I Wrote More than 90 Articles on 2021: Here is What I Learned

This article summarizes my experience as a writer during the pandemic year 2021

Below you will find lots of resources and tools and my method and tips for heavy writing.

My Background

• I have a degree in computer science. 👨🏽‍🔬
• I use the scientific method and Occam’s razor.
• I have researched for 30 years both in the academic and industrial fields.
• I don’t have the absolute truth.
• I try to support my opinions with evidence. 🔍
• They are my opinions and are very subject to change.

My tools and secret sauces

• I Have a (very) long list of draft articles.
• I often skip the waiting queue and write about some inspirational source (and cite it).
• I use a different template in all my series.
• For example, I have an empty Code Smell template.
• I write Everywhere 🗺️
• I proofread all my articles with HemingwayApp, Grammarly, and Google Translate (all free) 🔡
• I parse the markdown in my articles and convert them to HTML to republish on many platforms at once.
• I heavily use the canonical URL tag to avoid search penalties. 🔎
• I Follow very interesting people on Twitter and blogging platforms. ✨
• I take a new course every week, usually on a subject that is far away from my comfort zone.
• I add many references and quotes to my articles.

Time management

• I read a lot of articles early in the morning and bookmark them during the day. 🌅
• I use Trello, Inoreader, Pocket, and Obsidian.
• I Use The Pomodoro technique to focus when writing. 🍅
• I avoid perfection. I publish them when they are ready.
• Then I make corrections with other people’s comments. Even after months.
• I Garden my articles.

Dealing with Criticism

• I have different opinions than many other developers.
• Software Design is a creative activity.
• My articles are suggestions and not rigid rules.
• I try to have smart discussions.
• I have zero tolerance for hate speech and unprofessional comments.
• I never feed the troll.

Common Criticism

• I get the same comments over and over again, so these are the common critics I get and my opinions.

Readability

I need to see the complete code in a sheet

• If you need to see long methods/scripts to understand your solution, that’s fine.
• I prefer to have small/reusable/testable functions.

The code in your articles is not Compiling/Working/has errors

• I try to add code samples for clarity.
• Most of the code snippets work.
• Some of them are pseudo-code for educational purposes. 👨‍🏫
• I have used 25+ different languages in my articles.
• I am not an expert in ANY of these languages.

- Languages are accidental, Software design is essential.

I Have a trick in *INSERT LANGUAGE* to improve the code.

• Most of the articles are language independent.
• The solutions try to avoid language perks and cleverness.

Your solution is not performant/optimal

• I write about backend business software. 🖥️
• This is the domain I’ve been working on.
• I am aware that some tasks require more performant solutions (for example DApps).
• I will always choose long descriptive names over smart performance optimizations.
• First, make the code right. ✔️
• Then, optimize it only if you have strong evidence.
• Complexity is not enough evidence.
• You need a real benchmark in real use case scenarios. 📈
• If I need to sort 20 elements in a collection, I will always choose bubble sort because it is easier to read.

Premature optimization is the root of all evil. 😈

Helpers, DTOs, Singletons, Nulls, Setters, Metaprogramming, Castings, Comments are standard. 🙈

• I write a lot on these anti-patterns with the reasons why I think we should avoid them.
• You can keep thinking they are good and that’s fine.
• My arguments against them are in all articles.
• I reply polite comments about them.

A 15 lines long method is not ‘long’

• IMHO, a 6 lines method is too long
• You can always break them using refactorings. 🛠️
• You don’t need to see the big picture and the details at the same time. 🌳
• Trust your implementation and write good tests.

Your solutions have too many indirections

• Coupling is our worst enemy. 🙅
• We need to avoid direct relationships.

You have too many rules and constraints

• There is just one rule.
• Always follow the bijection 🔀