The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5)

professional reflection API

I was just reading the Documentation thread a few posts down, and I remembered something I've thought about doing for a while now.

The basic idea is a programmers diary. At the end of the day, or during it some time, just write down what my feelings were on the day. Did I fix bugs? Write new code? Add unit tests? Did I learn anything new? Not so much for the purpose of being able to see why something was changed, but to improve myself as a developer. If I fixed a bug that could have been prevented, it would be written down and the prevention method written down as well.

This wouldn't be to read per-se, but just the act of writing this down would be a huge benefit I think. Of course I haven't started yet :-)

Does anyone else do this? Or something similar? How do you manage your professional development?

Andrew Hurst
Thursday, January 29, 2004

i maintain a blog on my computer to write down thoughts, ideas, things I do an a daily basis, etc - (personal & professional)

Prakash S
Thursday, January 29, 2004

Prakash,
Is it public? Care to provide the link?

Krish
Thursday, January 29, 2004

nopes, local - don't want to give out ideas on how I will be richer than Bill:-)

Prakash S
Friday, January 30, 2004

Step 1. Write Down Ideas.
Step 2. ......
Step 3. Richer Than Bill Gates!

www.MarkTAW.com
Friday, January 30, 2004

Phew! that was close.....

Prakash S
Friday, January 30, 2004

You should really start blogging...

.NET Developer
Friday, January 30, 2004

---------------------------------
Step 1. Write Down Ideas.
Step 2. ......
Step 3. Richer Than Bill Gates!
---------------------------------

You ppl never get tired of this kind of stupid joke?!

I will be a happy man the day this kind of sad, very very stupid "joke" will cease to exist.

KRAD
Friday, January 30, 2004

>> I will be a happy man the day this kind of sad, very very stupid "joke" will cease to exist.

You're doomed to remain sad...

ignore my ignorance
Friday, January 30, 2004

> how I will be richer than Bill:-)

He didn't say which Bill.

For all we know, Bill might be his brother-in-law!

Portabella
Friday, January 30, 2004

KRUD,

I was so impressed with how you saved valuable time by typing ppl instead of people.

Then you wasted it all with surplus punctuation.

Now I'm confused, is a question or an exclamation?

Ged Byrne
Friday, January 30, 2004

Prakash, what do you use to keep your internal blog?

Sunday, February 1, 2004