What does it mean to be a senior developer?

What does it mean to be a senior developer?

• Basics
  
  • Experience
  • Knowledge
  • Expertise
• Pride
  
• Decision  making
  
• Reliability
  
• Confidence
  
• Share everything
  
• Embrace the open web
  

How to keep up with the latest technology

If it feels like the technology is advancing faster than you can keep up, well it is.

But there is a silver lining:

Don't try to keep up with everything

Pick an area and concentrate on that

Also allow new technologies to stretch their legs and make themselves comfortable

There are ways to keep up

• Newsletters:
  
• Weekly newsletters like node weekly, JavaScript weekly, HTML weekly, Web design weekly, CSS weekly, RWD weekly, etc...
• Specific technologies: ng-newsletter, CSS-tricks, Java, Ruby, etc..
• Conferences
• Local Meetups
• Follow the industry leaders

List of some people to follow

• Paul Irish - @paul_irish
• Addy Osmani - @addyosmani
• Chris Coyier - @chriscoyier
• Christian Heilmann - @codepo8
• Chris Eppstein - @chriseppstein
• Hampton Catlin - @hcatlin
• Harry Roberts - @csswizardry

Decision making/reliability

• Don't worry about failure
• technology is forgiving
• agile development is like etch-a-sketch
• Don't rush into a decision
• sleep on it
• discuss it
• consensus

Estimation

With great powers comes great responsibilities

With experience, you will be asked to:

• select technology
  
• make estimations
  
• be able to put forth proposals
  
• be able to change directions
  

10,000 hours

Beatles
Bill Gates
Steve Jobs

10,000 hours = 10 years

Intangibles

Organize your time

Love what you do

Pick the right culture

Never have to say or hear this: