Introductions - passing my context in

"Standing on the shoulders of giants" is a well-known phrase people use to indicate they have gotten to their current location thanks to the hard work of many others before them.  Open Source Software (OSS) codifies that concept, encouraging us all to share, and provide a better starting place for those behind us.

I have long had a habit of lurking on the edges, processing what I could pick up from others brave enough to speak.  I had the attitude "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."  However, lately I have started to agree with a line of thought that it is ok to share ideas that may even be wrong - as long as I am willing to update based on conversations around the topic.  So, that gave me the impetus to start this blog.

I thought it would help to identify where I have come from, and what lessons I have picked up along the way.  Hopefully, I can expand on some of the lessons in future posts.

From school:

1. Actively seek learning opportunities
2. Value of internships pursuing your career before you get there
3. Lessons evolve over time - if you make time to ponder.

Factory Automation & Motion Control:

1. Rounding Errors caused by digital sampling
2. The process of Troubleshooting
3. Engineering Estimates for sanity checks

Software Quality Assurance & Testing:

1. Equivalence Classes
2. Test Plans
3. Metrics will get gamed
4. Processes - the wrong way (looking at you, Mr Waterfall).  Setting the stage for agile

 Shells and Scripting:

1. Let the computer do the work for you.  Beginnings of DRY
2. Repeatability is even more valuable than speed
3. Favorite shell commands

Databases: Queries, Data Warehouses and ETL:

1. Set Math: union, intersects, etc
2. In databases, null <> null
3. Sub-Queries for readability & modularity
4. Religion is overrated (Oracle vs SQL Server)
5. Performance Tuning such as inserts cheaper than updates.
6. Profiling Data - helps identify which inputs exist, what/how much should exist in output
7. Extract Transform Load.  Consistent approach helps decompose any conversion of data.
8. Hammers.  People have their comfort zone.  It doesn't mean those are appropriate solutions.

Web Development:

1. HTML5 & Avoiding the lowest common denominator
2. Find smart resources, including people smarter than you
3. Find existing solutions.