DEV Community: Nilanjan Raychaudhuri

The Future of Developer Education

Nilanjan Raychaudhuri — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:08:31 +0000

Say hello to Tublian 8020 (pronounced eighty-twenty), the future of personalized learning for developers. Powered by cutting-edge AI, Tublian 8020 is not just another learning platform—it's your on-demand, personalized learning companion designed to turbocharge your growth.

It is personalized. Forget one-size-fits-all. Tublian 8020 understands your skills and knowledge to craft a bespoke learning path that's as unique as you are: your goals, your pace, your success.

It is efficient. We've cracked the code by focusing on the 20% of content that propels you to achieve 80% of your learning goals. It's all about more intelligent, not harder, learning.

It is effective. With a blend of top-tier content and hands-on exercises rooted in real-world scenarios, Tublian 8020 ensures you're not just learning—you're applying. From open-source projects to AI-driven queries, get ready to be challenged.

All you need is a prompt to build your learning journey.

Why 8020 matters?

In an era where content is king, the sheer volume of online learning materials can be overwhelming. The real challenge isn't finding resources—it's sifting through them to see what's genuinely beneficial.

That's where the 80/20 rule comes into play, and it's why Tublian 8020 matters more than ever. By focusing on the 20% of learning that provides 80% of the value, we ensure you're not just busy but productive.

Our Approach: Effective, Personalized, Swift

In the swiftly evolving tech landscape, staying ahead means learning faster and more efficiently than ever. Although we all embark on our learning journey from different starting points, we share a common goal: to learn, adapt, and thrive swiftly.

Tublian 8020 personalizes the learning journey by harnessing data from your profile, activities, and preferences. Each journey is broken down into focused phases, targeting specific objectives with curated content from across the web.
AI copilot assesses your progress and provides real-time feedback, while hands-on experience with Open-Source projects ensures you learn and apply your skills.

This blend of personalized content, AI validation, and practical application forms the core of Tublian 8020, making it a potent tool for developers eager to fast-track their mastery.

This approach isn't just about keeping pace; it's about setting the pace in your professional development.

Join Us on the Journey

No-Code Out, AI Code Gen In: The New Era!

Nilanjan Raychaudhuri — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 16:27:05 +0000

I've seen many jokes about using tools like GPT/Copilot for writing code. Some people say:

The code it writes isn't good.
It's just like those no-code/low-code tools.
Good luck fixing the code it produces.

Many of these discussions feel one-sided, so I thought of introducing a different perspective to keep things lively.

1. Who's in Charge?

Even with AI chipping in, there's always a developer in the mix. Hence, it's called a 'copilot'. We're the main drivers.

Tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Cursor are tools. How effectively we use them is up to us. If you use them properly, they can assist in crafting impressive code. Here is one great example of how GTP can be used to generate self-tested code

And hey, these tools are still new. I bet they'll only get better.

Think about it: We get better by reading code (good and bad). These tools can read all the possible open-source codebases out there 🤯

2. AI-generated Code vs. No-code/Low-code:

They're distinct! AI-generated code is superior. Here's why:

Flexibility: AI crafts code tailored to your specifications. No-code/low-code tools? They come with their set boundaries.

Learning Together: With AI, the developer and the tool grow and learn together. No-code platforms? Not quite.

Diverse Applications: No-code platforms often cater to specific areas, like apps. AI copilots can be used in much broader contexts and codebases.

Ownership: You own the code generated by AI tools. Not sure about no-code/low-code platforms.

3. Maintenance Woes:

Maintaining legacy codebases is a challenge. But hasn't that been a consistent issue? When was the last time you stumbled upon an old codebase and were impressed by its quality?

We're not the best at writing maintainable code. It is hard. TDD and other code quality practices help, but only some people can do that well. Codebases tend to degrade over time, leading to technical debt.

I think AI will make our situation better than making it worse. It will raise the average quality of the codebase. Make it easier to write/generate good code and also help us maintain it.

If AI can read 2000 years old script, it can definitely read our codebase and give us insights. I imagine a future where we will talk to our code, ask questions, and receive guidance on troubleshooting issues.

By the way, I had some help from ChatGPT writing this!

AI Copilot for Open Source Contributors

Nilanjan Raychaudhuri — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 17:35:40 +0000

Make Open Source accessible for all emerging developers

Open source always has been tricky for beginners. Not just making flyby contributions but also being part of the Open Source community.

But once you figure it out, the upside is enormous. It can open up gates & opportunities beyond your imagination.

Tublian’s goal has always been to help developers to build in public. Because building in public and contributing to Open Source is one of the best ways to gain experience & build an amazing career in tech.

Today we are excited to share our Copilot for Open Source contributors. With the mission to make open source accessible and simple for all emerging developers.

The Copilot focuses on three core things:

Discover Projects: Help you find projects based on your skills & interests. Uses project health metrics to determine the healthy projects & communities.
Connect & Collaborate: Copilot handpicks fellow contributors, laying the foundation for teamwork and expanding your professional network.
Help you to contribute: Let Copilot dissect issues for you, break them into manageable tasks, and guide every step of your contribution.

Think of a Copilot as a senior Open source contributor working with you side by side. Start your Open Source journey here.

In the next release, we plan to extend the Copilot even further:

Quick Setup - One-click to clone a repo and set up a dev environment in the cloud. Fast and fuss-free
Enhanced Copilot Assistance - Our Copilot won’t just be your navigator. It will also assist you with those code changes. Like Github Copilot but free.

Give it a spin, and let us know what you think.

Break the Interview Code: From Debugging to Dialoguing

Nilanjan Raychaudhuri — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 20:03:30 +0000

Interviews can often seem like daunting encounters. However, with the right strategies and a touch of confidence, you can turn these challenging meetings into opportunities for success.

So, let's jump right in and tip the scales in your favor.

What you do before and after an interview creates a lasting impression

But we spend most of our prep time on what happens in the middle.

Here is the big secret:

Companies don't always hire the most qualified candidate; they hire the person they believe will deliver the most value

The goal is to be that person—time to change our strategy.

Before the Interview: Know your prospective Employer

Every company has a mission, goals, competitors, products, and services. Research them, follow them on social media, and network with their employees.

It will enable you to craft meaningful questions during the Introduction section. It also demonstrates your interest in the opportunity.

Here are some sample questions:

Just saw your new product releases. Looks cool. What has been the feedback so far?
I read the recent press release. Congrats on closing the funding round. It must be exciting.

Read the job description carefully. Align your coding skills and experiences with the position effectively.

Tublian Copilot can significantly assist and save you time.

During the Interview: Showcase Your Value

Every interview has a beginning, middle, and end. Almost every interview starts with softball questions as a warm-up for complex questions.

Tell me something about yourself

Master this question. Prepare a concise and compelling introduction about yourself to boost your confidence during the early stages of the interview.

Next comes the behavioral questions. Interviewers often ask behavioral questions to gauge how you work.

Tell me about a time when…genre questions

These questions provide an opportunity to showcase your abilities effectively.

Choose a relevant story
Focus on areas where you used your skills
End with a general approach you take to solve problems

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and provide concrete examples.

Shine in the Technical Round

Be it a quiz, coding assessment, or face-to-face session, the technical round scrutinizes your problem-solving skills and technical competency.

I know you got this :)

Here are a couple of useful resources:

Tech Interview Handbook is a great way to brush up & prep for coding & technical interview.
Use JobSeekers copilot for interactive interview preparation with feedback.

How would you Move Mount Fuji?

Brain teasers. If you encounter them, remain calm, thank the interviewer, and leave the interview.

Just kidding :)

There is a systematic way to approach them. The interviewer wants to know how you handle uncertainty and you can think analytically.

The article "9 Steps to Solving an Impossible Brain Teaser in a Tech Interview Without Breaking a Sweat" provides valuable strategies for handling such challenges.

Your Turn to Ask Question: Leave a Lasting Impression

Once the interviewer has finished asking questions, it's your turn to take the lead. Asking your questions shows your genuine interest in the role and the company.

99% of job seekers skip it or don't ask good questions. This is your opportunity to stand out.

Here are some sample questions:

What Is Your Favorite Part About Working For Company X?
What Is The Biggest Challenge Your Team Is Facing Right Now?
Let's Fast Forward One Year – You're Looking Back On This Hire. What Did They Do To Exceed All Expectations?

Good luck!

StreetCred: Credit score for developers

Nilanjan Raychaudhuri — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:23:11 +0000

Tublian Streetcred is a credit score for software developers.

It is based on the idea of “Build in Public” where developers share their journey, projects, and contributions with the rest of the community.

In the age of AI, we cannot rely on certifications, tests, and algorithm challenges. We need an alternative way to determine credibility.

Developers can use Streetcred to showcase their skills and prove credibility.

Companies can use Streetcred to find and hire passionate developers.

Why is Streetcred needed?

As demonstrated many times, modern AI tools and Copilots are good at passing standard tests and solving algorithm problems. (See here, here, here)

Developers will use the same AI tools and copilots to build software because It makes them faster and better.

The bigger question is, should we subject developers to the same questions that AI tools can answer?

Instead, passion, curiosity, analytical thinking, breaking down complex problems, designing the right solutions, and navigating legacy codebases will be critical skills for software developers.

Streetcred score provides a 360-degree view of a software developer, unavailable on typical resumes. It measures the passion, curiosity, knowledge, and skills of developers.

How is Streetcred calculated?

Streetcred is calculated by analyzing online activities and contributions. To achieve that, Tublian connects to all popular sources and developer platforms, including GitHub, Twitter, Blogs, Stackoverflow, Twitch, Youtube, etc.

Streetcred's mechanism is straightforward:

Developers connect their online sources to their Tublian account.
The system then collects and analyses these contributions, a process we term "proof of work".
By measuring parameters such as open-source projects, complexity, size, and languages on GitHub,
Tublian generates a Streetcred score.

The Tublian Streetcred score provides insights. Developers use the score and the analysis to get better. Companies use the score the find and match developers for their next project.

Streetcred is an excellent tool for emerging developers. It decouples the credibility from "years of experience". The score is based on your actual work and contribution.

Next time an employer asks for years of experience, show your Streetcred score.

How are companies using Streetcred?

Companies use Streetcred to find talented and passionate developers with proven skills quickly. It removes much of the guesswork & reduces the time to hire and hiring risk. Streetcred provides a comprehensive evaluation that goes beyond traditional resumes.

Streetcred helps identify talented developers based on their work rather than years of experience.

Streetcred enables organizations to cut hiring costs, build sustainable engineering teams, and leverage a universal score to hire talent globally.

How are developers using Streetcred?

For developers, Streetcred is an opportunity to stand out, build an online presence, and gain relevant experience.

It's an objective, data-driven metric that developers can use to showcase their skills and manage their careers, irrespective of background, education, or location. By connecting with other developers on Tublian, they can build a professional network and discover unique career opportunities.

Conclusion

The software development landscape is changing we need to change how we evaluate developers. Streetcred, founded on the principle of building in public, heralds this new path forward.