Info

Simple Programmer Podcast

The Simple Programmer Podcast is a short podcast that is a mix of career advice, philosophy and soft skills from successful author and software developer, John Sonmez. John is the founder of http://simpleprogrammer.com, one of the most popular software development blogs, and the author of the best-selling book, "Soft Skills: The Software Developer's Life Manual." (http://simpleprogrammer.com/softskills) Geared towards a programmer or software developer audience, but contains practical advice on: Career development Entrepreneurship Fitness Finance Productivity Personal development And more... That anyone can benefit from. Each episode is between 5 and 10 minutes long with at least 3 new episodes each week.
RSS Feed
Simple Programmer Podcast
2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
September
August
July
June
May
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: February, 2017
Feb 28, 2017

Have you ever wondered what are the best books to learn Python?

"Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components together. Python's simple, easy to learn syntax emphasizes readability and therefore reduces the cost of program maintenance. Python supports modules and packages, which encourages program modularity and code reuse. The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are available in source or binary form without charge for all major platforms, and can be freely distributed.

Often, programmers fall in love with Python because of the increased productivity it provides. Since there is no compilation step, the edit-test-debug cycle is incredibly fast. Debugging Python programs is easy: a bug or bad input will never cause a segmentation fault. Instead, when the interpreter discovers an error, it raises an exception. When the program doesn't catch the exception, the interpreter prints a stack trace. A source level debugger allows inspection of local and global variables, evaluation of arbitrary expressions, setting breakpoints, stepping through the code a line at a time, and so on. The debugger is written in Python itself, testifying to Python's introspective power. On the other hand, often the quickest way to debug a program is to add a few print statements to the source: the fast edit-test-debug cycle makes this simple approach very effective."
(Source: https://www.python.org/doc/essays/blurb/)

I've programmed in Python before and I must say I love Python!

In this video I'll list the top 10 books if you're serious about learning python, whether you're a beginner and or advanced (even a kid! lol)

Learn Python The Hard Way: http://simpleprogrammer.com/learnpythonhard
Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: http://simpleprogrammer.com/thinkpython
Dive Into Python 3: http://simpleprogrammer.com/diveintopython
Core Python Programming: http://simpleprogrammer.com/corepython
The Quick Python Book: http://simpleprogrammer.com/thequickpythonbook
Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional: http://simpleprogrammer.com/beginningpython
Hello World!: Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners: http://simpleprogrammer.com/programmingforkids
Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner: http://simpleprogrammer.com/pythonabsolutebeginner
Python Essential Reference: http://simpleprogrammer.com/pythonessentialreference
Python Cookbook: https://simpleprogrammer.com/pythoncookbook
Violent Python: http://simpleprogrammer.com/violentpython
Top Programming Books Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4XoA9VdooMPPiDFsckl1d_2
Trust The Process T-Shirt: https://simpleprogrammer.com/spstore

Feb 27, 2017

A lot of developers feel like they don't know enough. They want to know if their skills are good enough before they take on any opportunity and any new jobs.

I see a lot of developers suffering from this. They never feel ready, they end up spending A LOT of time studying and getting ready before jumping into any new opportunities.

They often ask me: John, how can I measure my programming skills? Is there a way to know if I'm skilled enough for the job?

In this video, I'll tell you how you can measure your programming skills and know if you're ready to take on your next developer opportunity.

How Lying To Yourself Will Destroy Your Life And Career: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw7SvbShLdI&index=21&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4XRTEK79UXmtkUT-jsP4rUP
Real Estate Investment For Software Developers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4VWM_cpbXXYIYSaLjiTdtA-

Feb 26, 2017

So, as I like to say, I tend to buy some books just by reading its name. And this is exactly what happened with "What Doesn't Kill Us".

What a freaking awesome name! And what an AWESOME book! I must say I was surprised by it.

Here is the book description, extracted from Amazon:
"Our ancestors crossed deserts, mountains, and oceans without even a whisper of what anyone today might consider modern technology. Those feats of endurance now seem impossible in an age where we take comfort for granted. But what if we could regain some of our lost evolutionary strength by simulating the environmental conditions of our forebears?

Investigative journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney takes up the challenge to find out: Can we hack our bodies and use the environment to stimulate our inner biology? Helping him in his search for the answers is Dutch fitness guru Wim Hof, whose ability to control his body temperature in extreme cold has sparked a whirlwind of scientific study. Carney also enlists input from an Army scientist, a world-famous surfer, the founders of an obstacle course race movement, and ordinary people who have documented how they have cured autoimmune diseases, lost weight, and reversed diabetes. In the process, he chronicles his own transformational journey as he pushes his body and mind to the edge of endurance, a quest that culminates in a record-bending, 28-hour climb to the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro wearing nothing but a pair of running shorts and sneakers.

An ambitious blend of investigative reporting and participatory journalism, What Doesn't Kill Us explores the true connection between the mind and the body and reveals the science that allows us to push past our perceived limitations."

Wanna know more about this awesome book?

What Doesn't Kill Us: https://simpleprogrammer.com/whatdoesntkillus
Grit Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/gritbook
AntiFragile Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/antifragile

Feb 25, 2017

So, as you probably know, I believe that "Trusting The Process" is one of the best motivational mantras you can use in your life.

Believing in Trusting The Process will make you focus in your goal, without worrying about results and making you like a beast when it comes to achieving any goals you might have.

In this video, I'll share an awesome success story I've received that will definitely inspire you to achieve your dreams and to "Trust The Process".

Please, STOP Watching My Videos!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gstkex4oak&index=69&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4XPMBDfK_VvrCBbMa5G0Uyx
Soft Skills Book: http://simpleprogrammer.com/softskills

Feb 24, 2017

How do you learn two things at once? This is exactly what we're going to discuss in this video.

Today, I've received a question from a reader asking me how he should learn web and iOS development at the same time.

Although this is a good topic, I couldn't help but answer that this is such a question for anyone who is splitting focus and trying to learn a lot of things at once.

As I've talked before, this is not the best strategy for learning anything but, if you really wanna do it, there are some things you can do in order to maximize your results.

Feb 23, 2017

If you're a software developer I doubt you'll ever be able to learn everything that software developer has to offer. Every day new programming languages come out, technology changes and the process is updated.

All this amount of information makes it impossible for developers to actually learn everything they want. That's why they have to choose, and filtering information nowadays is gold.

"In computer programming, a software framework is an abstraction in which software providing generic functionality can be selectively changed by additional user-written code, thus providing application-specific software. A software framework is a universal, reusable software environment that provides particular functionality as part of a larger software platform to facilitate development of software applications, products and solutions. Software frameworks may include support programs, compilers, code libraries, tool sets, and application programming interfaces (APIs) that bring together all the different components to enable development of a project or system."
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_framework)

While there are A LOT of frameworks nowadays, how do you know which ones to choose?

5 Learning Mistakes Developers Make: http://simpleprogrammer.com/lp/5-learning-mistakes-1/
John Sonmez Pluralsight Courses: https://simpleprogrammer.com/pluralsight
How It Feels To Learn JavaScript In 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss10re-tjwo&index=4&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4WTWAS94RWgVlQuR8pFgDFu
Antifragile Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/antifragile

Feb 22, 2017

How to Become A Developer Coming From A Complete Different Field?

Picture this: you work at the oil industry but the crisis has come and there are literally no more jobs in the industry you work. You start searching for the next big thing and you start to fall in love with software development.

Now, you want to become a developer because you've seen the amazing opportunities it can bring to your overall life and career, but... How do you do it?

How do you make the transition into software development from such a different industry?

Feb 21, 2017

Focusing can be difficult and we all know that. More and more, people are getting trouble to focus on their daily tasks and this is something that literally can kill your productivity.

What most people don't know is that there are ways in which you can organize your daily tasks in order to get the most out of your productivity.

There are simple techniques which you can start implementing right now that will make your productivity grow.

How I Plan My Week:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9k0OhJkjQ0
So Good They Can't Ignore You: https://simpleprogrammer.com/sogoodcantignore

Feb 20, 2017

Writing code can be a tricky thing, especially when you start practicing it. Most developers end up reading a lot of books, acquiring a LOT of theoretical knowledge but when it comes to writing the actual code, they get stuck.

And this is why I get so many different questions about that subject.

Developers from all around the world ask me "John, how can I gain practical experience writing code?"

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL: vid.io/xokz
SUPPORT THIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL: vid.io/xokw
Visit: http://simpleprogrammer.com/

Feb 19, 2017

 

There are times when we need to set limits, especially when it comes to work.

Since I've become an entrepreneur, I've started to work a lot... And what I mean by a lot is... A LOT.

Due to that, I always try to adjust my schedule to make sure I get my work done but also take some time for me and my family. And we all know that work can be consuming and if we don't set a proper limit, it will make us go mad, literally making a never stop thing.

Keeping A Life Journal: Why You Should Do It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVTzHfJJmt8

Feb 18, 2017

 

There's an old saying "There are no problems only opportunities."
Too often we focus on problems and fail to see opportunities right in front of us. When you focus on your problems when you only think of what is wrong you will only see problems and fail to see opportunities and creative solutions.

Most of us get really pissed when we face some problems. In this video, I'm going to tell you a quick story about what happened to me last week when I was supposed to hit the gym and how I decided to not give up and, instead, figured out a way to turn the problem around.

Wanna know more?

How You Live One Day Is How You Live Every Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udLzJd2uZVs&index=1&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4WlPk3TAMcC2NfiKY26I28O
Why You Shouldn't Play The Victim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRmNtlV4sOA
Boundaries: https://simpleprogrammer.com/boundariesbook

Feb 17, 2017

A lot of software developers like to make things complicated. They get something that could be simple and easy and, due to what most people tell on the internet, make it complicated.

Software should be simple.

Said that, it's easy to understand why so many developers have a hard time building software from scratch. In their minds, it's a totally complex and difficult thing and they get completely stuck in the middle of the process.

So, the question is... How do you build software from scratch?

Clean Code Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/CleanCodeBook

Feb 16, 2017

"The term programming logic has its roots in the advancement of computer science. Programming logic started only with 'hard and fast logic' compiled into sophisticated algorithms and expressed in programming languages like Prolog.

Basic computers developed ways to deal with numbers and logical states, applying specific operators that lead to precise results."
(Source: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3945/programming-logic)

in this video, I've received a question from a reader asking how he could become better at programming logic and this is kind of a recurrent question I get almost every day.

So, how do you get better at programming logic?

CHECK OUT HIRED.COM: http://simpleprogrammer.com/hiredsp
BUT NEW SP T-SHIRT: https://simpleprogrammer.com/spstore

10 Steps To Learn Anything Quickly Course: http://simpleprogrammer.com/10stepstolearn
How Do I Learn C++?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXr2gRk8nco&index=2&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4WTWAS94RWgVlQuR8pFgDFu
Learning Algorithms Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4VrJQgBAEEIXWVcO_9ePsJQ

Feb 15, 2017

Criticizing is something that we are all familiar with, right?

At some point in our lives, we've been criticized and we've criticized too.

However, we should bring up the point of whether criticizing is a good thing or not. There are points to both sides that both say that criticizing is a good thing and some saying that it doesn't help anything.

So... Where do I stand in all of this? How do we know if we should criticize people/things or just let them go?

How To Win Friends And Influence People: https://simpleprogrammer.com/howtowin
The 48 Laws Of Power: https://simpleprogrammer.com/48lawspower
I Don't Want To Be A One Hit Wonder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhZutg3vYZY
Accept Criticism But Don't Give It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqqWmyCDUGM
Don't Take Feedbacks... At All!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6r-FZrX0MM

Feb 14, 2017

 

There are times in our lives when we are able to do some freaking hard and successful things. This is great because these accomplishments stay with us for the rest of our lives, showing us how we are strong and how we can accomplish anything once we set the intention to.

However, this can also be a dangerous trap, if we don't know how to handle it.

There are times when we must feel the obligation to top ourselves every time. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can also create a standard that we might not be able to achieve.

So, what do you do in situations like these?

Get My NEW BOOK For FREE: https://simpleprogrammer.com/career-guide-yt
All The Books I Read In 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haSer5FAy_s&index=5&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4W7aRN5cCCZ90AIDYoLpqVa
Soft Skills Book: http://simpleprogrammer.com/softskills
Bird By Bird Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/birdbybird
John Sonmez Pluralsight Courses: https://simpleprogrammer.com/pluralsight

Feb 13, 2017

When Should You Niche Down & Expand?

Niching down is always a question here in this YouTube channel. I receive a lot of emails from people asking me all different kinds of questions when it comes to choosing a niche and becoming a specialist.

In today's video, I'm going to answer the question "When should you niche down and expand?"

To answer this question, we are going to talk about market, economics and market strategy. Simple and very effective concepts that you should be aware of, even if you're not an entrepreneur.

Wanna know more about niching down and specialization?

How To Market Yourself Course: http://simpleprogrammer.com/howtomarketyourself

Feb 12, 2017

Oh, if I could count the times I've talked about giving excuses in this channel I think it would make more than 20... But, you know, there is always more to talk about.

Coming up with excuses for the mistakes you make in your life is what most of us do. Sometimes, this is a completely unconscious process and coming to awareness is sometimes difficult.

This is why, in this video, I'm going to talk about how giving excuses is not the right path to follow and why you should be aware of what you do so you can cut the bad by its roots.

How You Live One Day Is How You Live Every Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udLzJd2uZVs&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4WlPk3TAMcC2NfiKY26I28O&index=1

Feb 11, 2017

Fasting diet is a relatively new topic that is gaining popularity among athletes and fitness enthusiasts over the last years.

Due to its new popularity, people still have some doubts and questions about the efficacy of the results.

Besides that, it is had to get used to the idea that you will only be able to eat one meal a day, which gets in confront with what we know is considered "healthy".

So... Is fasting a healthy thing to do? Will you get sick when trying to fast?

Why I Fast Until 5 Every Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAScRmlcHaE&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4U4xrSdGiN9fh04NjHoNwTq&index=207
KetoSports KetoCaNa Dietary Ketone Supplement: https://simpleprogrammer.com/ketocanasupplement

Feb 10, 2017

Balancing Social Life & Work... Is it possible?

In today's video, I've received a question from a fan of the Simple Programmer community asking me if it was possible to achieve a proper balance of social life and work.

He told me that he wants to become an entrepreneur but he is struggling to find this balance between his work and social life. Should he cut going out with his friends completely?

Should he stop hanging out on weekends? Should he become a workaholic?

This Online School For Developers Pays Teachers Millions Of Dollars: https://simpleprogrammer.com/fastcompanysp
10X Rule Book Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvCykNiSncQ&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4W7aRN5cCCZ90AIDYoLpqVa&index=13
Be Obsessed Or Be Average Book Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0PDUNKJpxg&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4W7aRN5cCCZ90AIDYoLpqVa&index=14
Are You Willing To Pay The Price?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y7mh0YvBPw

Feb 9, 2017

Today I've partnered up with some pretty awesome guys from Scaphold to talk about GraphQL Backend as a Service, which is something this amazing company is doing.

Here is for you that want to know more about the company:
"Several months ago, the Scaphold team set out to build the most powerful GraphQL backend as a service platform. We're excited to have you build tons of apps on it! Recently, we were accepted into Y Combinator's Summer '16 Fellowship program, and we'll be working around the clock to give you the best possible experience. We'd love to hear from you!"
(Source: https://scaphold.io/contact)

And this amazing work is bringing some awesome results, especially for those who as interested in GraphQL Backend.

Scaphold was built to address many issues that we've encountered as application developers. They believe that building applications should be quicker and easier to launch, scale, and maintain.

So, are you interested in GraphQL and knowing more about this amazing company?

Scaphold.io Website: https://scaphold.io/
Scaphold.io Community (With Tutorials): https://scaphold.io/community/

Feb 8, 2017

There is a lot of talk nowadays about stereotypes and how harmful they can be for people in general.

I hear a lot of talking about how we should make an effort to get rid of stereotypes and how relying on stereotypes is an offensive (and sometimes racist/sexist) thing to do.

But before we continue, we need to understand what are stereotypes:
"A stereotype is a preconceived notion, especially about a group of people. Many stereotypes are racist, sexist, or homophobic."
(Source: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/stereotype)

So... How do we get rid of stereotypes? More important than that: Do we WANT to get rid of stereotypes?

Thinking Fast & Slow: https://simpleprogrammer.com/thinkingfastandslow

Feb 7, 2017

Today I'm going to answer a video question I received from a fan of the channel/website.

We are going to talk about personal branding vs. technical skills.

As you know, I'm a big fan of marketing and a lot of people don't seem to get the importance it has.

Ricky asked me what was the most important thing for a developer: personal branding or technical skills?

Should you focus on improving your personal branding or should you become the best developer you know when it comes to technical skills?

How To Market Yourself Course: http://simpleprogrammer.com/howtomarketyourself

Feb 6, 2017

Avoiding distractions... How nice would it be if we had a magic pill that would do all the work for us, huh? Imagine if we could take a pill and get 100% focused all the time?

Well, due to the fact that it won't happen, we have to face the facts: distractions exist and we must learn how to deal with them.

How can we make sure we will avoid distractions and focus on what we need to do? Is there a proper strategy that will make you more productive, ignoring the most distractions you could possibly ignore?

Watch this video and find out!

GET The Complete Software Developer's Career Guide: https://simpleprogrammer.com/career-guide-yt
7 Habits Of Highly Effective People: https://simpleprogrammer.com/7habits
Essentialism Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/essentialismbook
The One Thing Book: https://simpleprogrammer.com/theonethingbook
How To Market Yourself As A Software Developer: http://simpleprogrammer.com/howtomarketyourself
How I Plan My Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9k0OhJkjQ0

Feb 5, 2017

We all like to appear strong as if we did not have any weaknesses, right?

As I've talked before, it can be a good thing. Showing off as a strong person will make you a good competitor and a good player in the "life's game".

However, you should acknowledge that you have weaknesses, at least, for one person, which is yourself.

In this video I'll tell you how you should start exploiting your weaknesses so no one will be able to take you down because of that...

What True Freedom Really Means?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpA9Ng74s2U&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4XRTEK79UXmtkUT-jsP4rUP&index=177
Protecting Your Downsides Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4WCsxny8bXwEoiUISjZNTOP
Day In The Life Ep. 4: SPARTA! & Halloween Half Marathon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POsV_m9wA44&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4XU7upbnSB0OdZmOxvABZJh&index=5

Feb 4, 2017

A lot of people make excuses for their mistakes.When they first get confronted with a failure they just end up giving excuses for the mistakes they've made and they literally don't evaluate, at least, what happened to things end up that way.

I agree that not everything is under your control. There are a lot of things that can turn out to be wrong and you cannot control.

However, it is important that you set yourself up, evaluate your mistakes and study how you can improve and prevent this from happening next time.

So, this why I say: stop with the excuses and pay the consequences!

Stop Making Excuses & Take Fucking Action!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqz0gkGpARg&index=101&list=PLjwWT1Xy3c4XRTEK79UXmtkUT-jsP4rUP

1 2 Next »