2015

Become a Better Engineer

Through Writing

Kristina Thai

iOS Software Engineer

Intuit

#GHC15

2015

@kristinathai

2015

Hi, I’m Kristina!

@kristinathai

💻 📱 🎓

2015

What makes a good

engineer?

@kristinathai

2015

Engineer Checklist*

Technical skills

Strong coder

Domain expert

Problem solver

“Soft” skills

Communicates well

Passion for learning

Learns from

mistakes

Teacher/mentor

@kristinathai

*Not a comprehensive list

2015

What does this have to

do with writing?

@kristinathai

2015

4 Writing Channels That

Help Engineers

@kristinathai

2015

📓 Personal Journal

❓ Question & Answer Forums

📖 Blogging

📝 Technical Tutorials

@kristinathai

2015

Personal Journal

@kristinathai

📓

What is it?

− Private place to record your technical

challenges

2015

Personal Journal

@kristinathai

📓

Benefits

− Reflection time

− For your eyes only

− Easy to get started

Challenges

− Hard to keep up

− Doesn’t benefit

anyone else

− No one to correct

you if you’re wrong

2015

Developer Q&A Forums

@kristinathai

❓

What is it?

− Places where people go to for help with their

technical problems

− Knowledgeable experts answer questions

2015

Q&A Forums

@kristinathai

❓

2015

Q&A Forums ❓

@kristinathai

2015

Q&A Forums

@kristinathai

❓ Benefits

− Learn what others

are struggling with

− Easy to pick up

whenever you want

− Bite-sized chunks

− Builds reputation

Challenges

− Negative comments

2015

Blogging

What is it?

− Public place to record your technical

challenges

− Your own personal site, or a part of a

blogging community

− Most popular form of technical online writing

@kristinathai

📖

2015

Blogging

@kristinathai

📖

2015

Blogging

@kristinathai

📖

2015

Blogging

@kristinathai

📖

2015

Blogging

Benefits

− Public exposure

− Builds reputation

− Reflection time

Challenges

− Lots of time &

commitment

− Keeping your blog

fresh & unique

@kristinathai

📖

2015

Technical Tutorials

What is it?

− Step-by-step technical walkthroughs that teach

others how to do something

− Usually has a working demo project at the end

− Your own personal site, or a part of a tutorial

community

@kristinathai

📝

2015

Technical Tutorials

@kristinathai

📝

2015

Technical Tutorials

@kristinathai

📝

2015

Technical Tutorials

Benefits

− By far the absolute

best to build

reputation

− Reinforces learning

− Build full projects

Challenges

− Even MORE time

and commitment

− Find

unique/undiscovered

solutions

@kristinathai

📝

2015

That’s a lot!

@kristinathai

🙎 ❓❓❓

2015

My Journey

@kristinathai

2015 @kristinathai

2015

My Posts

@kristinathai

2015

Website Stats

@kristinathai

As of Oct 4, 2015

2015

Blog Contributor

@kristinathai

2015

Invites to Speak

@kristinathai

2015

Benefits

@kristinathai

2015

Getting Started

@kristinathai

2015

Engineer Checklist

Technical skills

Strong coder

Domain expert

Problem solver

“Soft” skills

Communicates well

Passion for learning

Learns from

mistakes

Teacher/mentor

@kristinathai

2015

Tips for Getting Started

@kristinathai

🎓

👭

💻

Don’t have to be THE expert

Check out your side projects

Find a blogging buddy

2015

More Resources

@kristinathai

Websites & apps for personal journals

Great beginner question and answer sites

Blogging & tutorial writing platforms

Tips on how to keep it up

kristinathai.com/writing

2015

Thanks! Kristinathai.com

@kristinathai

her@kristinathai.com

@kristinathai

2015

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