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Code, Deadlines & Happiness: Forming Teams

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Great software development is a creative discipline that requires skillful individuals, effective organization and undying passion from all who are involved. There are many theories about developer productivity, engineering management and company organization, but few that make an honest attempt to reconcile all of these factors and present an approach that both builds from proven [...]

written by Brad Fults

Religion & Compassion in the Modern World

Sunday, May 25, 2008

I have a great deal of respect for the people who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of solutions that help everyone in the world. Notably, Karen Armstrong delivered a speech (found via Chris) at the TED conference this year discussing the current problems with religion in the world. I have tremendous respect for her [...]

written by Brad Fults

Leading is not Commanding

Sunday, March 2, 2008

The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants them to do, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
Theodore Roosevelt
An effective leader is not an autocrat. The best leaders who build the most support and achieve the most lasting success [...]

written by Brad Fults

Adaptability

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Your screeching smoke detector wakes you up and you smell smoke. Adrenaline is pumped throughout your system and you’re on your feet at the doorway, staring at a hazy room with flames in the background. What are you doing to make this situation better?
You’re at a family gathering during the holidays. Everyone is having a [...]

written by Brad Fults

Relax and Code Better

Monday, January 14, 2008

Somehow it still isn’t understood that programmers don’t produce their best work during any specific set of hours or only when they are in the office. Programming is an activity cognitively closer to philosophizing than it is to elementary math or physics. The best work doesn’t get done between 9am and lunch, with Sue from [...]

written by Brad Fults

Keep Your Shoes On

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

It really bothers me when I have to take off my shoes upon entering someone else’s house. I know that sounds insensitive and it’s not my place to make such a call because I’m only there under their grace, but that doesn’t make it any less illogical or annoying.
I’m a person deeply rooted in logic [...]

written by Brad Fults

Writing Great Code

Friday, September 21, 2007

The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.

-John W. Gardner

Quality is important in plumbing, philosophy, and coding all the same…

written by Brad Fults

JavaScript Needs a New Name

Thursday, August 30, 2007

My favorite programming language, JavaScript, is quite possibly one of the worst named. It really has nothing to do with Java. I promise. Now that the ECMA is working on the next version, code named ES4, JavaScript needs a new brand. Steve Yegge agrees.
So what makes a good brand? Well I’m no branding specialist, but [...]

written by Brad Fults

Safety is Terrifying

Sunday, August 26, 2007

We Americans have been taught that safety and security should be the highest goals of our lives. You should strive to work a “safe job” with “good benefits” so you can raise your children in the same fashion, perpetuating the cycle of excruciating mundanity until the guys you pay for your security cause the nuclear [...]

written by Brad Fults

Brilliant Engineers: The Root of Google’s Success

Friday, August 17, 2007

When starting a tech business it’s traditional to think that you must have representatives from each of the various roles present at the beginning: the business person, the tech person, the marketing person, etc. There is a strong cult of opinion on what it takes to create a successful business and most of that opinion [...]

written by Brad Fults

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