Plug is the specification that enables web frameworks written in the Elixir programming language to talk to different web servers running in the Erlang virtual machine. If you’re a rubyist, Plug is to Elixir what Rack is to Ruby.

My somewhat imited experience of Javascript had been painful, so I was apprehensive of diving back into it. Turns out, I shouldn't have been. Javascript has changed a lot, for the better. Here is a quick overview of the novelties that made it fun to write Javascript.

Test operates in one thread. The code under test runs in other threads, which your test knows nothing about. So how do you test multi-threaded code?

Once a week, I meet up with my mentors Christoph and Andrea to demo my work and to plan the upcoming iteration. The process mimics the agile practices used with 8th Light clients. My mentors act both as peers who review my work, and as clients who expect me to deliver value for their business.

There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult.

I started working on my Java TicTacToe application this week. When it came to picking a data structure for my board, I reached for Array. But then I discovered Java also had ArrayList.

Today, I am writing my first Java app ever. In line with 8th Light tradition, it will be a game of Tic Tac Toe.

Last Saturday was my first Global Day of Code Retreat. Code Retreat is an event where software engineers meet to for a day to practice their craft by attempting to create Conway’s Game of Life, in four or five 40-minute sessions.

Sandi Metz gave a talk titled The Magic Tricks of Testing at Rails Conf 2013. She tells us about what should be tested and whose responsibility it is to do so. Here are my takeaways.

Yesterday was my first day coaching at Codebar. Despo Pentara posted a tweet in the afternoon that they were short of a coaches due to unusually high number of students, and I have always enjoyed teaching, so I jumped in without hesitation. It’s also the best way to learn and uncover the gaps in my knowledge.

The philosophy of Software Craftsmanship really speaks to my core values, and I know I want to become a craftsman and work with people who follow that ethos. The journey is long and difficult, but it will do anything it takes to become true craftsman.

Ryan Singer of 37signals came to Starter School to talk to us about how to think about design and product development.

By default, the shell prompt on Mac OS X is somewhat cluttered so I customised it to be nice and minimalistic.