did not even know could happen, and the hackers were also still learning too. I think that stuck to me mainly because it feels like that’s me in this situation. Like I’m going to have a degree saying I can do this stuff, and yet I look around and there are others who know stuff that I didn’t even know where they got it from. But I can always learn that stuff too, either on my own, or at a job, or in class, if I watch them really closely.

Will I continue to read Apprenticeship Patterns? Maybe. As the fear of reality slowly continues to seep in, I will probably scramble and look for something to help and it might just be that. But who knows, the future does not look as bad anymore, kinda.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Cao's Thoughts by antcao and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

After reading Chapter 1 and the introductions for Chapters 2 through 6 of Apprenticeship Patterns: Guidance for the Aspiring Software Craftsman by Dave Hoover and Adewale Oshineye, I have a much better understanding of the “stages” of a software developer’s career. I found it interesting how the career was divided into being an apprentice, journeyman, and master and how it doesn’t necessarily relate to a job. These stages are more like checkpoints for the software developer’s career as a whole, not for the phases that may come with starting and working a job. 

I like how the stages aren’t locked by experience or time but rather mindset. The apprentice is described as someone who knows there are better ways to do things and are willing to learn, the journeyman moves around working on various projects with various people readying themselves to become a master, and the master furthers the field through teaching and creating. I feel that the stages could be summarized as learning, exploring, and improving. I also like how the stages involve the roles of the previous stages; as such, a master is not exempt from learning and improving. In a field that is constantly evolving, even those with the highest expertise can learn a thing or two. 

I think Chapter 4’s introduction was most relevant to me because I think it has advice that can apply to everyone in any facet of life. “Be aware of the bigger fish, the bigger ponds, the many other ponds, don’t settle for being better than the mediocre, let go of perceived competence, be better than you were yesterday.” Finding these faults, acknowledging them, and moving forward with them in mind seems to be key, not only in a software development career, but in any facet of life. 

From the blog CS@Worcester – Kyler's Blog by kylerlai and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

After reading the first chapter and the introductions of chapters 2-6 of Apprenticeship Patterns: Guidance for the Aspiring Software Craftsman by Dave Hoover and Adewale Oshineye, I really enjoyed the message it had to offer. I often find myself stuck in a rut almost, feeling like I’m so far behind yet feeling like I can’t move forward. This is mainly in reference to my software skills and capabilities, but reading how one utilizes an apprentice-esque role and transitions into a journeyman and then a master was quite helpful.

I found Dave’s story to be quite interesting. It details him attempting to learn a programming language on his own early on, and then growing frustrated and quitting. It wasn’t until he gained mentors who recommended him specific books on programming that kick-started his brain into gear, and working with these new languages really stuck. Another large piece of his journey was creating and working with a breakable toy in the new language, so being able to play with and experiment on a project using a new language is very important to the learning process.

The reading has definitely made me change the way I approach the learning process and becoming a better programmer. It can be tough to stay focused, as the goalposts seem to always be moving. But knowing that you’re making progress and continuing to advance your learning is what can help keep you going. A lot of the chapters introductions provided great insight on how to improve oneself. Being willing to “empty your cup” a little by getting rid of bad habits in order to learn something new, understanding that the mountain you’re climbing keeps getting higher and higher as learning never stops, and more. 

I don’t disagree with much in the reading. It did emphasize the importance that books have to learning despite the vastness of information on the internet, and while I agree, I find that good, physical books can be difficult to find in some ways. Either it is too expensive, or it is not at your local library, etc. Sometimes these books that you do find can be very outdated as well (which tend to be most books I find at the library), however that is not to say there isn’t outdated or misguided information on the internet today. Although I haven’t had much luck or experience with software development related books, this reading has inspired me to continue to search for the one that fits my need.

The chapters most relevant to me are chapters 3 and 5, “Walking the Long Road” and “Perpetual Learning”, respectively. With chapter 3, I often find myself stagnant in my learning, but when I see the rate at which others are learning and growing, it inspires me to take charge again. As for chapter 5, it’s all about me finding the learning method best suited for me, and finding and experimenting with my strengths and weaknesses.

From the blog CS@Worcester – Josh's Coding Journey by joshuafife and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

I actually found the apprenticeship reading really interesting. The first thing that really caught my attention and still sticks with me even after reading is the story of Dave and his journey through apprenticeship. I related to it because in the story his age is stated throughout the years, but it starts when he’s 25. It seems young, but I struggle with the fear that I am behind in life and I am only 20. Dave being five years older than I am now at the beginning of his journey shows that it’s never too late, especially for me. I think this fear comes from an increasingly competitive world where everyone seems like they already know what they want to do, and if you aren’t already successful by the time you leave university, you’re behind the curve. I don’t think it is actually true, but it can be easy to compare to others, often the successful ones which fuels the paranoia. Either way, hearing about Dave’s story helped me put into perspective how each person’s life is different and there is no golden path to follow for success. This story was a good introduction to the rest of the reading. 

Overall, the first chapter really changed the way I see software development as a practice. The quote “We can take the time needed to nurture apprentice developers because we are faced with the problem of abundance, rather than scarcity….Today we have more developers than needed, but we have a shortage of good developers.” makes a lot of sense to me and also illustrates the way that this discipline has devolved into an easy way to live a comfortable life with good pay. I don’t blame anyone for deciding to work in tech for these reasons, but I think it does dilute the way that software development is viewed. Even reading this chapter has changed the way I think about software development. The way that they laid this out as being something that one dedicates their life to, how there really isn’t an end, only progressive growth, made me think of it less of a job, and more of a person’s purpose. This is something akin to medicine, where the knowledge we have today is not all the knowledge there is to have, and there won’t be an end even in our lifetimes. For some of us, technology like computers has been around our whole lives, but relatively speaking all of this is new in history. People devote their lives to this and it will continue to evolve and change, and all we can do is become competent enough to help it evolve. I understand it now. My journey is long and arguably hasn’t even really started but I do want to become a master in my lifetime.

From the blog CS@Worcester – The Science of Computation by Adam Jacher and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.