Cogitas Blog:
Google Android,
Common Lisp,
programming
and web design.
It’s often difficult to keep track of programming conferences and there doesn’t seem to be a reliable website that lists them all, however I have found the following websites useful:
Linux Magazine Events Calendar
Yo Linux Seminars, Technology Conferences, Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Symposiums
DevTownStation
What resources do you use to keep track of potentially interesting conferences for devs?
Like many programmers, I know the basics in a few languages (php, perl, python, ruby, javascript, C++, Go). However, I only know one language well (Java). By “well”, I don’t mean “perfectly” or even “near perfectly”, I mean “well”. I have a good grasp of its core concepts and I know how to find and understand the info on the things I’m a little bit more fuzzy about. However, it seems that there is a race to know as many languages as possible.
Recently, I got asked “exactly, what does a programmer do?”. This question came about when I explained that I had just registered for a BSc in Mathematics from the Open University (this confused that person, who thought I spent all day coding apps for Google Android).
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Following on from my Six months of Google Android development post, it is now time for an update as it’s almost one year to the day since I published my first GA app.
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Ah, the joy of agile development and small iterations 
The joy to complete a step (iteration), thus providing the satisfaction of a job well done, thus motivating the developer(s) for the next step (iteration).
At the start of the week, I embarked on a new programming project, a desktop app that will help you plan projects to reach your goals, coupled with a calendar (the app is written in Java, and once finished, the code will be released as open source and the app will be available for free, using the donationware approach).
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This is my list of coding & design principles I remind myself of whenever I feel coding my app is getting too complicated. Essentially, this list helps me apply the principle of orthogonality.
1. Stop repeating yourself – reorganise your object(s) so that you don’t find yourself copying/pasting chunks of code.
2. What does your method do? If it does 2 things, it should be 2 methods.
3. Private is good – you wouldn’t show your underwear to anybody in the street, don’t show your variables and methods unless you have to.
4. Isolate your constraints – keep them all in a method called “initialise()”, which you can call from your constructor (or from onCreate() if you’re programming from Android).
5. Isolate your input & output methods – do not add any logical app code to them, only input/output processing code specific to the input/output media you have chosen. This way, you can easily add that “save to file” functionality later on.
No book has had as much impact on my programming as Object Thinking (by David West)
Over the coming weeks, I will explore why I am convinced that “thinking like an object” will help your programming, with both practical and more philosophical posts. For this first post, I will write a quick introduction to the subject.
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Every few weeks, I come across a programming article/blog post/project/forum debate etc that gets me excited about another programming language. I maintain a list of languages I’d like to learn, a list of applications I’d like to do, a list of skills I’d like to develop.
Every so often, I ask myself if I should start learning a new programming language, and which one to pick (so many to choose from!).
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In August 2009, I started work on my first Google Android app. By mid-August, the app was finished and published on the Google Android market. This was the appeal of Google Android to me. No waiting for somebody to approve my app but let the market decide. No new programming language to learn (you use Java to program a Google Android app). Barely a price entry barrier to speak of (it costs only $25 to register as a Google Android developer).
Six months on and I’m still programming apps for Google Android, working on my 3rd paid app at the moment. I’ve got 4 free apps published (supported with ads) and 2 paid apps.
So… can you make a living programming apps for Google Android?
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