iamacp.com – I Am A Computer Programmer
All about the daily work issues of a Java/J2EE Computer Programmer

Have you ever found yourself frustrated with a ClassNotFoundException? Would you like to know what libraries are in your project and what they depend on? This brand new project called JBoss Tattletale 1.0 Beta 1 will allow you to help you to fix your Java Classpath more easily than in the past. The common frustrations experience by all Java programmers can no be more easily fixed than in the past.

When I first started this blog last year one of the 1st articles I posted was Be The Best Programmer You Can Be.  I wanted to help all those wanna be programmers get better. Since than I have thought of a few more key ways to help programmers to become the guru’s they desire to be.

• Write Code – The more code you see and write the better you get. This can be compared to a chef doesn’t start out as excellent cook. The chef must practice and refining his art before he becomes great.  A developer like any other art requires constant refining and practice to become great.

• Accept Criticism – Criticism is a great way to learn what you’re not doing right. Accepting one’s technical weakness’s will allow you to learn what areas that you need to improve on. You should accept criticism but not let it control your life.  Likewise you should not let overly negative criticism affect you performance. Use the negativity as a driving force to allow you to be the best programmer you can be.

• Learn The Business – Learning the business is a great way to improve your worth and value to the company. When a programmer understands the business he or she can more effectively code the business requirements of  a project. A good example of this was when I was working for a travel agency for 1 and a half. I knew enough of the business where I could code vague requirements with minimal clarification for the most part.

• Know When To Move On – Knowing when to move on in a job is key. There is only so much you can grow and learn in a job before it’s b est for you to move on. You must learn to be aware of what’s going on around you. Are you happy where your are? How do your coworkers and supervisors act around you? Knowing when to move on is a key factor to being the best programmer you can be.

• Learn Everything You Can - It doesn’t matter what technologies or skills you learn. The more you learn about a skill the smart you become and the more knowledgable programmer you become.  It doesn’t matter if  you get  your knowledge from a book, the internet or another person. Knowledge is truly power when it comes to becoming a better programmer.

• Express Yourself Technically – Being able to convay your point and express yourself technically is sometimes very difficult thing to do. If you work on how you communicate technically you will be far more confident and will be taken far more seriously.

That’s all for my update to last years article on how to  be the best programmer you can be.

It’s hard to believe that 1 year ago on March 19, 2008 I made my 1st post to this blog.  During the past year I have done my best to share my advice and insight ad a developer with the world.  The past year as a developer I really expanded my horizons and learned just what it takes to achieve happiness in my career. In the future I will continue to provide my experience and insight as a developer with the rest of the world. If I can help just 1 person out with my advice I have done my part.