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Dec 9, 2017    |      0 comments

Asking Great Questions and Diagnostics – New Pluralsight Course with Jon Skeet

In a traditional software development education process you’ll learn about PC architecture, algorithm design, language constructs, mathematics and more programming specific skills. What you don’t learn, is how to ask great questions and creating a resource for future developers. Being able to articulate and explain a problem in its simplest form is a crucial skill in not only getting a resolution to your problem, but also assisting the current community to be even better.

I will be the first to admit that I am not a “forum guy”. I don’t trawl user forums and developer community sites to see where my expertise can be used to solve someones query. I choose to spend my time in other places, such as online courses, user groups, presentations, webinars and many other things. However, like almost any other developer I use the knowledge of Stack Overflow all the time. I am very appreciative of that resource and the system it provides to filter out the best (and worst) questions and answers. And when it comes to Stack Overflow royalty it doesn’t get much higher than Jon skeet. Jon has the highest ranked profile on the site BY A MILE! So it made complete sense to me to team up with Jon to create a course with Pluralsight on how to ask questions in a developer world.

This is an unusual course that focuses on a very technical issue in a very non-technical context. I get to pick Jon’s brain on how to create a great question, right from the worst incarnation of one. We go through the process of doing as much as possible to find the best way to ask a question, including how to word it, how to do your own diagnostics and different ways to ask the same question depending on context. Jon’s enthusiasm and passion for this topic comes through as a flood of positive energy.

This course is a must watch for all software developers. If we could all aim to be at Jon’s level when it comes to creating and answering great questions for the greater good of the community, we would all win.

Check out the Play by Play: Problem Solving in a Developer World today.

Dec 4, 2017    |      0 comments

ngrx Handles Managed State in Angular – New Pluralsight Course

Way back in June I had the privilege of sitting down with Duncan Hunter in Oslo and talk about ngrx for Angular. At the time I had very little knowledge of the topic, but Duncan assured me it was the latest little black dress for Angular. While at NDC Oslo we recorded a Play by Play course for Pluralsight on just this topic.

In short, ngrx is state management for you Angular application, something that is very difficult to handle on the web, which is by definition stateless. However, ngrx is merely a library for Angular so you aren’t learning a whole new framework or setting up projects you aren’t familiar with. The ngrx library gives you a managed store, which is handled by using reducers and effects. The following diagram gives you an idea of the new flow you get with ngrx.

We are immensely proud of this course and in the first week it has gone to number 22 of all courses on Pluralsight in terms of viewers, so we must have done something right! If you want to learn more about ngrx, please do watch this course. It is currently the only one on the topic in the Pluralsight library.

May 30, 2017    |       2 comments

How to Succeed at Public Speaking

This article was first published at gooroo.io

I remember way back when I was about 14 years old and did what I remember as my first public speaking exercise. It was at my own confirmation dinner, and I had to address my entire family. It was a small room and not a huge crowd, but it scared me. I gave the brief thank you speech mostly looking at my feet or at the walls around us. It was a terrible speech.

Since then I have continually pushed myself to improve and to get better every time I am on stage. Here are some of the tips I have learned over the years.

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How do you even get started?

This is probably the hardest part if I am honest. Taking that first step and putting your hand up to give a talk is scary. It doesn’t even matter if you are going to speak to people you know, a small number of people or even just to your significant other, it can be scary. You might be familiar with the old Jerry Seinfeld quote:

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Apr 11, 2017    |      0 comments

New Pluralsight Course: Crafting a Brand for Growth and Prosperity

I am a geek. I like writing code, I like new toys, I like fast cars, and I like knowing how they work. I take iPhones apart to fix them and to see how they are put together. I am a geek. However, I am also a freelancer and sole proprietor of my little company that does everything from writing articles, to author Pluralsight courses to provide software development consultancy services. How do I find clients, and how do they find me? In part in comes down to my personal brand; the “Lars Klint factor” some might say.

[pullquote]Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands.[/pullquote]

And that is exactly what I do. I market myself in order to open doors and opportunities. Being independent means that I am responsible for both winning the work in the first place, and then delivering it too. Having a strong personal brand means that I don’t have to be constantly fight to persuade people I can do a particular piece of work. It gives me a leg up in a very competitive market.

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Jul 29, 2015    |       5 comments

Becoming Successful and Finding Your Own Strengths – Interview With Scott Allen

While at the Pluralsight Author Summit 2015 in Salt Lake City, I caught up with Scott Allen. We had a chat about the methods people learn and how you might fail at one way, but succeed at method number 17. We also talked about the success Scott has had with Pluralsight, and how this has changed his life, if at all.

He is one of the friendliest and nicest people I know and he is always willing to share experiences and advice, just like in the interview below. Enjoy.

 

Jul 21, 2015    |      0 comments

Pluralsight Webinar – Building Windows Apps for Windows 10

It comes as no surprise to those who now me and read this blog that I have a soft spot for all things Windows development (well, most things at least). I have teed up with Pluralsight to present an online live webinar of all the ways you and build Windows apps. It will be an overview of how easy it is and how varied a skill set is now catered for. You will be surprised how much Microsoft loves everyone now.

webinar-poster

 

The webinar takes place at 1 p.m., July 28th USA Pacific/ 6 a.m., July 29th AEST (yep, I am getting up early for you guys).

 

The event is completely free and you can sign up here now.

 

Jun 21, 2015    |       6 comments

Going Solo – 5 Tips to Being an Independent Software Consultant

[This article was first published on gooroo.io]

I recently decided to do my own thing and be working for myself. This was not a decision that came overnight or easily, but rather required a lot of planning, hard work and dedication. Since then I have had a number of people not only congratulate me (which is nice) and wish me luck (which I hope I don’t need), but also ask “how do you do it?” My interpretation of this is not “How did you manage to quit your job”, but instead “How can you do it and not be completely petrified, stressed and worried about how you’ll support your family?” And that is a fair thought and question, hence I decided to try and provide some points of guidance on how to get to a point where you can be a master of your own time too.

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Feb 23, 2014    |      0 comments

5 Tips to Improve User Efficiency

This post was first published on blog.dvlup.com

I have developed a few apps in my time, but nowhere near as many as I would like nor have ideas for. There is always more apps to build and my mind is never short of projects to do next. However, I endeavour to build apps that are useful, well tested, solves a worthwhile problem and I can be proud of. Part of that process is to make sure that the app is as efficient for the user as possible. In particular I keep the following five areas in mind when developing. If the users of your app can do what they need to more efficiently, they are much more likely to continue using your app and recommend it to others as well as giving it favourable reviews.

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Feb 22, 2014    |      0 comments

Win a Nokia 625 and Build an Awesome Windows Phone App

[Update] The deadline for submission in the competition is over. The winners will be announced soon.

I love the Windows Phone eco-system and I truly believe it is the most awesomest place to be as a developer. And that is why I want to give something back to the community. I have a Nokia 625 to give away to one passionate and ambitious developer that wants to get into Windows Phone development. Nokia 625 What I expect from you:

  • Keen and ambitious attitude. If you get selected I expect you put in the effort to design and develop your first Windows Phone app.
  • No prior published Windows Phone apps.
  • A great, original idea (describe below).

What you get from me:

  • Personal mentoring and help throughout the development of your app.
  • One new Nokia 625 (Australian edition).
  • Help to market your app.
  • Tips and pointers on building the best app possible.

The final day for entries is Sunday 9 March 2013. Disclaimer: I pick the winner at my complete discretion. It is my decision entirely. I will post the Nokia Lumia 625 with the cheapest and safest service for the winner’s destination (no on ever said Windows Phone development would make you a millionaire). Fill in the form and let me hear about your brilliant ideas (multiple submissions are welcome). [formidable id=3]

Oct 23, 2013    |       2 comments

First Pluralsight Course Published

This morning I published my first online video course with Pluralsight, titled Building Windows Phone Apps that Stand Out. It has been a long journey with an insane amount of hours spent writing, recording, editing and polishing everything off. It has given me an appreciation of how much work goes into producing high quality content for the World’s best hardcore developer training site, and I am immensely proud of the outcome.

Below is a small taste of my course, giving you the outline of the content. If you are a Windows Phone developer, this course will add that important knowledge gap of how you can make your app be awesome (and make you more money in the end).

So go ahead and check it out. You can get a free 30 day trial, so there really is no excuse to not start learning now.