Books/The Mediocre Programmer

Author: Craig Maloney

What it is about

Most programmers are trying to be great. The author says that in order for a programmer to be great, they must pass through the mediocre stage first. This books is all about going from a novice programmer to a mediocre programmer.

This is not a technical book. It is mostly about life experiences of the author as a programmer and his advice for programmers.

Skill gaps

The tools of the trade are constantly changing. A programmer is expected to keep up with them. There will always be gaps in knowledge and skills required to accomplish the task at hand. The author advocates for a measured approach of learning as much as you can at a steady pace.

Performance anxiety

We compare our backstage with others' performances. "If we strip away the barriers of perceived rank and meritocracy we can better engage with and learn from each other."

Mistakes

Programmers should engage their curiosity. They should give themselves permission to make mistakes and learn from them. Recording our mistakes and their fixes in a journal is a good way of maximizing the learning process.

Community

Joining a good community can help you become a better programmer. It is not always easy to find the right community. Sometimes, you might have to start one yourself. A good community usually has the following:

• Code of conduct
• Moderators
• Spaces for questions and guidelines for questions
• Joy
• Compassion and empathy
• Kindness

References

1. Book website (full text available)
http://themediocreprogrammer.com