DEV Community: Rini Simon

Worth the 5 Minutes

Rini Simon — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 18:33:28 +0000

I have been coding for a few years now and there was a time when I struggled with a issue. Let me explain.

It was hard for me to start writing code, I dint know where to start or I would start only to stop in the middle somewhere because I was anxious and just dove right in, this was not because I dint know how to code. It could be the fear of coding, just the lack of understanding or experience . No matter what it was I needed to get over it

This post is for the ones like me.

On one occasion one of my dear friend taught me this small ritual. You might probably find it silly but I do assure you on its benefits. Whenever a task came my way the first thing I do is, open my notepad(editor) and write it down. That's it, it was a simple advise.

What did I write down:

Top of the page: write down my inputs.
Bottom of the page: write down the desired outputs.
In the space in between: steps needed to get to the output. You can go as detailed as what objects you want to create, or the next functions you want to write, that’s totally up to you.*

You might tell “hey! this is a flow diagram/flow chart”. Oh well, it is if you say so, minus all the rules and symbols.

Many of you might be reluctant like I was BUT, let me tell you its benefits.

A better understanding on the data (i.e. inputs & outputs), half the battle is won right here, I say so because knowing the data's behavior gives us a fair outline on what needs to be done to achieve the output and make us aware of the possible risks.
Also, this decreases the coding time, since it helps filter out the noise from the signal and make us aware of the important details that we need to handle, it deceases chances of surprise issues.
It’s a guide telling us the next step that needs to be done, could be the next function that need to be written or the next manipulation to be performed on the data.

Hence,

Trust me when I say this, it cuts the shabby work and makes the code neat and tidy (one of the most common complain on a beginner is untidy coding ummmmm).
It makes you mindful about all the alternative routes you can take and helps simplify the complex tasks.

Even if you don't struggle with this issue, this approach gives you a very good understanding on the task, helps you answer the questions you had when you first read the task or maybe raise questions that need answers.

I am not saying this is more important than writing actual code but from being a beginner, it definitely helps examine the task at hand even better and get to the point faster without over looking the important details. Totally worth the five minutes.

photo by : Rini Simon

IMMUTABILITY

Rini Simon — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 15:05:56 +0000

Let’s see what this fancy word means.

immutable
adjective
unchanging over time or unable to be changed.

Umm...

How does STRING do it?

String strOne = "sun";

Simple as it is, created a String "sun" and assigned a reference i.e. strOne.

Now,

String strCopy = strOne;

Assigned another reference to "sun" i.e. strCopy.

So far looks good.....Let’s do another step

strOne = strOne.concat("flower");

This appends String "flower" to strOne.

But, WAIT!
What about immutability (you can’t change the string objects)?

Here is what happens
When this statement is executed, the VM takes the String “sun” and appends "flower", resulting in "sun flower".
Since String is immutable, the VM creates new String object, gives it the value “sun flower” and gives it a reference strOne.

Note:
Remember, the String objects are immutable but not the reference variable, that’s why we were able to reference the new object with the existing variable.

Okay,

Right now, we have two objects that we see "sun" pointed by strCopy and "sun flower" pointed out by strOne.
But technically, we have three. The third one being the literal "flower" from our concat statement.

Important Fact:
What if we dint have a reference to "sun"?
It still exists but, it’s lost because there is no reference to it.

Okay, let’s try this

String one = "learn";
one.concat("java");
system.out.prinln("one refers to:" + one);

What do you see? Surprised?

First line creates a new String "learn" gives it a reference one, simple.
Second line the VM creates a new String "learn java" but it has no reference. Hence, we can’t reach out to it and consider it lost. The reference variable one still refers to "learn".

Almost, every time a method tries to modify a String object, it creates a new String object.

What happens to all these objects? Where are they?
They exist in memory.

The JVM sets aside some memory called the “Spring Constant Pool”.
When the compiler gets a string literal it looks for it in the pool. If there is a match, the reference to the new literal is directed to the existing string, thus no new string object is created. The existing string object has one or more reference. This is how string objects are immutable.

Each String object in the string constant pool is likely to have one or more reference. If several references are point to one object without each of them knowing it, then it would be bad if any of the reference modified the value of the object, that is why string objects are immutable.

What if I override the string class functionality?
Well, you can’t. The String class is marked final so nobody can override its behavior.

I hope this was informative. Happy learning :D
photo by : Rini Simon

To my younger self

Rini Simon — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 19:14:36 +0000

Looking back over the past years on how far I have come, from a new-bee in this developer world to now being able to identify myself as one, this journey has taught me lessons for life.

Here are a few things for the ones who are starting out; things I wish I could have told my younger self the first day I walked into my work place with as little experience, a heart for code and head full of ? ? ?

Attitude is all that matter.
Our attitude towards situations or life in general is what will shape us as a person, either we over come and excel or succumb to the them. We always have a choice and what we chose is what will be, especially in the start of a career.

Leave your ego at the door.
Remember no job is beneath us. So, don’t be afraid to start at the bottom. No matter what we do or what we are asked to do, be great at it; even if it means sorting the mail.

We all are constantly learning.
Hey! mistakes happen, bugs happen, not everyone knows everything there is under the sun.

So, what do we do?

Own the mistake, fix it, learn from it and don’t repeat it again.
Don’t get caught up in the blame game. Mistakes are the key to learning and what we do about them is what matters.

Be Prepared
I love this cliché

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”.
by Roman philosopher Seneca.

Very well applies for the next thousand years.

Preparation is learning. Learning and getting the basics right, learning about the next technologies or tools we are going to need in the nearest future.

Humans are curious beings; wanting to know everything but

what is going to benefit us?
how is it going to help improve our skill set?

Having a discernment and prioritizing them is important. Starting with what we need to know for the next day, then building up the longer run is the way to go.

“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right”.

Am I good enough?
Will I be able to do it?
Will they fire me?

And so on, this is a never-ending trail of doubts that are constantly running at the back of our heads on which we’re only wasting our energy.

Think about working out in a gym, the more effort one puts in the more obvious the results are. So, keep working hard; hard-work always outshines sooner or later and keep learning; no one can take away our learning from us.

Secondly, companies don’t hire people only to fire them. A lot of effort and time goes in to find the right someone. The only thing that matters is, "Are we benefiting the company?" Because ultimately, it is about the company, not about you or me.

Don’t obsess over what people think.
We all have finite time and energy and any time we spend over these is unlikely to help us achieve our goals and it won’t make us happier.

But there is something you can do i.e.

Just ask
We all are here to learn and better ourselves, how do you know if you are getting better or worse?

Self-reflection is a trait we all need to develop, an ability to truly asses our self, but something we can do in the meantime is ask. Ask for an honest feedback and before that be willing to welcome it, the flattery as well as the criticism.
Often, we complain about criticism and fail to see it as feedback, take it positively and not personally. This will only help you become a better person.

Finally, learn to love what to do and you will enjoy every part of it. Be earnest in your learning and stop complaining because complaining is no strategy to move forward.

photo by : Rini Simon