It’s my birthday. And I have something to declare
Posted on | August 9, 2010 | 7 Comments
I have long stated that I never do much for my birthday.
Well, I had a great day on Saturday with the family. Much food, drink and merriment was had by all. Saturday wasn’t actually my birthday, though.
Also, while I haven’t had a lot of people tell me that I’m getting on a bit, I know there are a few people who didn’t enjoy turning 30. (Guess how old I am now.)
So, I would like to declare something that is slightly out of character, at least if you believe the “cynical” part of the tagline I use on my blog…
Software testing: between edge cases and the critical path
Posted on | August 3, 2010 | 4 Comments
Once you’ve been working for more than a few years, it becomes more and more difficult to avoid screwing up.
Of course, we all screw up, but I mean the kind of thing that can do a lot of damage to your standing with current and future employers.
Here’s the dilemma: stay in a job or at a company for too long, and you risk becoming set in your ways (whether you are or not); move around too often, and you become unreliable and fickle.
The variety of IT roles
One thing I like about working in IT is that you can work in different roles within the same industry, and each new role can give you a wealth of experience that you simply wouldn’t get if you stayed put.
I’m not talking about being a trainee developer, then a junior, then a “mid-range”, then a senior. I think a lot of people only look at the path ahead of them, and not the other paths they could take.
I strongly believe that to get ahead, you need to look beyond your natural path. This is why, in October 2004, I spent two years working as a test manager. Having worked for several years as a developer, it was a very new experience for me – but it was extremely rewarding.
I’d really like to see more developers working as testers, even just for a short time. Let me explain why…
Need a software consultant?
Posted on | August 2, 2010 | 2 Comments
As a web developer, I’ve had a few people ask me if I could take their latest idea and build a site from it. Over the last few months, I’ve noticed an increase in these requests, and many of them are really very good ideas. I also have a few ideas of my own.
But there are only so many hours in the day. I have a full-time job (whoops – I actually wrote “full-time blog” before realising my mistake!) and it keeps me very busy. Plus, when you code all day long, you can’t come home and code all night long too – you’d burn out. That’s a big part of why I’ve been blogging so much recently – it’s something different to what I do all day long. I like a bit of variety.
It occurred to me that there may be a way to help with more projects than I’d have time to build on my own. Instead of trying to be a coder for everyone, I’d like to offer myself as a software consultant for any new projects you’re hoping to assemble in the future.
I have 12 years of IT experience, and have worked in a variety of roles, including application development, web development, test management, technical support, process improvement, online advertising, and content management.
I’d really like to help a few projects to get off the ground, or give some existing projects a new outlook, while broadening my experience. If you’re interested or you know anyone who might be, please do contact me.
Announcing my first .co domain: Writing by Ben Barden
Posted on | August 1, 2010 | 2 Comments
Does anyone else think that “.co” looks wrong? Either someone forgot the “m”, or they forgot the “.uk”. Needless to say, I’ve ignored the almost-typo in the “hottest” (i.e. newest) domain suffix on the web, as I’ve already registered a few domains.
Anyway, the fruits of my work can now be seen with a brand new site: Writing by Ben Barden. Or, to use its URL: writing.benbarden.co.
I’ve said a bit about this site in the description on my Portfolio page. In summary, it’s a place for my creative writing – specifically verse – though some prose may follow. Hence the really creative tagline: “Verse. Prose.”
Anyone who reads all 173 posts on the new blog will get a free ad for 1 month. Or I might just give out free ads to the first few people who comment on the blog.
What do you think of dot co? What do you think of the new blog? Did you eat roast chicken this weekend? I did (thanks Lauren!).
Let’s be Facebook friends. Even though I’m not your friend.
Posted on | July 31, 2010 | 2 Comments
Facebook is a good way of finding your family, old school friends, work friends, pub friends, that person you randomly spoke to once while on a training day… almost anyone really.
Sending a friend request suggests you want to connect (or reconnect) with that person. There are various things I’ve noticed with the art of “friending” people – not saying I necessarily do these, but I know people who do:
- denying a friend is rejection
- repeatedly requesting a friend who denies you is irritating but it might get them to add you in the end
- never approving or denying someone means you can leave them in limbo, and not have to make a choice
- approving anyone and everyone could be problematic if you post things on Facebook that some of those people shouldn’t see – would you share the same things with your family or colleagues that you’d share with your partner or your friends?
- removing a friend is the ultimate rejection – and even someone with loads of friends may notice you removed them
Time is the enemy. It is also of the essence.
Posted on | July 29, 2010 | No Comments
There’s never enough time.
If you’re really busy, it’s wise to make the most of the spare time you do have.
Otherwise, you’ll just get frustrated and burn out.
Sound familiar?
Why I’m quite excited to use WordPress
Posted on | July 24, 2010 | 4 Comments
It’s been several weeks since I decided to close my CMS project – Injader. Recently, I’ve been setting up some new WordPress blogs at quite a rapid pace, even moving some of my existing blogs from Injader to WordPress.
Today, I started working on my new creative writing blog, which I’ll share when more of the content is up. I’ve suddenly realised that it’s quite exciting to be setting up all these blogs… much more exciting than when I used Injader.
This is because I am no longer responsible for the code that runs that site.
Don’t let SEO and UX take precedence over a common sense approach
Posted on | July 21, 2010 | 3 Comments
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and User Experience (UX) are two things I know some stuff about. I don’t claim to be an expert on either, so I’m not going to set up a blog on them.
Well, maybe user experience.
And if I’m being honest, a UX blog from me would probably end up being called 101 ways to screw up user experience…
Two good Mondays in a row? Surely some mistake…
Posted on | July 19, 2010 | 1 Comment
OK, I guess it’s a bit silly to categorise this post as a shiny new idea, when I’ve already suggested it. Last week, in fact. Yep, I’m stealing my own ideas. They’re just so damn good!
But it seems I’ve just managed to experience my second decent Monday in a row. Admittedly, it wasn’t perfect, but it did have a lot of the same benefits that last Monday had. I wonder if I’ve prompted a few other people to follow my example?
Smart Casual: the perfect dress code?
Posted on | July 19, 2010 | 3 Comments
I used to work for an insurance company where all staff had to be smart. Men had no option but to wear a shirt and tie, with smart shoes. This seemed a bit unfair – women had to be smart too, but they had more options than the men did.
Dressing up for an important meeting or an interview is understandable. If you work directly with your customers, then perhaps you have to wear a uniform, or dress smart to give a good impression. That’s one thing. But in a company where most staff rarely met with external suppliers let alone our customers, I never really saw the point in everyone being quite so smart.
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The cynical views of a Brit who's flexing his writing muscles and probably getting a hernia somewhere down the line.
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