yppahpeek

About two years ago, I finally started learning to code.  I started with a series of videos from a YouTube channel called Web Dev Simplified . I learned two things: I can build a pretty cool-looking website from scratch, there's nothing "mystical" or "undiscoverable" about code. I needed more of grounding in programming to be able to build a site myself.  I realised that I'd just copied exactly what the tutor on Web Dev Simplified had told me to do. I hadn't thought about the code I was writing, and couldn't explain why it worked. About a year later I started CS50x: An Introduction to Computer Science . I learned enough of a background to programming that I was able to build my own web application.  Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, during a rainy evening in the North of England. I'm bored of watching TV or playing video games. So I decided to face JavaScript again by building a countdown clock. I decided I wanted a webpage on which I could ...

"Can images improve user engagement?" I really enjoy answering those seemingly simple questions. I usually learn something new in attempting to answer them. There’s a general agreement (among marketers) that images improve engagement with social media content. One study I found shows that even just the presence of an image increases engagement – though the authors also note that higher quality, relevant imagery gets a greater engagement. A review also mentions a couple of studies which showed that social media posts including imagery gained greater engagement than those not using imagery. "But what about images on our website?" I work for a public organisation, providing a service which isn't available anywhere else. As such, I use the gov.uk design system  to make content decisions. They advise that we should:  “Avoid unnecessary decoration. Only use images if there’s a real user need.” For most of our web content I’m tempted to agree in this instance. P...

I've wanted to learn how to code for a long time.  A colleague suggested that I start CS50x, an introduction to computer science course presented by Harvard University.  "It's a very extensive course," he said. "Most computer languages work in similar ways, so you'll be able to apply what you learn to anything." "And you can do it for free!"  Well, I was sold! CS50x provides lectures and problems which test your understanding. There's no satisfaction like the satisfaction of seeing dozens of little, green smileys telling you the code you've submitted works. :) Halfway there (sort of) According to the lectures, I'm over half way through the course. I've learned; the basics of programming in C (almost overcoming my confusion around pointers and memory allocation different types of data structures (I conceptually understand linked lists and tries more than I actually  understand them) Python ("Why is it always snakes?") ...

A friend recently asked for my advice on their personal, professional website. The experience allowed me to reflect on all that I have learned about digital communication. I thought I would share my notes below. Perhaps they will help with a digital project you are working on.  I've got a couple of notes on web design and also on editing content for a website. I've then added a list of tools I find really helpful when writing web content. This photo of a tree during sunset in autumn doesn't illustrate my points at all. I just like the image. Notes on the design More and more, I  think "good digital design" means "design which is accessible to all". Web content should be clear and easy to understand. It should also be accessible to people who have a disability which makes reading or looking at a screen hard.  There's a heap of advice about making the web more accessible. I follow some basic principles with my own content: Use high contrast between tex...

Hop aboard the Wayfarer  for wholesome, sci-fi escapism. I give this book a human thumbs up, an aandrisk nose nuzzle and a grum hoot. Throughout 2021, I want to read more new(ish) sci-fi from a diverse set of authors. Most of the sci-fi books I've read (and therefore most of the books  I've read) are written by white men. And I mean to cast no shade on the likes of Iain M Banks, Terry Pratchett or China Mieville - they're some of my favourite authors. But it's nice to mix things up.  Get on with it, Andy!  The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet  by Becky Chambers follows a cast of human and alien characters as they navigate their spaceship, the Wayfarer , towards a wormhole-tunnelling job.  The  Wayfarer  is a 'tunnelling ship', building wormholes to join distant parts of the galaxy together and is home to a unique set of characters. The plot follows each in turn, and I uncovered secrets and plotted plans with most of them.  There's the irreve...

OK, I'm not going to pretend I've been sprinting this whole time. As I've stated before, my intention with 'living' agile for a year was to help me to find new ways of organising my time so that I could get the most out of life. I wanted to keep learning, keep developing my career and be better at meeting up with friends and organising fun events. And although I don't have sprint burndowns to show for it, I have  achieved all of that. I've found it incredibly useful to have my "to do list" (if that's what it's called) broken down into bitesized, achievable chunks. Just these last two weeks, I've started to process of editing a podcast together and have organised trips to Edinburgh, Yorkshire and Wilthsire (for fun, for a funeral and for a wedding in that order). I've started using Trello, and honestly it's so easy to use - much better than my hobbled together spreadsheet. I can move 'tickets' through from 'Plan...

It's been a while. A large part of that, I think is because I haven't felt I needed to get anything done. I had put a lot of low priority tasks in my backlog basically just to keep me busy. But as summer approaches, there seems to be more planning to keep on top of. Friends are getting married and holidays need booking. So I've set up my sprints again! Over the next two weeks, I intend to transcribe a couple of interviews for my podcast and will book travel and accommodation for the first of this year's weddings.