Exploring Programming Languages, Work Cultures, and Personal Fulfillment
Welcome to an exciting episode where we dive into the world of programming languages, work cultures, and finding personal fulfillment. In this conversation, Patrick Akil and Abdullah Zaiter, software consultants at Xebia, share their insights and experiences. Join us as we explore their journey, the challenges they faced, and the impact of different programming languages on their projects.
Meet the Experts:
Patrick Akil introduces himself as a software consultant at Xebia, known for his work in mentoring and software engineering at ADPList.org. Abdullah Zaiter, his colleague and friend, also a software consultant at Xebia, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation.
The Journey to "Action":
Patrick begins by discussing his experience of pitching projects and transitioning between different projects. He shares his thoughts on how he pitched the "Action" project to Abdullah, and whether it lived up to the expectations. Abdullah reflects on his initial concerns and how he ultimately found the experience of joining the project fulfilling and enjoyable.
Navigating Challenges:
The conversation moves on to the challenges faced during the project. While technical aspects were manageable, managing expectations and meeting deadlines posed significant hurdles. Abdullah emphasizes that technical difficulties were not the main struggle, but rather ensuring the project aligned with stakeholder expectations and met the deadline for launch.
Exploring Go as a Programming Language:
The discussion then shifts to programming languages, specifically Go. Patrick asks Abdullah about his transition to Go and its use in production. Abdullah explains that while he is now using Go, he continues to work with other languages like C++ and Kotlin. He shares his positive experience with Go, appreciating its simplicity and ease of understanding, especially coming from a background of compiled languages.
Choosing the Right Language for the Job:
The conversation delves deeper into the decision-making process for choosing programming languages. Patrick inquires if there are scenarios where Abdullah would prefer a JVM language over Go. Abdullah suggests that JVM languages excel in complex business logic scenarios, offering robust toolsets and built-in support. In contrast, Go shines when simplicity and speed are paramount, making it suitable for projects with shorter time-to-market requirements.
Considerations for Language Selection:
The experts highlight the importance of considering the existing expertise within an organization when selecting a programming language. They discuss how using a language already familiar to the team can facilitate knowledge transfer and future development. They also acknowledge that market dynamics and regional preferences can influence language choices, especially in different parts of the world.
Balancing Time-to-Market and Skill Set:
Patrick and Abdullah emphasize the significance of time-to-market and how it can impact language selection. They note that leveraging existing skills within the organization and using off-the-shelf solutions can expedite development and ensure a smooth transition for the project post-deployment.
Anonymity on Reddit: Is it a Good Thing?
The conversation begins by acknowledging the benefits of anonymity on Reddit. The participants discuss how, when reading comments on Reddit, they don't think about the individuals behind them, focusing solely on the content. Anonymity, they argue, allows for impartial evaluation and prevents judgments based on a person's appearance or history.
The Influence of Identity on Reddit
Contrasting the anonymity factor, the participants explore how a comment from a named individual with a profile picture may elicit different perceptions. They ponder whether such users are perceived as self-righteous or preaching, and whether judgments are made based on their appearance or history. The conversation emphasizes the importance of separating the content from the individual and illustrates a personal habit of referring to Reddit contributors as "a person who wrote something."
The Changing Landscape of Reddit
The discussion takes an interesting turn as the participants mention recent changes on Reddit, specifically regarding the usage of chat bots. They reveal that certain communities now require payment to utilize automated chat bots, which poses a challenge for smaller communities with limited resources. The conversation touches upon the notion of a "Reddit strike" where communities collectively decide not to post or interact as a form of protest against the new policy.
Exploring Reddit's Bot Functionality
The conversation briefly highlights the presence of chat bots on Reddit and how they are designed to crawl the platform for specific keywords or phrases. The participants express curiosity about the funding behind these bots and reflect on the purpose they serve.
Positive Aspects of Reddit
While acknowledging the challenges, the participants also discuss the positive aspects of Reddit. They mention how posts are created to categorize and archive information, making it easily accessible for users. They also share their personal experiences on anime subreddits, where new episode discussions provide a platform for engaging with like-minded individuals.
Reddit as a Resource for Advice
The conversation takes a turn towards seeking advice on Reddit. One participant shares their experience of seeking advice on moving to a new country and receiving helpful information about where to live and how to avoid scams. They highlight the value of diverse perspectives and cautionary advice obtained through Reddit.
Comparing Work Cultures: US and Europe
Shifting gears, the participants discuss the stark contrast in work cultures between the United States and Europe. They touch upon the perception that Europeans have more holidays and work fewer hours, while Americans are often perceived as working more but with frequent coffee breaks. The conversation delves into the impact of work styles on work-life balance and personal experiences in adapting to different team cultures.
Personal Experiences with Work Culture
One participant shares their personal experience of working remotely for a Brazilian company based in Rio de Janeiro, highlighting that the work style did not drastically change despite the geographical shift. They emphasize the importance of adapting to the work style and culture of each team and finding a balance that aligns with personal boundaries.
Reflecting on Work-Life Balance
The conversation concludes by discussing the significance of work-life balance and vacation time in different countries. The participants express surprise at the generous vacation allowances in some European countries and reflect on the potential consequences of unlimited paid time off policies. They also touch upon the scrutiny faced by employees when taking advantage of unlimited PTO and how it can impact perceptions.
The conversation begins with a mention of holidays and the observation that people seem to be taking fewer vacations. However, they both agree that holidays are still on people's minds, even if they're not always being taken.
One friend muses about the choice between unlimited holidays and a fixed amount, to which the other friend expresses a preference for unlimited time off. They discuss the hypothetical scenario of having that choice and how it would feel to finally experience it.
The discussion takes a turn as they reflect on their past experiences. One friend reveals their involvement in robotics during their university days, mentioning their specialization in mechanical engineering and electrical cardtronics mechatronics. They discuss the excitement of building robots, competing internationally, and even winning awards.
The conversation then centers around one particular robot project—a firefighting robot. They describe the challenges of creating an autonomous robot capable of navigating mazes, detecting fires, and extinguishing them using wind or water. The complexity of waterproofing the robot for water-based fire extinguishing is highlighted, along with the teamwork involved in mechanical design, electronics, and programming.
The transition from robotics to consultancy is brought up, and one friend shares their experience working with a payments processor in Brazil. They explain how the hardware devices used in payment processing share similarities with robotics, as both involve embedded systems. This connection also extends to the realm of e-commerce, as the act of making payments bridges the two fields.
The conversation takes a reflective turn, with one friend questioning why they moved away from robotics to pursue consultancy. They discuss the different applications and how they viewed their previous work as valuable experience rather than something to be abandoned. The idea of starting their own company comes up, and both friends express a desire to explore that possibility in the future.
They touch upon the importance of enjoying the journey and finding fulfillment in the execution of ideas. While they once placed great value on ideas as intellectual property, they now emphasize the joy that comes from seeing the impact of their work on other people's lives. They share a belief that both enjoying the ride and witnessing positive outcomes are integral to success.
The conversation takes an introspective turn as they discuss the downside of constantly seeking higher numbers and external validation. They acknowledge the pitfalls of greed and the potential disappointment that can come with fixating on numbers. Instead, they advocate for detaching from this mindset and finding pride in the process, valuing the quality of their work and the continuous journey over the fluctuating numbers.
In conclusion, the conversation highlights the shift from focusing solely on results to finding fulfillment in the process. It underscores the importance of enjoying the journey and appreciating the impact one's work can have on others. Both friends acknowledge the value of their past experiences while remaining open to future opportunities. Ultimately, their discussion invites us to reflect on our own career paths and embrace the joy of the pursuit itself.