# About Name: Coding in the Wild Description: Explore the different ways coding and computer science are applied across various industries—a blog by CodeHS. URL: https://codinginthewild.com # Navigation Menu - Visit CodeHS: https://codehs.com # Blog Posts ## Coding for Cloud Solutions at Microsoft Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2025-04-09 Tags: Computer Science, Engineer, Coding, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-cloud-solutions-at-microsoft-cm9a2ewgl001le48z2nikei97 ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/ankita-sharma-blog-banner-1744211386686-compressed.png) Technology is constantly evolving, shaping the way we connect and interact with the world. At the heart of this transformation is Ankita Sharma, a Software Engineer at Microsoft, whose work helps build the invisible yet essential infrastructure behind our digital experiences. With a strong foundation in computer science and a love for storytelling, Ankita blends problem-solving with a human touch as she navigates the world of cloud computing—an intricate network of servers and data centers that power countless applications and services. ### A Journey Driven by Passion and Growth Ankita’s entry into the tech world was sparked by her father’s encouragement—a nudge she now deeply appreciates. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, she launched her career at JPMorgan Chase, where she spent three years refining her skills and setting the stage for the pursuit of her American dream. Seeking new challenges and opportunities, she pursued a Master’s in Information Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Through persistence, continuous learning, and self-belief, she secured her current role at Microsoft. ​“My current role at Microsoft came through a mix of persistence, continuous learning, and believing in myself,” Ankita shared. Beyond her technical prowess, Ankita believes in the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between complex technology and human understanding. ### Building the Infrastructure of the Future at Microsoft Microsoft, a leader in global technology, creates the software, hardware, and cloud services that millions depend on every day. Ankita plays a role in the Azure Storage team, where they focus on the core infrastructure that makes the cloud run smoothly. Essentially, she’s helping build the foundation that keeps data safe, scalable, and accessible in the digital world. Within Azure Storage, Ankita’s focus is on capacity management. This crucial area ensures that Microsoft’s data centers have the precise amount of storage needed to meet the ever-growing demands of the cloud, allowing for efficient and seamless scaling. Her work involves a significant amount of coding, ranging from the development of internal tools and automation scripts to the intricate analysis of large-scale data and the continuous improvement of production systems. “Coding is core to what I do — from building internal tools and automations to analyzing large-scale data and improving production systems,” Ankita explained. Beyond her core engineering responsibilities, Ankita also dedicates her time as the Finance Lead for Azure Families, an Employee Resource Group within Microsoft. This initiative fosters a supportive community for employees, particularly parents and caregivers, demonstrating her commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work environment that extends beyond code. ### Advice for Aspiring Computer Scientists For students considering a path in computer science and cloud technologies, Ankita offers valuable advice rooted in her own experiences: >  “Don’t wait to feel ‘ready’ — you might end up waiting forever. The best learning comes from doing.” She emphasizes the importance of practical application, recommending platforms like LeetCode for aspiring Software Engineers to hone their skills and preparation for interviews. Ankita emphasizes the importance of grasping core concepts in computer science as a strong foundation for any career in the field. She also points out something many might not expect—the crucial role of communication: “Being able to explain your thought process clearly is a game-changer.” ### The Foundational Importance of Computer Science Education Ankita believes in the power of computer science education for all students, regardless of their intended career path. > “Computer science teaches you how to think—how to break problems down and solve them creatively. Whether or not you pursue tech, those skills are powerful.” She sees it as a fundamental skill for navigating the modern world, emphasizing that its principles extend beyond computers to encompass how information is organized and processed in various aspects of life. In her view, “It’s the future of almost everything.” ### Tools and Languages of the Trade Ankita’s daily work involves a diverse set of tools and programming languages: * **Languages:** C#, Python, SQL, some Bash and PowerShell. * **Tools:** Azure, Azure Data Explorer, Git, Visual Studio, VS Code, Copilot, and Semantic Kernel * **Other essential skills:** Dashboarding tools & basic system design principles ### Looking Ahead: Building a Better Future Through Technology Ankita’s journey is a powerful testament to perseverance, continuous learning, and the impact of technology in shaping the future. Whether through engineering, community-building, or mentoring, she exemplifies that tech is not just about coding—it’s about creating meaningful change. Her story highlights how a blend of technical skills, ongoing growth, and a passion for making a difference can lead to a fulfilling and impactful career in computer science. Ankita’s work serves as a reminder of the critical role software engineers play in shaping our digital future. ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1736776470165-1744211603632-compressed.jpeg) _​Ankita is a Microsoft Software Engineer, a builder at heart, and a firm believer that tech should empower people — not just processes._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Entrepreneurial Projects Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2025-03-14 Tags: Computer Science, Coding, entrepreneur, Tinder, Air Force URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-entrepreneurial-projects-cm89a0ume001stbw9oxiusnwe ​ ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1741986935805-compressed.png) ** ​In today’s tech-driven landscape, software development plays a crucial role in shaping how we interact with the digital world. From mobile apps to full-stack web development, the demand for innovative and efficient software solutions continues to grow. Dylan Williams, a professional software developer with a decade of experience, shares his journey, insights, and the impact of coding on modern technology. ### ​**A Passion for Software Development**​ ​Dylan’s journey into software development has spanned multiple industries, including commerce, military, and nonprofit sectors. > ​“I’ve been a professional software developer for the last ten years. I’ve branched out into contracting and working on my own projects recently.” Dylan shared. His experience includes working with companies like Tinder, a nonprofit wine company, and even the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. Currently, he is focusing on building his own company—a venture that has been both challenging and rewarding. As a freelancer, Dylan works on mobile app development and full-stack web development. This involves creating websites that run on laptops and mobile apps for smartphones, as well as back-end server software that processes and stores data in the cloud. His process involves working with product owners and users to develop software ideas, translating those ideas into designs, planning the architecture, and ultimately coding the final product. > ​“Coding is definitely the most fun part of the process as I get to help others with the software that I create.” ### Current Projects and Future Goals One of Dylan’s current projects is a passion-driven initiative aimed at making it easier for people to track their eating habits in a fun and engaging way. He finds it rewarding to combine the skills he has developed over the past ten years with the new challenge of managing his own business. His journey into entrepreneurship reflects his ambition to run his own company, a long-time goal now coming to fruition. ### ​**The Importance of Computer Science Education**​ For Dylan, computer science extends beyond just programming—it’s about problem-solving, organization, and critical thinking. He sees it as fundamental to understanding the modern world, emphasizing that it’s not just about computers but about how information is organized, stored, and processed, both digitally and mentally. He encourages students to learn computer science, as its principles are increasingly relevant in everyday life and beneficial for everyone. ### Tools of the Trade Dylan primarily works with JavaScript and TypeScript, which power web applications on both client and server sides. He uses Node.js for server-side development, PostgreSQL and SQL for database management, and cloud services from Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to deploy applications. These tools enable him to create seamless digital experiences across multiple platforms. ### Looking Ahead With a deep passion for technology and innovation, Dylan is excited about the future of software development. His work as a freelancer and entrepreneur allows him to explore new opportunities and continue making an impact in the industry. > ### “It’s been a rewarding process as I’m bringing together a lot of the skills I’ve learned over the last ten years together with a new journey in managing my own business.” Through his journey, Dylan Williams exemplifies how coding can be a powerful tool for problem-solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship. His story highlights the endless possibilities that come with mastering computer science and software development. ​ ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1742312516610-compressed.png) ** ​Dylan at dinner with his fiancé and her mother at Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Blvd. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Simulations and Mapping Software Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2025-02-19 Tags: Computer Science, Coding, Mapping, Movies, Video Games URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-simulations-and-mapping-software-cm7c5ltdl00bp13xnpwkr894j ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1739984125775-compressed.png) ** Richard Becker’s journey into the world of technology started with a love for movies and games. Over the years, his career has evolved from aspiring 3D animator to developing innovative cloud-native applications and machine learning solutions for GIS (geographic information systems) data. ### A Passion for Movies and Games Richard’s journey into tech began with his fascination for movies and games. He dreamed of becoming a 3D animator, imagining himself working for studios like Pixar. By college, Richard was already self-taught in 3D modeling, but he discovered there weren’t formal degree programs for it at Oregon State University. After a counselor suggested computer science, Richard spent three years exploring it but felt disconnected from the creative domains he loved, like 3D rendering and graphics programming. That’s when he shifted gears, attending Full Sail University in Orlando, FL, to pursue Game Design and Development—a decision that launched his career. ### Solving Problems Across Industries Richard’s work has spanned diverse industries. He started in the modeling and simulation space, contributing to projects like flight simulators for the AV-8B, F-35, and Apache helicopters, as well as UAV flight control software. Later, he transitioned to big data and cloud computing, focusing on GIS applications and machine learning. Today, Richard develops scalable, cloud-native applications to process and transform massive volumes of mapping data. His work feeds machine learning models, helping intelligence analysts perform their critical tasks more effectively. For Richard, the best part of his job is the constant variety and challenge. He loves tackling new problems and collaborating with passionate, brilliant colleagues who push him to grow. ### Coding as a Core Skill In Richard’s world, coding is everything. His projects require expertise in multiple languages and tools, including Java, TypeScript, Python, WebGL, Docker, Kubernetes, and more. This tech stack allows him to create innovative solutions at scale. ### Advice for Aspiring Coders Richard’s advice to young coders? Don’t just learn to code—figure out what excites you. Explore industries like gaming, robotics, and mobile app development to find your niche. Each field has its own challenges and rewards, so take the time to learn what resonates with you. He also stresses the importance of strong engineering fundamentals. “Programming languages and tools will change, but good engineering principles are timeless,” he says. Focus on problem-solving, asking questions, and understanding how systems work. Above all, be open to learning and growing—your curiosity will be your greatest asset. Richard’s journey is proof that with passion, adaptability, and a willingness to learn, you can build a fulfilling career in tech while staying true to what inspires you. ​ **** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1739984263200-compressed.jpeg) **** _​In his free time, Richard enjoys studying and playing music, as well as spending time outdoors (since he spends so much time indoors for work!). He loves snowboarding and anything related to nature, especially activities that take him to the water._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for the Future with AI Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2025-01-14 Tags: Computer Science, AI, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Education, K-12 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-the-future-with-ai-cm5vkwf2b0000f790sinbemka ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1736871170856-compressed.png) ** Meet Sid Probstein: a software engineer, futurist, and passionate live music fan. Explore Sid's journey through the world of technology and his insights into the ever-evolving landscape of AI and computer science. Sid's journey into the world of programming began at the age of 11, when his father, a professor at MIT, bought him a TRS-80 computer. This early introduction ignited a lifelong passion for technology. Over the years, Sid has honed his skills and carved a niche for himself in the tech industry, becoming a startup technology leader with expertise in search, NLP, and AI. ### ​SWIRL: Connecting AI with Enterprise Systems Sid is the founder of SWIRL, an AI infrastructure software company that bridges the gap between AI and enterprise systems like OneDrive and ServiceNow. Founded in 2022 with a team of former colleagues, SWIRL empowers organizations to have meaningful conversations with their data. While SWIRL is rooted in the tech industry, its reach extends to large enterprises across various sectors. Sid's coding philosophy revolves around creating working prototypes and refining them with customer feedback. He describes this approach as "product-led growth," a concept that has gained traction in recent years. One of SWIRL's exciting projects involves Human Reinforcement Learning Feedback (HRLF), highlighting the company's commitment to advancing AI capabilities. > “The AI industry is characterized by rapid advancements that can dramatically shift strategies.” - Sid Probstein Sid talks about playing with Eliza, an early AI attempt at passing the Turing test, and marvels at how technologies like ChatGPT represent a logical evolution with incredible potential. ### Insights and Tips for Aspiring Computer Scientists There is an importance of staying informed about the daily breakthroughs in AI, as these developments often lead to game-changing innovations. While some companies focus on making hype a reality, others thrive by enabling the seamless integration of AI components. Sid believes that understanding how technology works is as crucial as learning physics, math, or chemistry, given its ability to enhance our comprehension of the world. He envisions a future where universal translators become a reality, reducing the need for humans to learn multiple languages—a testament to the power of computer science. Sid's toolkit includes Python, Django, Celery, Redis, Postgres, OpenSearch, Beautiful Soup, spaCy, and LiteLLM, reflecting his versatility in leveraging diverse technologies for his projects. His journey from a curious programmer to a visionary tech leader exemplifies the transformative power of computer science. His dedication to advancing AI and his insights into the industry's future make him a valuable voice in the ever-evolving world of technology. As Sid continues to explore new frontiers, he inspires us to embrace innovation and shape a future where AI and technology enhance our lives in unimaginable ways. ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1736871272398-compressed.jpeg) ** ​ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Electric Vehicles at Rivian Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2024-12-13 Tags: Rivian, Car, Computer Science, Engineer, AI URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-electric-vehicles-at-rivian-cm4mwq0el00cb10m8gn9dc7py ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1734104051095-compressed.png) ** In the rapidly evolving world of technology, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into various industries is heavily shaping the future. One of the most exciting areas of development is in the automotive field, particularly in electric vehicles with advanced driver-assistance systems. Hanlin “Asher” Mai, a Masters/PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois and engineer at Rivian Automotive, shared his journey, insights, and contributions to this field. Asher's journey into the realm of AI and computer vision began with a strong foundation in artificial intelligence and machine learning. "I got into my current role by taking free courses online and focusing my electives on subjects related to this field," Asher explained. This dedication to continuous learning paved the way for Asher to join Rivian Automotive, a cutting-edge startup specializing in electric vehicles designed for adventure, with a strong emphasis on advanced driver-assistance capabilities. At Rivian, Asher is part of a team that is pushing the boundaries of what electric vehicles can achieve. "I work on compressing neural network models used for object recognition, making them smaller and faster while preserving their accuracy," Asher shared. This work is crucial for developing efficient and responsive driver-assistance systems, which rely on quick and accurate object recognition to ensure safety and reliability. Coding plays a central role in Asher's work at Rivian. By experimenting with various compression techniques, Asher and the team strive to optimize the performance of neural network models. "I use code to experiment with how different compression techniques affect the performance," Asher noted. This approach to problem-solving demonstrates the importance of coding skills in driving technological innovation. ### The Importance of Computer Science Education In today’s digital age, understanding computer science is more important than ever. Asher emphasizes its significance by drawing parallels to other fundamental classes: > "We learn chemistry and physics not because we need to use them in life, but to help us understand the world around us better. In a world where computer science is increasingly used to shape our everyday lives, it's important to know how they work so we aren't scared of them." For those interested in getting into the world of computer science and AI, Asher offers advice. "One tip is to take free online courses such as those on HuggingFace to get more insight and knowledge in this area," Asher suggested. This approach allows learners to build a strong foundation and equip them with the skill set needed to thrive in the tech industry. Asher’s toolbox includes a range of programming languages and tools that he uses in his day-to-day life. He mentioned that the programming languages that he uses the most are Python and some C++. Additionally, Asher utilizes tools such as PyTorch, Scikit-Learn, and OpenCV to develop and refine cutting-edge Computer Vision technologies. ### Looking to the Future Asher is optimistic about the future of AI in the automotive industry. "The integration of AI in vehicles is just the beginning," He said. "We’re on the brink of a new era where vehicles are not only sustainable but also intelligent and adaptive." This vision of the future highlights the potential of AI in creating smarter, more connected transportation systems. Through his work at Rivian, Asher Mai is helping to advance AI technologies that are reshaping the automotive industry. His passion for innovation and commitment to technological advancement serves as an inspiration to aspiring programmers and emphasizes the exciting opportunities that lie at the intersection of AI and automotive engineering.​ ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1734104128527-compressed.jpeg) In his free time, Asher loves to challenge himself by mastering new yo-yo tricks. He’s also deeply passionate about the newest cutting-edge technology, and he is constantly exploring the latest innovations. When he’s not sharpening his technical skills, you can often find him on the basketball court playing against his friends.​ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Dating Apps Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2024-11-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-dating-apps-cm394wudt000355shbko5ur9p ### ​​By: Michael Black ** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1731094556087-compressed.png) ** Meet Michael Black! Michael is a Backend Staff Software Engineer at Match Group, and he works on helping people find love through the power of coding. We chatted with Michael about his experience coding and he shared advice he has for young coders. ​**Tell us about your background.** Originally from the Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota, I’ve had a passion for programming for a long time. When I was in 6th grade I was really into a video game and wanted to create a website for it, and this led to me teaching myself about HTML and CSS to customize an online forum.  From there I started learning how to write programs on my TI-84 calculator, and eventually enrolled in an AP Computer Science class my senior year of high school where I really learned what it meant to write meaningful and productive code. After high school I studied computer science at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) where I learned to really push my coding skills to new heights.  While enrolled at the University of Minnesota I worked 2 summer internships at a subsidiary company of Dell where I built full-stack web applications to assist team workflows. After graduation I accepted a job at Target corporate as a software engineer where I built and maintained backend data systems and web APIs across domains such as supply chain and point of sale.   **What do you work on?**  Currently, I work as a Backend Staff Software Engineer at Match Group, where I work on developing dating apps to help people find love. During my first year I helped maintain and add features to OkCupid, one of the internet’s oldest dating apps, and over the past 2 years I’ve been working with our team to develop a new dating app called Archer which focuses on helping gay men connect and find love. **What is your favorite thing about your job?**  I really enjoy the problem solving aspect of my job, and how what I do has a tangible impact on other people’s lives.  **How do you use coding in your projects?**  Coding can be used to solve so many different problems, and it comes down to picking the right tools for the right job. On some projects I may use Typescript, React, and CSS to develop a website for internal tools (such as a moderation dashboard, in the case of dating apps).  On most of my projects I’ll use Go to develop web servers that can perform tasks and track data on behalf of mobile apps, or perhaps develop data processing servers that allow us to quickly process and make use of data generated by our backend systems and user activity.  On other, smaller projects I’ll use Python to create basic scripts that allow me to easily automate tasks or provide functionality that is easy to repeat. As an example I recently used Python to develop a script that captures prices from a website, processes the data into an easy-to-read format, and tweets out that formatted data every day so that I could easily track price changes. **What advice do you have for young coders?**  The best way to learn a new language or technology, regardless of experience level, is to have a problem in mind that you’re trying to solve and then learning with the goal of solving that problem. If you’re unsure of what problem to solve, try searching online for good beginner projects for the language you’re trying to learn.  > Giving purpose to what you’re learning will help motivate you to keep learning, even when the going gets tough. **What tools and languages do you use?**  **Languages:**  * Go * Python * SQL * React Javascript/Typescript * Kotlin **Tools:**  * PostgreSQL/MySQL * Kafka * Docker * JetBrains IDEs ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/unnamed-1731095354986-compressed.png) _When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with friends, playing video games, going skiing, and traveling the world._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding in Web Consulting Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-10-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-web-consulting-cm2azubz70002bxcjljlvgl63 ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1729030042722-compressed.png) Meet Andrew Gritten. After graduating from Wichita State in 2018 with a degree outside the world of programming, Andrew started a career in insurance. His career path soon took an unexpected turn when he decided to take coding courses through Bottega, eventually working through the Workflow Academy. Today, he builds out automations from clients and integrates their Zoho applications using Deluge. Andrew’s work focuses on building out automations for clients, specifically integrating their Zoho applications using Deluge, Zoho’s scripting language. A large part of his job involves fulfilling specific client requests. > “Zoho has very flexible products, but our clients want particular automations built out, and that’s where my team comes in. We also build widgets in JavaScript occasionally, but that’s more specialized work.” His role requires a deep understanding of how to customize Zoho applications to meet the clients needs, as well as the ability to use code to update records or parse data and then make decisions. The coding needs involve creating maps and lists that are then used to update or create records in whatever system they are using. He appreciates the flexibility in his role and enjoys being part of a highly skilled team. The experience at Zenatta has provided him with valuable learning opportunities that have significantly enhanced his skills. His team mostly codes in various Zoho Applications and in VSCode. They also utilize Deluge, which is a Zoho specific coding language, SQL for analytics, and JavaScript for custom widgets. For those looking to break into the field of coding, Andrew offers some sage advice: > “Stay humble, hungry, and honest. If you’re working for a good employer, volunteering to learn something new and being upfront that you’re still learning can take you far. Trying something new will only improve your coding skills.” Andrew’s day-to-day work involves a mix of tools and programming languages, primarily Zoho’s own coding language, Deluge, SQL for analytics, and JavaScript for custom widget development. Most of his coding is done within various Zoho applications or in VSCode, a popular code editor. Andrew’s journey into coding shows the power of pursuing your passions and embracing change. With a full change in career path, he’s proof that with the right mindset and determination, anyone can find success in the tech world. ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/image-cp-1729030044223-compressed.jpeg) _When he’s not working on automating workflows or building widgets, Andrew enjoys brewing his own beer and playing a variety of musical instruments, including the guitar, bass, violin, and piano. His passion for creativity and problem-solving extends beyond his work, adding balance to his life and fueling his drive for innovation._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## About Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-10-13 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/about What is coding in the wild? A blog to share stories of computer science being used across fields. Want to submit a story? Email hello@codehs.com. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Web Apps Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-09-13 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-web-apps-12f4db4f74a2 * * * ### Coding for Web Apps #### By: Willie Jenkins ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1fortpiktdzcreeevwga-1729031508933-compressed.png) Ever since my first computer science class in high school, I knew technology was my future. I’m Willie Jenkins, a web application designer and maintainer. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UNC-Charlotte, I gained experience through various coding projects and then worked as a software engineer at Wells Fargo Bank. Seeking to deepen my skills, I pursued a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Software Engineering, which has shaped my current role in designing and maintaining web applications. The applications I support are mainly written in Java, and I write these web apps to gather information via client input, creating reports in PDF format generated by the app. My main responsibilities are split between coding and issue management. I’m responsible for all software enhancements, including responding to user requests for new features. My process begins with gathering detailed information about the requested features, which I then use to create a comprehensive design document. This document includes mockups that visually represent the enhanced application, along with detailed descriptions of how each interactive element, such as buttons and textboxes, will function. While the mockups are highly impactful, the entire process can take several weeks to complete. After the user approves the document, I will use this same document to make all the necessary changes. I will code and thoroughly test the software to make sure that it doesn’t have any issues and ensure that it functions exactly as expected. The second aspect of my job involves troubleshooting issues that may occur with the application. Problem-solving is essential in this industry; if the application fails to meet customer expectations, it could jeopardize the company. Occasionally, I need to review thousands of lines of code to pinpoint the problem. My favorite thing about my job is learning and implementing new technologies. The tech industry is always making enhancements to existing features such as new advancements and improving efficiency. Staying on top of new features happening within the industry is critical to staying relevant because tech is evolving everyday. In my role, I write code for both desktop and web applications, utilizing multiple programming languages, including Java, C++, Perl, JavaScript, SQL, PowerShell, and HTML. My team and I also write code to ensure that our work is correct. This involves creating test scripts for automated tools that mimic user input to verify that the software functions as expected. Coding plays an integral role in nearly all industries, as software is an essential part of any 21st century business. Even in cases where a business only utilizes third-party software, that tool may need a small amount of coding to further customize it for that business. > “As with any profession, there is a learning curve in mastering the skill of coding. You must be patient with yourself and trust that you can be as good as anyone else.” I’ve always seen coding as both a science and an art. Coders are creators, and coding encourages personal expression. No two people write code in exactly the same way; each individual’s unique style shines through in their work, like a personal signature. Technology is always changing, and we must evolve with it. I encourage young coders to stay agile — pick up new skills, gain new knowledge, tackle new challenges, and read technology articles. Take advantage of online learning academies, especially if your company offers them for free. Coding is essentially problem-solving. It provides solutions, but to excel, one must first become a strong problem-solver. The act of coding can be straightforward; however, grasping the problem at hand is the real challenge. Be a good listener, and never hesitate to ask questions before attempting to solve a problem. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/03v6g70ah4zaqmoaa-1729031510569-compressed.0*3v6g70AH4zaQmOaa) _I love staying active with outdoor activities like softball, tennis, racquetball, and jogging. Gardening brings me a lot of peace, and I also make time for weight training at the gym about three to four days a week. Music is a big part of my life — I play the cello and piano, and I used to perform in a string ensemble before moving to Philadelphia three years ago. I’m currently looking for a similar group to join here._ _Traveling is another passion of mine. Each summer, I pick a new destination within the U.S. to explore, aiming to visit most of the country. In the winter, I always look forward to a ski vacation with friends._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for IT & Climate Monitoring Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-08-16 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-it-climate-monitoring-7f40c00f63bb * * * ### Coding for IT & Climate Monitoring #### By: Travis Bonfigli ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1kcw1ysy81ujf9jtsdj93a-1729031566638-compressed.png) Meet Travis Bonfigli. Travis began his journey into the Information Technology realm in the summer of 1989, a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of what would become a deeply rewarding and expansive career in the technology field. His initial foray into the field was when he was a member of the United States Army. While serving, he was introduced to the intricacies of UNIX systems and network administration. This foundational experience laid the groundwork for his expertise and fostered an enduring passion for all things technological. Following his tenure in the military, he ventured into the dynamic world of government contracting and Internet Service Providers (ISP), contributing to the technological advancements and customer service initiatives of industry giants such as AT&T, Fannie Mae, and USInternetworking. These roles not only honed his technical skills but also imbued him with a profound understanding of the internet’s infrastructure and its critical role in modern society. The culmination of his experience and expertise are currently channeled into his role at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he has served for the past 12 years. Within this organization, he shoulders the significant responsibility of overseeing and maintaining a vast network comprising over 1000 networking devices. His work involves ensuring the seamless operation and security of the network infrastructure, a critical component in NOAA’s mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. By integrating network programmability and automation into the operations, he not only contributes to the agency’s mission but also paves the way for innovative uses of technology in environmental science. This synergy between IT and environmental research is not just about maintaining systems; it’s about creating a future where technology and nature work in harmony for the betterment of humanity and the planet. Throughout Travis’ career, he has witnessed firsthand the evolution of technology and its transformative impact on both the professional and personal spheres. His journey from a UNIX and network administrator in the Army to a pivotal role in supporting NOAA’s mission encapsulates a profound dedication to technological advancement — like network programmability and automation — and a steadfast commitment to excellence. In his current role at the NOAA, he is at the forefront of leveraging the transformative powers of network programmability and automation to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and bolster the security of our extensive networking infrastructure. His work primarily orbits around the sophisticated application of Python, Ansible, and BASH shell scripting, tools that are indispensable in the contemporary IT landscape. His favorite aspect of working at the NOAA has been the perpetual opportunity for learning and growth. Each day presents a unique puzzle; a challenge that demands not just the application of his accumulated knowledge and skills but also encourages him to stretch beyond them. The rapid pace of advancements in network programmability, automation, and the broader landscape of IT means that there is always a new breakthrough, tool, or methodology emerging. Python, Ansible, and BASH shell scripting, while now central to his work, were once areas he knew little about. This environment of constant evolution keeps Travis intellectually engaged and professionally agile. It’s not just about keeping up with technology but actively participating in its evolution, applying it in novel ways to support NOAA’s mission of understanding and predicting changes in the environment. Moreover, it aligns perfectly with his personal ethos of lifelong learning. For young aspiring coders embarking on the captivating journey into the world of programming, Travis’s advice is to embrace the process of making mistakes, and lots of them. “The road to proficiency and beyond is paved with a million and one errors, each a stepping stone towards your growth and understanding. In the world of coding, mistakes are not setbacks but rather, opportunities to learn, adapt, and innovate. It’s through these errors that you’ll discover not only the intricacies of programming languages and frameworks but also your unique problem-solving style.” Learning something new every day is the essence of a career in coding. The landscape of technology is constantly shifting, with new tools, languages, and paradigms emerging at a rapid pace. This environment offers an endless array of learning opportunities. “Approach each day with curiosity and the willingness to step out of your comfort zone, and you’ll find that your skill set expands exponentially, fueled by a genuine passion for discovery and improvement.” He also shared that the pathway to becoming a skilled coder is unique for everyone. It’s a blend of relentless practice, continuous learning, embracing failures, and ultimately, discovering what truly resonates. This journey, with all its ups and downs, is not just about writing code; it’s about crafting solutions, expressing creativity, and making a tangible impact. “Embark on this adventure with an open heart and mind, ready to make those million and one mistakes. They will shape you into not just a proficient coder, but a lifelong learner and innovator in the field you love.” * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1c9kpg0v7jsxl1kgy8dza-1729031568720-compressed.png) _Outside of work, I’m an avid soccer fan and Arsenal supporter, finding the strategy and teamwork on the field to be absolutely beautiful. When I’m not engaging in soccer, you can find me exploring nature and challenging myself on mountain biking trails, embracing the thrill and physical demands of the sport. My fascination with technology extends to my personal life through my interest in cryptocurrency and managing my NFT collection, which allows me to merge my passion for programming with Python into the evolving world of digital assets. These hobbies not only fuel my curiosity but also provide a refreshing counterbalance to my professional pursuits, keeping my daily routine vibrant and fulfilling._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Mobile Apps Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-07-12 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-mobile-apps-4ceaf4a966d9 * * * ### Coding for Mobile Apps #### By: Pete Bekos ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/075lcqbutv4p8kq2e-1729031537253-compressed.0*75LCqbuTv4p8kQ2e) Hi! My name is Pete Bekos, and I am a Lead Mobile Developer at AeroPay. From a young age, I have always been curious about how things work. This curiosity extended to video games, a hobby I shared with my friends, and our collective interest led me to discover that games are crafted through coding. I was inspired by friends who were exploring computer science and decided to enroll in an introductory coding course during high school. Being able to learn alongside my friends made coding more engaging, and through my high school years, I completed three coding courses, eventually developing a game in an independent study course. Completing this game reinforced my passion for coding and propelled me into pursuing a Computer Science degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In the final stretch of my college journey, I secured an internship with a startup focused on Android app development. Despite the initial challenges, I was able to cultivate a familiarity with Java during my internship and ease into the new role. This experience not only solidified my interest in app development but also paved the way for my career in the field. My primary focus in my role is developing mobile applications, though I’ve also ventured into web development. My portfolio includes a diverse range of applications, from shopping and chat apps to data management and financial tools. My expertise lies in front-end development, which involves crafting the user interface — the aspects of an app that users interact with, like buttons and screen transitions. This contrasts with backend development, which deals with the server-side code not executed on the user’s device. My career journey has introduced me to different organizational models. Initially, I worked at an agency specializing in retail applications. Agencies typically create products for clients, taking charge of updates and new feature implementations. I later transitioned to a product company that operates an online marketplace for used music gear. Unlike agencies, product companies maintain an in-house development team for their projects. This shift allowed me to concentrate on a single project rather than navigating multiple ones. Despite the differences between agencies and product companies, each has provided valuable experiences and learnings. In my role, I use the following tools: * Android Studio * Kotlin * Java * XML * XCode * Swift * JavaScript Coding is the foundation for creating applications, and my primary focus is on developing the interface that bridges the gap between the user and the server, where all the critical data resides. A significant part of my work includes crafting animations and transitions, adding a layer of visual appeal and interactivity to the apps. These elements are not just about aesthetics; they make the apps more engaging and intuitive, ensuring that users find them enjoyable and straightforward to navigate. For those new to coding, I suggest starting with small, manageable projects. A simple “Hello World” can be surprisingly enlightening, especially since setting up a development environment can be challenging in itself. This approach helps maintain focus on achievable goals, preventing the overwhelm that can come from attempting complex tasks too soon. > “Integrating coding with personal interests can also make learning more engaging. I encourage new coders to take a hobby and develop a tool or feature that complements it.” Alternatively, diving into an existing project on platforms like GitHub and experimenting with modifications can offer insight into larger, more complex systems. Many coders, including some I know, have found their footing by tweaking existing codebases. Embracing modern tools can further enrich your learning journey. Engaging with ChatGPT, for example, can provide a hands-on way to explore new programming languages or frameworks. While the output might need refinement, it often serves as a solid foundation to build upon. Additionally, mastering data formats like JSON and utilizing open APIs for various applications, from weather data to humor, can significantly enhance your projects. Tools like Postman are indispensable in this context, allowing you to experiment with network calls and API integrations without the overhead of a full project setup. > “What I love most about my job is being able to solve problems. There’s a deep sense of accomplishment in devising new functionalities for software or troubleshooting issues within existing features.” * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/15cfvq7thckwjp5mwdbqu0g-1729031542637-compressed.png) _Outside of work, my passion for electronic music offers a creative counterbalance to the logical rigor of coding. Crafting music, especially in collaboration with friends, provides a refreshing and relaxing escape. My approach to organizing music projects, often likened to programming by my friends, highlights how skills from one area of life can enrich another. This crossover is appreciated at work too, where my knack for blending artistic flair with technical skills enhances animations and UI elements. Beyond music, I relish the tranquility and challenge of nature through hiking and camping, the joys of culinary exploration and enjoyment, the vitality brought by biking and exercise, and the immersive worlds of gaming._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Education Technology Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-06-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-education-technology-b6dba623fa46 * * * ### **Coding for Education Technology** #### **By: James Chao** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0ixussv14muf2gwqh-1729032351237-compressed.0*ixussV14MuF2gWQH) Meet James Chao! James is a software engineer who has built web applications for educational tools like [Turnitin](https://www.turnitin.com/) and [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/). He graduated with a computer science degree during the early stages of the web. Because of the timing of his program, he didn’t learn web development during college but was able to use his skills to learn more about web technology as the tech was getting built. He began with barely interactive web pages and eventually was able to create full-blown desktop-level applications. His current role is as a Distinguished Software Engineer at Turnitin, a company dedicated to improving learning and promoting honesty in schools around the world. He’s been able to help build many tools, including one that allows teachers to give feedback with their voices. One interesting problem he had to solve was figuring out how to record and shrink audio files in the browser by compressing the audio stream in real-time using web workers while the user was speaking. After he figured out how to address this issue, the feature went live, and Turnitin received some positive feedback on social media from a teacher who loved how well it worked! > Another project James worked on was Turnitin’s new AI Writing report, which helps teachers and students use AI responsibly in school. James’ main role is working as a frontend architect, which means he not only writes his own code but also helps different teams use good patterns and work efficiently. Some things he really enjoys about his role besides his day-to-day is the ability to work remotely. He says it helps him reach personal goals, all while working with people he can learn from. In his spare time, he enjoys working on personal projects, like creating tools for his church and participating in fun coding challenges like Advent of Code. > “Treat coding like a fun puzzle! This is how I got into coding. If you treat it like a fun challenge then you can enjoy it more, while building something that is useful for yourself or others,” he shares to encourage young coders. He also advises aspiring computer programmers to be unafraid of changing or even deleting code when better solutions come up. James says, “Code is like a living creation that you will keep improving and building.” He uses the following tools in his role: **Frontend specific:** * Typescript / Javascript * Web Components * React **More general:** * AWS Lambda * VS Code * Github * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1nm8bgyb-afp89lr-ijm7sq-1729032355029-compressed.png) _James is a father of three kids, and they help keep his life busy, full, and fun. He also enjoys a rich community life at his church, where he serves as a children’s Sunday school teacher. He’s also a lover of food, and noodles and dumplings of all kinds top his list of favorites._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Supply Chain Software Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-05-02 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-supply-chain-software-07f912e6e1af * * * ### Coding for Supply Chain Software #### By: Andrew Gorbaty ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0oyi7u4vjke9um7bn-1729031502885-compressed.0*oyI7u4vjke9um7Bn) Hi! My name is Andrew and I’ve worked as a software developer for about nine years. I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering and a minor in Computer Science from Loyola University Maryland. Since then, I’ve worked for various companies, including mid-sized places with about 300 people and small startups with teams of less than 20 people. I started my career using C++ on Windows/Mac and rendering technologies like OpenGL to construct real-time graphics engines for Computer Aided-Design software. I also was responsible for creating apps and plugins to integrate data into other renderers and 3D formats. For the past 2 years I’ve been working with frontend and backend web technologies at a startup which creates supply chain software. I currently design and implement large, asynchronous backend systems which can take user inputs from the UI, email, or a file upload and create, update, or delete order and item information and successfully relay that information to a connected vendor, making buyers and vendors connected without having to sort through emails. A big focus has been changes to this pipeline in regards to AI, and we’re currently making some changes to support systems like OpenAI. Our goal is to help our customers create and update their orders or items from an email with text and PDFs and then our system will understand the email and update their order accordingly. I also work on a system that calculates if a user has the necessary inputs to build a product based on incoming inventory and orders. You can find out more at [Factor’s website](https://www.factor.io/). > _“My favorite part about being a software engineer is solving incredibly tough problems. It can be frustrating when faced with a situation where you don’t know where to start, but it can be incredibly rewarding to finally find what’s causing a problem, or even better, fixing a long standing problem.”_ A concrete example of this is when I was building computer-aided software at my previous job. We had this ongoing issue where zooming in and out on text objects was incredibly slow when text objects were abundant in the scene. It would stall for at least a couple of minutes every time we loaded more than 100,000 objects upon zooming into the model. This was because the text had different textures to represent [different levels of detail](https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/what-is-level-of-detail-lod-3d-modeling) depending on the current zoom length. Because these text textures kept getting swapped depending on the zoom distance, and we had to wait a long time for everything to get loaded into memory, this system made our software very frustrating to use. I designed an asynchronous system which addressed this problem. It was able to not only process geometry in parallel, but it was able to upload to the graphics card in parallel as well. Dealing with the pitfalls of this task was really frustrating at first because OpenGL did not have great documentation for working with multithreaded OpenGL contexts. However, after many days of debugging, I was finally able to put something together and load a model with more than 100,000 text objects, while zooming in and out quickly, each containing 3 different texture levels of detail. I was incredibly happy when I was able to demo this successfully and solve a tough problem. Most of my coding work has a direct impact on customer needs and is mostly feature related work. We recently designed and built a large feature that would allow a customer to create their own email outreach. This feature solves the issue of customers having to contact their vendors manually via email, which can save a lot of time if the customer has hundreds or even thousands of vendors and orders. All of our backend features are developed in Java 17 or above, and some features use the latest coding standards Java has to offer. Some of our code uses the new [switch case pattern matching offered in Java 21](https://belief-driven-design.com/looking-at-java-21-switch-pattern-matching-14648/). I use docker and bash fairly extensively at my job which provides life to all of our backend services. Our company has built an asynchronous platform which operates by using Kafka Streaming to process application events in backend microservices, or “consumers.” In a docker container you can essentially emulate any operating system, so knowing how to deploy docker containers onto a cloud infrastructure is paramount to our success as a team. > _“_Knowing how to become a good software developer depends not just on coding a solution efficiently, but also on how well you can design a holistic system where all of the parts work neatly together._”_ In a similar light I will also sometimes write scripts to perform convenient tasks, such as a script to batch email sent locally so I can quickly iterate on a feature I’m developing. Debugging can also take a large portion of my day sometimes. This will involve looking at logs generated by our code via AWS Cloudwatch or running with custom data sets locally to reproduce a given issue. Many times it can be easy to find out what is causing an issue or breaking something, but it’s much harder to find a solution to the problem once you find the cause. This is because many codebases (especially legacy ones) have a lot of existing logic in place, and you don’t want to break any other paths that coincide with the issue being debugged. We usually ensure business logic cases are preserved and are fixed after code changes by creating unit tests (which tests outputs of functions, or “units”) and integration tests (which tests the output of a system when all pieces of software are running simultaneously). For up and coming coders, I have five key pieces of advice, including: 1. If you want to learn a new skill, come up with a small project idea and implement it on your own time. Large project ideas can be fun but can also be overwhelming. 2. Don’t just rush head first into a problem without understanding the requirements for a given task. 3. Learn how to use Google and search by keywords. There have been countless times in my career where I’ve been saved by knowing how to look up things on Google using the correct search terms. 4. Ask others who know more if you’re stuck. Don’t be stubborn and say you can do it all on your own if you’re lost. 5. If you want a long, successful career in software engineering, be prepared to be a lifelong learner. Learning does not end when you leave school, or even when you leave a job. * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1fpo8yhjjunifdju5bbg8kq-1729031506503-compressed.png) _I try to keep myself busy outside of work throughout the year. If it’s nice outside, I’ll play ultimate frisbee, hike trails, or kayak the waters in the surrounding area. If it’s not so nice outside, I’ll either go to an arcade to play some rhythm video games or stay home and work on music._ _Recently I’ve been playing a lot of Dance Rush Stardom at the arcade; the music in it is incredible and it gets your body moving!_ _Here’s a picture of me competing in a Dance Rush tourney a few months back. It was a lot of fun!_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for E-Commerce at Target Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-04-05 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-e-commerce-at-target-519add5099b8 * * * ### Coding for E-Commerce at Target #### By Adrian Pietrzykowski ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0z6wrudo9eh8jgue-1729031697238-compressed.0*z6wRuDO9E_H8jGue) Hi! I’m Adrian Pietrzykowski and I’m a back-end programmer for Target. My story starts with my parents immigrating from Morocco and Poland to the United States. I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and found my passion for music at an early age through playing piano. My family ended up moving to New Jersey, and through ten different moves within the state, I was able to develop a passion for computers while continuing my piano education. After graduating high school, I started college at the University of Maryland, College Park, and decided to study computer science with no programming background. I was nervous about how I would compare against my peers, but I persevered throughout my undergraduate studies and was able to eventually work as a Software Engineer Intern at Target, resulting in a job offer post-graduation. My job primarily consists of programming back-end systems for Target. If you’re unsure of what back-end systems are, think of clicking a button on a website. > “While front-end engineers design everything related to how the button looks, back-end engineers are primarily responsible for what happens when the button is clicked, or the ‘behind the scenes’ work.” I’ve worked on two different teams in my Target career, Reverse Logistics and Target Plus. Reverse Logistics covers everything to do with online orders. I like to use this analogy: Think about everything that an online order might require to make it to your doorstep. First, it needs to be scanned at a warehouse, then loaded onto a truck to travel hundreds of miles. From there, it will be given to your local postal service, loaded onto a second truck, and finally delivered to your door! Reverse Logistics is the exact _opposite_ of that path. If you’re unhappy with the order, the team is responsible for everything going backwards, and how the order makes it back to the warehouse. My current team is Target Plus. Target Plus is similar to Amazon Marketplace, and allows small businesses to sell their items through Target on the online website. The programming languages I primarily work with are Java and Kotlin, and the tools consist of Spring, MongoDB, and Micronaut. Outside of coding languages and tools, I use Jira and Notion to keep track of my workflow and stay organized. I also use geeksforgeeks.org as my primary source of educational knowledge and continued learning in the programming field. My favorite thing about my job is the creative aspects. As I mentioned before, I grew up playing piano and found myself in lots of different artistic hobbies as I grew up, including graphic design, painting, drawing, and making music! Being able to apply my creative background to my current role when I’m solving problems is by far my favorite part of being a software engineer! I think many people believe engineering is a cut and dry field with a heavy emphasis on math, but I believe at the core of software engineering and programming lies problem-solving. Every problem has many different solutions, and thinking of all those solutions requires creativity, an aspect of engineering people may overlook. In addition to problem-solving, I also believe coding is the foundation of being a software engineer. Coding is where it all starts, and most big companies, even retailers like Target, are tech companies at their core. In the modern age, companies need to have a solid tech foundation to be competitive. Because of this, I spend almost every single day coding at my job, and sometimes I like to code small side projects like simple iPhone apps! For young coders, I have two pieces of advice. First, don’t get caught up in comparison to your peers. While it is important to try to excel at your career, the priority is to be able to learn and truly understand what you are working on. Coding has become a fairly competitive field, and there’s always going to be peers that started learning coding before you. Remember that comparing yourself to those individuals is only going to be detrimental to you, and that everyone starts at a different point. Success isn’t going to occur overnight, and comparison is the thief of joy. I went into college with no coding experience and I still became a software engineer for Target! My second piece of advice is to remember to have fun with coding. Coding is pretty cool and allows you to make some really awesome things! Remember to try to code a little bit outside of a school or work setting, and make things that you think are fun. One example could be making cool automated lights with a Raspberry Pi. The possibilities are endless! Software engineering is a problem-solving field that allows for the application of creativity, so don’t forget to apply that creativity. * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1p7ubbjgvu3pmbopi2xg4na-1729031701099-compressed.png) _When I’m not working, I love the outdoors and spend a lot of time either outside or at the gym. My main passion outside of work is making music. I love to get into music theory and spend time working on lots of different songs, spending time listening to other music for inspiration._ _Coding has helped me improve at making music because it has allowed me to have less of a learning curve when learning the software necessary to make music. Additionally, a lot of working with synthesizers is related to math (remember Sine, Cosine, and Tangent from math class? That plays a big part in how synthesizers work!)._ _Lastly, I am a history buff at heart and I spend a lot of time reading history books and listening to history podcasts as well._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Artificial Intelligence at TikTok Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-03-20 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artificial-intelligence-at-tiktok-365482ac1c36 * * * ### Coding for Artificial Intelligence at TikTok #### By Kayleigh Migdol ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1kdyqcr2bod4fozqitajo8a-1729031744037-compressed.png) As a middle school student, Kayleigh Migdol enjoyed playing “The Sims.” She spent countless hours crafting her characters, and eventually wanted to learn more about how the AI mechanism worked. Over time, she was able to learn more about AI and eventually Machine Learning (ML) and Statistical Modeling. She knew she wanted to research Machine Learning, and started college at Humboldt State (now Cal Poly Humboldt) before transferring to Carnegie Mellon. After an industry internship the summer after her junior year, she found she enjoyed building systems more than conducting research. Kayleigh graduated with a degree in Statistics and Machine Learning, and currently works at TikTok as part of the AI Privacy team. The goal for Kayleigh and her team is to build systems that ensure data isn’t being used improperly; for example, making sure gender isn’t being used to determine what ads you are shown on the app. As a software engineer, coding is the main part of her job, and she spends most of her time building out data pipelines and notebooks along with maintaining the service to manage the samples themselves. She also works on sampling different data being used for ML models, allowing her team to be able to identify what kinds of attributes are being included in the data and whether the data is being used properly. Sampling tens of thousands of datasheets along with being able to store samples is an extremely computationally expensive problem, and Kayleigh spends much of her time figuring out how to optimize them. She uses the following programming languages and tools in her role: * Python, MySQL, spark, Jupyter for data processing * Golang for microservices For aspiring coders, Kayleigh says, > “Software engineering is just figuring out how to break down big problems into smaller problems. If something seems overwhelming or you aren’t sure how to approach something, try and break it down into smaller parts. Keep on doing that until it is the smallest possible problem.” ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1s6myezcsyd6t0oe9z-qk0g-1729031745807-compressed.jpeg) Kayleigh visited Shanghai during a recent TikTok work trip. When she isn’t tackling AI problems at TikTok, Kayleigh enjoys playing board games with her friends. Her current favorite game is Blood on the Clocktower! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Creating Connections between Computer Science and Career Opportunities for Younger Readers Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-03-13 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/creating-connections-between-computer-science-and-career-opportunities-for-younger-readers-ee0e6f49c049 * * * ### Creating Connections between Computer Science and Career Opportunities for Younger Readers #### Revised Coding in the Wild blogs designed specifically for use in elementary classrooms ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1lkxi3khgboppebpiojiaxq-1729031685077-compressed.png) Earlier this year, we announced several shortened [Coding in the Wild blogs](https://codinginthewild.com/bringing-computer-science-to-life-with-coding-in-the-wild-blogs-for-elementary-students-45ad233c22cd) for younger students, and are excited to announce that we have updated some more blogs for elementary students! Teachers can use these condensed blogs in their classes as extra credit, a teaching tool, or to encourage students to learn independently during class. We are excited to offer these updated blogs and can’t wait to hear how these will be utilized in classrooms across the country to inspire young coders. **_Teaching Tip:_** _These articles have been written for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ * * * [**Coding for Fashion-Retail**](http://codehs.com/fashionretail_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/033fxpgrzbvbvn3mh-1729031687136-compressed.0*33fXPgrZBVBvN3MH) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/fashionretail_elementary). Emma Colner has been a lead software engineer at Stitch Fix for over six years. Stitch Fix is an online fashion retail company that uses machine learning algorithms, which are like AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help predict what its customers will like. She got into computer science because of her love for computer games and creating websites. * * * [**Coding for Custom Web Applications**](http://codehs.com/customwebapps_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0evgbknrgjzsgslgs-1729031688606-compressed.0*EVgBKNrGjzSGslgs) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/customwebapps_elementary). Branden does freelance work for different companies that need help with web applications. Freelance means he works independently, taking on different computer projects for different companies. * * * [**Coding for Machine Learning**](http://codehs.com/machinelearning_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0pilfuzw8slfvrnr0-1729031692094-compressed.0*PilFUZW8sLfvRnR0) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/machinelearning_elementary). Mona is a Specialist Solution Architect whose job includes helping companies use machine learning. Machine learning is part of AI and focuses on the use of data and algorithms to imitate the way that humans learn, gradually improving its accuracy. She also works with a lot of schools to help students learn machine learning in a fun way. * * * [**Coding for Autonomous Vehicles**](http://codehs.com/autonomousvehicles_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0osrkuhy4fitevwrh-1729031693732-compressed.0*OSrkUHy4fitEvwRH) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/autonomousvehicles_elementary). Jason Altice, a current software engineer, studied computers and engineering in college and now designs machines that drive themselves. We call these machines Autonomous Vehicles. He currently leads a team that makes sure autonomous vehicles do the right things at the right time. * * * [**Coding for Google Ads and Useful Home Tools**](http://codehs.com/googleads_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0hc2chiisrp54gsgy-1729031695549-compressed.0*hC2CHIIsRp54gsgy) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/googleads_elementary). Have you ever noticed ads appearing when you search for information online? Meet Sam. Sam has always enjoyed technology and electronics and currently uses programming to create effective ads. * * * CodeHS now offers K-12 curriculum to support districts building a vertically aligned computer science pathway. Learn more about CodeHS Elementary at [codehs.com/elementary/curriculum](http://codehs.com/elementary/curriculum) today! If you’re teaching elementary courses with CodeHS, you’ll be able to access all Coding in the Wild Blogs as well as other resources for your classroom here: [https://codehs.com/curriculum/elementary/resources](https://codehs.com/curriculum/elementary/resources) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding For Data Analysis & E-Commerce Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-03-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-data-analysis-e-commerce-1f235ce6285a * * * ### Coding For Data Analysis & E-Commerce #### By: Stewart Galloway ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1drjzikueocwkl4ozfos3a-1729031893276-compressed.png) Meet Stewart Galloway. Stewart works in e-commerce. He got his bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s in data science with a concentration in computer science. His first job out of college was doing data entry for a small scientific company doing geological surveys. From there, he developed an interest in data analysis and focused on data analysis as he advanced his career. #### **Can you describe your work?** Right now I work for an e-commerce company, but I’ve been working on Data & Analytics teams for my past several jobs. My job is mostly using data to answer general questions about large and small scale business operations. How many people are doing X per week? How can we improve Y product? Why are people no longer doing Z? #### **What tools and programming languages do you use in the work you do?** **Python-** Python is a very powerful and straightforward programming language that I use to manipulate data and draw insights. **Jupyter Notebook-** An extremely organized Python programming environment. **SQL-** A must for anyone who wants to work with data — I use it frequently in my role. **DataGrip-** An app for querying databases with SQL. #### **Do you have any tips for young coders?** Talk to people who are doing cool things! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get the perfect job right away. It can be much easier to get promoted within a company than to change jobs and companies at the same time. Talk to the people who are doing things that interest you, and ask them about how they do it! Ask them if there’s anything you can do to contribute, and put it on your resume. > “Talk to the people who are doing things that interest you, and ask them about how they do it!” #### **Outside of coding, what are some of your interests and hobbies?** I have a passion for native plants and wildlife so in my spare time I am gardening and enjoying all of the birds that visit my yard! The picture below is me on my trip to Costa Rica with some friends I met through the tropical plant hobby community (we went looking for cool plants and boy did we find them!) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1-rppc6e127gyc4ooevisa-1729031895418-compressed.png) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Data Privacy Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-02-29 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-data-privacy-9a3130996aa1 * * * ### **Coding for Data Privacy** #### **By Sourya Silwal, Software Engineer at Cisco, a data protection company** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/10uvtjtkibidvtnyuok8nba-1729032461940-compressed.png) Meet Sourya Silwal, a Software Engineer at Cisco and a part-time cybersecurity graduate student at Harvard. Sourya grew up in Minnesota, starting her journey in technology in high school. She joined Genesys Works, a non-profit career success program designed to provide minorities with valuable exposure to the technology field. Through this early exposure, Sourya found a passion for technology and decided to study computer science, eventually earning a degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. We asked Sourya several questions about her current role and advice she would give to young coders. #### **What do you currently work on?** Cisco provides data protection to companies around the world through networking and security services, and as a member of the Access Management team, I play a key role in managing access for our partners on Cisco’s Partner Experience Platform (PXP) and actively contribute to the implementation of Single Sign-On (SSO) for a secure user experience. Additionally, I’m a data privacy lead, where I work to secure partner data and ensure standards of data privacy and protection across our operations. #### **How do you use coding in your industry/project?** I’ve worked with various languages including Java, Javascript, and Python. In my role at Cisco, I have experience working on the Salesforce platform, using languages such as Apex for backend development and building Lightning Web Components used for dynamic user interfaces. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** * Java * Javascript * C++ * Python * SOQL (Salesforce Object Query Language) * Apex * Lightning Web Component * JIRA > “Throughout my academic journey, I explored various roles in the tech field, including product/program management and software engineering through internships. The most valuable lesson I learned from these experiences is the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone and never being afraid to ask questions!” #### **Why do you think computer science is important to learn?** Learning Computer Science opens up a world of possibilities and is truly an exciting journey. If possible, take any introductory programming courses being given at your high school. This will give you great exposure towards becoming a developer, building valuable skills, and will help you transition more smoothly into college. #### **What tips, advice or motivation would you give to aspiring high school students to pursue a degree in computer science?** I always encourage students to not be afraid to explore different areas of computer science. It’s a field that constantly evolves, offering different paths such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science. Find what truly excites you and aligns with your passions. The journey may have its challenges, but the sense of accomplishment and the endless possibilities that come with a degree in Computer Science makes it a rewarding experience. Embrace the learning process and have fun! * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1gl7ofkanazhn6louhwp3mg-1729032465616-compressed.png) _Outside of work, I love photography, travel, and painting, having explored France, Spain, Mexico, Hawaii, and Nepal in the past year. As a food enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for great restaurants, and one of my favorites is Ramen Nagi in Palo Alto, CA — the long lines are always worth the wait!_ 😊 --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Government Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-02-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-government-1f932adbc46b * * * ### Coding for Government #### By Steven Tidd ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1n7b6sukoqgabfdkhr89-qq-1729032474807-compressed.png) Growing up in the 1990s and 2000s, Steven was one of the first generations to be fully immersed in technology. He enjoyed learning about how things work and even considered pursuing a career in technology. Although he had an interest in studying computers, he didn’t know anyone who worked in an IT related job and didn’t see a clear career path. He instead chose to study Business at West Virginia University and obtain a Bachelors of Science in Business. He worked several managerial roles but still felt like he wanted to pursue a career in technology. After deciding to follow his passion, he left the business world and started teaching at a local high school. Through AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, and Web Development courses, he was able to dig deeper into computer programming, algorithms, and general web development and learn more about computer science. He eventually left teaching and began working in a tech role with the federal government. Currently, Steven works for a federal government contractor as a software engineer tasked with building and maintaining several web applications used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his or her vision across the Executive Branch. OMB’s mission is to assist the President in meeting policy, budget, management, and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency’s statutory responsibilities. Steven’s favorite part of being a software engineer for the federal government is having to solve unique and often difficult problems that have the potential to affect our entire country. He builds and maintains enterprise level Java web applications, with most of the code he writes involving creating data, reading data, updating data, and deleting data (CRUD) for government employees. He also writes code to develop internal tools for his team, which helps to automate processes. He utilizes the following tools & programming languages in his day-to-day: * Java * Javascript * SQL * Linux * Docker * Jenkins * Github * Visual Studio Code * IntelliJ Steven’s coding journey has left him with lots of advice for aspiring coders. When asked what advice he’d give to students interested in coding, Steven said, _“Be inquisitive. Don’t be afraid to start experimenting and tinkering with code. Building almost anything can be extremely rewarding, whether it’s a simple 2D computer game or a locally hosted web application.”_ ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1wwxusqlbmedjfzzj-1abqa-1729032479206-compressed.png) _Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and playing pickleball, in addition to watching baseball, football, and hockey. He loves playing board games like Settlers of Catan and Terraforming Mars. Steven resides on the east coast with his wife, 3 year old daughter, and Murphy, their 1 year old Australian Shepherd._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Bringing Computer Science to Life with “Coding in the Wild” Blogs for Elementary Students Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-01-29 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/bringing-computer-science-to-life-with-coding-in-the-wild-blogs-for-elementary-students-45ad233c22cd * * * ### Bringing Computer Science to Life with “Coding in the Wild” Blogs for Elementary Students ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/19f9ymgbltb2nai1sishtoq-1729032440207-compressed.png) At CodeHS, we’re passionate about making computer science education accessible and engaging for students of all ages (and reading levels). To help spark interest and expand the understanding of computer science, we’re thrilled to expand our [Coding in the Wild blogs](https://codinginthewild.com/now-introducing-coding-in-the-wild-blogs-for-elementary-students-4d48bfbe6c94) for elementary students. These blogs are tailored for 4th-grade reading levels and up, offering young learners a glimpse of real-world coding applications. Each blog focuses on a specific industry, illustrating how coding plays an important role. We are excited to see how these will be utilized in the classroom and inspire young coders. **_Teaching Tip:_** _These articles have been written for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ * * * [**Coding for Satellite Internet**](http://codehs.com/satelliteinternet_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1mtogtzqptgft-4r75o6k3w-1729032441722-compressed.png) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/satelliteinternet_elementary). After high school, Rachel wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to study so she started by reading some popular science books. After getting interested in physics and astronomy, she decided to learn more and eventually graduated with her Master’s degree. Rachel then joined a robotics startup company. * * * [**Coding for Astronomy**](http://codehs.com/astronomy_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/14qenaqfqudxvmksffqtvla-1729032443635-compressed.png) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/astronomy_elementary). Dillon is an astronomer in California who uses telescopes to study the birth and death of massive stars. He’s always approached life with curiosity, and spent many years at the library during his childhood. * * * [**Coding for Health and Fitness**](http://codehs.com/healthfitness_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/16immuxpj61i9w-3rl-nuaw-1729032445780-compressed.png) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/healthfitness_elementary). Meet Gabe, a co-founder of CoPilot, where his passion for fitness and technology comes together to create something to help people get healthier. Gabe works as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of CoPilot and he wants to make sure that their company can help everyone be healthy! * * * [**Coding in Education**](http://codehs.com/education_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0mlwbm8qxuuo-hghi-1729032449516-compressed.0*mLwBm8qxUuo-hGHI) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/education_elementary). Priya Rajagopal is a computer science teacher at Connecticut River Academy. After studying Engineering in India, Priya worked in Informational Technology (IT) before switching careers to become a teacher. * * * [**Coding for Artificial Intelligence**](http://codehs.com/artificialintelligence_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/115nwsp2cbhromn-csdsfww-1729032451130-compressed.png) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/artificialintelligence_elementary). Meet Jay Hack! Jay got into Artificial Intelligence in middle school. After teaching himself how to code, he came across a book that helped him understand how clever computers can be and how they think, making him even more interested in the world of AI. Stay tuned for more elementary-level Coding in the Wild resources on CodeHS! * * * CodeHS now offers K-12 curriculum to support districts building a vertically computer science pathway. Learn more about CodeHS Elementary at [codehs.com.elementary](http://codehs.com.elementary) today! If you’re teaching elementary courses with CodeHS, you’ll be able to access all Coding in the Wild Blogs as well as other resources for your classroom here: [https://codehs.com/curriculum/elementary/resources](https://codehs.com/curriculum/elementary/resources) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Oil and Gas Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2024-01-17 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-oil-and-gas-82d7a9769bb5 * * * ### Coding for Oil and Gas #### By: Josh Hoskinson ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ddgghsnyvu-lbqwxzgyzg-1729032374392-compressed.png) Hi! My name is Josh Hoskinson and I am a Data Scientist at Chevron. After I received my Bachelors and Masters in Applied Statistics from the Colorado School of Mines, I accepted a role with Chevron and moved to Houston, Texas. I lead data science projects in Chevron’s midstream business, meaning I manage data science models related to things like supply chain and pipelines. I find myself using optimization, machine learning and forecasting regularly, in addition to coding! Thanks to the advancements in computers, we can develop data science algorithms to leverage large amounts of data, and the way I can implement these algorithms is through code. Having a solid understanding of coding has been critical to my success in delivering data science projects. One of my favorite things about my job is how quickly the data science landscape is expanding. Technologies like ChatGPT are transforming the way we use AI and data science, and I’m excited to be a part of this wave of innovation and apply tools like this to my work. I have enjoyed learning and improving my coding skills by finding areas that interest me. > “If any young coders are looking for advice about improving their own coding skills, I suggest picking a problem in a domain they’re passionate about and trying to solve it.” For me, the biggest motivator is being able to learn while I’m doing something I enjoy! I currently code in Python, which is the most popular data science language. I also use R, SQL, and sometimes Spark. My team develops, manages, and deploys our code in the Microsoft Azure environment. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1jvnltf-phjn86-k0rbo3w-1729032377811-compressed.jpeg) Josh Hoskinson, Data Scientist at Chevron When I’m not working, I enjoy being outside and trying new things! Some of my favorite activities are hiking, running, pickleball, and sand volleyball. I also have fun going to movies, concerts, and shows and most recently have been working to perfect my latte art. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for User Experience Design Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2023-12-06 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-user-experience-design-97fdeebd49a3 * * * ### Coding for User Experience Design #### By: Quinn Tenorio ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1no6e2oz6apxgr-xy2swkmq-1729031585722-compressed.png) Quinn Tenorio is a User Experience Designer who also has a background in Software Development. Quinn spoke with CodeHS about his career path, how he uses coding in his job, and his advice for students looking to pursue a career in Computer Science. #### **What do you do for work?** My current job title is UX Designer (User Experience Designer) however, I got my start as a Software Developer, moving to a senior role and eventually a Lead Software Developer role. Eventually I began working in design. The company I work for is Woodridge Software, but we recently were acquired by RCG Global Services. Both companies offer custom software solutions to enterprise and financial companies. #### **Tell us about your background.** I attended Wheat Ridge High School, having done well in math and science classes. I then decided to attend Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO where I earned a Bachelors in Science in Computer Science and a minor in Applied Mathematics. While attending Mines during my Junior year, I was the Student Body President and helped kick off new initiatives on campus. Upon graduation I began working for Woodridge Software as a Software Developer before I transitioned into a UX Designer role about one and a half years ago. > “When companies are looking to improve their internal processes or public-facing services, they tend to look for custom software solutions. That’s where my company comes in!” #### **What is a general description of your job?** As a User Experience Designer, I work in software development consulting and more specifically, custom software development. We work with clients to help realize their web applications. Many companies have either internal facing processes that are inefficient, like managing data and reporting via hundreds of spreadsheets, or they have a public-facing product that a custom software implementation would simplify. When companies are looking to improve their internal processes or public-facing services, they tend to look for custom software solutions. That’s where my company comes in! Most of the work we do is financial services related, like helping banks and credit unions to transition their technology into the 21st century rather than doing business with outdated technologies. However, we have other software projects that have nothing to do with financial services, including working with clients in industries like public utilities, healthcare, education, insurance, consumer goods, and non-profits. When I worked as a Senior Software Developer, I worked with stakeholders to understand the problems at hand and implement custom solutions through features and bug-fixes via code. This required many skills: understanding the architecture of the software, implementing the solution without introducing bugs, and working closely with software tools to ensure the software was usable and functioning. **Can you tell us a bit about how you use coding in your career?** During my time as a developer, I worked exclusively on web applications. As a result, most of the code I wrote was implementing custom web solutions. This typically required me to code APIs on the back end and corresponding front end code that utilized the APIs. Additionally I wrote code to implement unit testing and interaction with a relational database. A large portion of code I’ve written has also been used to implement the user interface (UI) of a web application, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. > “One important thing for those getting into coding, software development, and related work is to learn how to problem solve.” #### **Do you have any advice for aspiring coders?** One important thing for those getting into coding, software development, and related work is to learn how to problem solve. Generally, coding is fairly easy once the basics are locked down (loops, variables, data structures, etc). In fact, once someone knows the basics in one language, another language can be picked up quickly, sans the slight differences in code syntax. Thus, coding isn’t the difficult or most important part; the ability to problem solve is much more important for developers. When someone can learn to solve problems, code becomes a tool to implement solutions to problems. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** * VSCode * JavaScript * HTML * CSS * C# * PHP * React * TypeScript * SQL #### **Outside of work, what are some of your interests and hobbies?** Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, reading, sewing, and hiking. The photo below is of a recent trip I took to Japan! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1s2oifdqfha-qhexqximyg-1729031587386-compressed.jpeg) Quinn Tenorio, UX Designer at Woodridge Software and RCG Global Services --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding in Education Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2023-05-04 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-education-6e1d05ddc78f * * * ### Coding in Education #### By: Priya Rajagopal ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1pcxmfj44nu-wcxmqzaurww-1729031551469-compressed.png) Meet Priya Rajagopal. Priya is a computer science and technology educator at Connecticut River Academy in East Hartford, CT. She also serves as the “Instructor Facilitator” for the CTE department at her school and has worked with the leadership team on various curricular and instructional policies. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Goodwin University, Connecticut and a Bachelors in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Calicut University, India. After she spent a few years working in the IT industry, she decided to switch gears and start teaching. She has been teaching for eight years in both public and private schools. We chatted with Priya to learn more about her experience in and outside of the classroom, as well as any advice she has for the next generation of coders. #### **When you worked in the IT industry, how did you use coding?** When I worked as a software engineer, I developed various programs and applications predominantly in the B2B (Business to Business) domain. My work experience is in the J2EE platform where we developed enterprise applications that run on servers. I used my Java and MySQL in those projects. #### **How did you transition from coding to teaching CS?** I always described myself as an engineer by brain and teacher at heart. I have a huge passion for education and saw the huge gap in the current CS job demands and lack of enough CS training in K-12 to help prepare students for a CS career. My first teaching job was in a public charter school in Massachusetts and I was able to be hired based on my industry experience. Since then, I worked on getting my teaching license and continued to teach CS for the last 8 years. #### **Can you share a bit more about your passion for teaching?** I have always been passionate about equity and education and I love bringing high quality computer science education to K-12 schools with diverse student populations. As a woman of color, I have seen discrimination happening at all levels and I am able to use those experiences to fuel my passion to provide meaningful opportunities and equitable teaching practices to students of all backgrounds. I also launched a successful Girls Who Code chapter for the school and have organized and coached students to run various coding events at the school district. Utilizing my prior experience as a software engineer, I was able to collaborate with local IT companies for these events. #### **Any tips for young coders?** Coding can be frustrating and hard at times, but it is very rewarding and fun. Like with any new skill, it takes time, so stick with it and practice regularly. Do not be afraid to ask for help, support and feedback from your teachers, mentors and peers. And please do not feel intimidated by the stereotypes in the tech industry. They are looking to hire diverse people and the sky’s the limit when it comes to your career growth in tech. I encourage you to start coding today! When not teaching or coding, Priya enjoys biking, cooking vegan food, dancing, traveling the world, and spending time with her husband and two kids. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ii9tml1pzpr53ngwuuhwhw-1729031553745-compressed.png) * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/education_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Now Introducing: Coding in the Wild Blogs for Elementary Students Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2023-03-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/now-introducing-coding-in-the-wild-blogs-for-elementary-students-4d48bfbe6c94 * * * ### Now Introducing: Coding in the Wild Blogs for Elementary Students #### We recently updated select Coding in the Wild blogs to match elementary students’ reading levels. Learn more and start incorporating blogs in your classroom today! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1kjvuxbsgaxdhzjbvrxsd2a-1729031610010-compressed.png) The CodeHS Coding in the Wild blog often covers unique stories about computer science professionals to offer a glimpse into what a career could look like. We wanted to offer a new resource for Elementary teachers and condense select stories for younger readers. Enjoy the following selected blogs and utilize them in class to inspire the next generation of coders. #### [**Coding for Spacecraft Design**](http://codehs.com/spacecraftdesign_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1cfawhz0cv1db61fr0psgg-1729031611690-compressed.png) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/spacecraftdesign_elementary). Meet Dr. Columbia Mishra, a Senior Staff Systems Architecture Engineer at Maxar Technologies Inc. Dr. Columbia Mishra works in the space industry and designs spacecrafts! Columbia has wanted to be an astronaut since middle school. In her work, coding and engineering skills are the key to success. #### [Coding for Major League Baseball](http://codehs.com/mlb_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1wir1fqusbgojzsnjkrplva-1729031614758-compressed.png) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/mlb_elementary). Meet Eli Katz, an incoming Analytics Fellow at the Baltimore Orioles Eli Katz was inspired to combine his love of sports and math when he watched the movie “Moneyball” in eighth grade. He encourages young coders to come up with exciting questions and then think about what kind of information will help them answer it! #### [Coding for Aviation](http://codehs.com/aviation_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0gns1nscp5qcb-ed-1729031617389-compressed.0*Gns1NsCP5qcb-_ed) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/aviation_elementary). Meet Zack Wand, a software engineer at Provenair Zack got a passion for coding when he was 9 years old and his dad taught him how to make a simple computer game. Since then, he has continued creating games, including one that has been played more than a million times around the world! #### [Coding for Litter Free Communities](http://codehs.com/litterfree_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0xcezbu66b7bwv-mt-1729031620967-compressed.0*XCEZBu66B7Bwv-mt) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/llitterfree_elementary). Meet Elena Guberman, a self-taught programmer Elena Guberman and a friend were walking her dog Larsen one day when he started choking on some litter on the street. Thankfully, after a visit to the vet Larsen was fine, but it got Elena thinking about what she could do to help make her streets litter free. She and her friend decided to use computer science to make a difference in their community. #### [Coding for Vehicles](http://codehs.com/vehicles_elementary) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0n6sxf0pmru1ssvxf-1729031622556-compressed.0*n6sxf0pMRu1SSvXF) Read more [here](http://codehs.com/vehicles_elementary). Meet Komal Arshid, Software Developer at General Motors Komal Arshid graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems after realizing how much she loved coding. She encourages young coders to not be afraid to be wrong or ask questions, as well as being open to learning and growing. * * * If you’re teaching elementary courses with CodeHS, you’ll be able to access all Coding in the Wild Blogs as well as other resources for your classroom here: [https://codehs.com/curriculum/elementary/resources](https://codehs.com/curriculum/elementary/resources) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Artificial Intelligence Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2023-02-22 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artificial-intelligence-97937472e5c7 * * * ### Coding for Artificial Intelligence #### By Jay Hack ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0wrje1thrkqxvt3e7-1729031821644-compressed.0*wRJE1thrkqXvt3E7) Meet Jay Hack. Jay has been interested in Artificial Intelligence since middle school, and after teaching himself how to code, he stumbled upon a book called “Godel Escher Bach.” This book helped him understand the nature of intelligence and how to create systems capable of thought, solidifying his interest in the field of AI. He had an opportunity to work in an AI lab during high school and continued hacking and creating projects of his own throughout college. Upon graduation, he found a machine learning job and continued growing his skills, leading to Jay building a successful startup that applies machine learning to making beauty shopping more personalized. Fast forward to today and Jay is already working on his next startup idea. We asked Jay several questions about his current role and advice he would give to young coders. **What do you work on?** At the moment I’m gearing up for my next startup. I’ve become very interested in codegen, or the application of so-called “generative AI” to generating code. There are a ton of interesting applications there, including using AI to generate documentation for code, using AI to generate tests for code, using AI to review your code, and much more — I really think this technology has the potential to move humanity forward. You can see examples of some of my [recent projects](https://twitter.com/mathemagic1an), including an interface that allows you to [enter textual commands in order to modify Figma designs](https://twitter.com/mathemagic1an/status/1589657222094934016)! **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** As an entrepreneur coming up with new ideas, I code every day — make prototypes, use code to see how other peoples’ services work, and more. Practically speaking, the best way to figure out if an idea is something people actually want is to make a very basic version of it and put it in front of potential users; if they want a better version of it, you should make it. I make a prototype every week or so using code, put it out there in the world and see how people respond to it. **What tools and programming languages do you use?** My favorite stack right now is: * Python (+numpy, scipy, pytorch, jupyter, fastapi) * Typescript * React + Next.js/Remix * Postgres/Supabase * Tailwind.css * OpenAI APIs * VSCode * Pycharm **Any insights for young aspiring coders?** The way that programming is done in 5 years will look very different than it did two years ago — AI and codegen are going to make many of the rote/boring parts of coding automated and the role of the software engineer will shift. Nobody knows exactly what the landscape will look like in a few years, but a few things are certain: programmers will be more productive, AI and humans will work in collaboration, and our software tools will change as a result. I’d recommend spending as much time as possible learning about these new technologies and how you can use them in your own workflow, such as Github Copilot and Replit’s Ghostwriter. When not working on coding, Jay enjoys skiing, lifting weights, and reading books on history, economics, geography, and geopolitics. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0kkq91lfxwgoby84v-1729031825760-compressed.0*KKq91LfXwGobY84V) * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/artificialintelligence_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Video Marketing Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2023-01-11 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-video-marketing-6e0e0e164821 * * * ### Coding for Video Marketing #### By Ademusoyo Awosika-Olumo, Tech Lead at Wistia ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0zionm5brrfcehyga-1729032361181-compressed.0*Zionm5bRrFCehyGA) Hello my name is Ademusoyo and I am Nigerian-American who mostly grew up in Ohio and Texas. I graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and landed my first job as a Software Engineer at Goldman Sachs in New York City. I am a Senior Software Engineer II and Technical Lead at Wistia where I currently work on Third-Party Integrations. My team is focused on allowing our customers to send the leads that they capture through their video marketing efforts to their marketing platforms so that they can understand the full scope of their video marketing efforts. In my work, I code every day! While some of my time is spent talking to different stakeholders (Product Managers, Designers, and other engineering teams), a bulk of my day job involves building new features and enhancements that will better the experience for our customers. I work in SQL, Ruby/Ruby on Rails, and JavaScript/React. Previously, I’ve worked in Go, PHP, Java, Angular, Python, and C. If you’re an aspiring coder, my advice is to not lose your sense of curiosity. Working as a software engineer requires you to constantly learn and figure out new ways to solve problems that you may have never seen before. You may get stuck sometimes but don’t let that discourage you. Always look to see if there is some solution that you can come up with and keep adding to your knowledge toolkit. Over time, you’ll start to recognize key similarities that will make working as a Software Engineer a little easier than you would have thought before. * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0kqm3d2fstxox4lpw-1729032362635-compressed.0*kQm3d2FsTxoX4lPW) _I am a digital content creator who educates their audience on how to achieve some semblance of work-life balance through intentional and meaningful productivity and planning._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Cloud Accounting Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-11-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-cloud-accounting-fc1691412b40 * * * ### Coding for Cloud Accounting #### Cloud Accounting is emerging, and programmers are the key. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0djrnb0fmkh1cq501-1729031593067-compressed.0*DJrNb0FMKH1Cq501) The world of accounting has 3 main career routes: tax preparer, auditor, or corporate/private accounting. Marie Phillips is a CPA and entrepreneur who tried two of those routes, but was looking for more. What Marie does now did not exist when she was in college. With three master’s degrees in addition to her accounting credentials, Marie continuously adjusted to merge her entrepreneurial spirit with a new industry within accounting being developed: Cloud Accounting, focusing on automations and efficiencies. Marie founded [Connected Accounting](https://connectedaccounting.co/) to innovate beyond standard financial services firms. She sought to create a firm where problem-solving, developing efficient processes, and sincere support for clients were built into the DNA of the business. Above all, she wanted to liberate business owners from the everyday stresses that too often lead to burnout and frustration. As an entrepreneur herself, she knows these worries firsthand — and is an expert when it comes to implementing solutions. Marie’s entrepreneurial mindset came from developing and launching Gursey Schneider LLP’s client accounting services’ practice, where her team of 5 increased their departments revenue by 40% each year. Now, she supports early-stage entrepreneurs in building the foundation of their businesses while offering an accountability partner throughout their growth. She has helped multiple clients transform their businesses from zero income to profitability. While growing businesses are her present focus, Marie also has expertise when it comes to multinational corporations. Prior to starting [Connected Accounting](https://connectedaccounting.co/), she was a financial analyst for business giants including Forever 21 and PepsiCo. #### **How Coding and Accounting Merge** With the emergence of Cloud Accounting, coding has come into a great need. Software engineers are needed in this field to support how data flows, to manage and convert data, automatically. API and integrations are a key focus for Marie’s business. It takes 1–3 years for young accounting graduates to actually learn the trade. There is no bridge between accounting and the automation steps, so Marie is focused on working more and more with software developers. It’s rare to find a job where you really fulfill your skillset and your purpose, with space to grow and innovate. For those who like to problem solve, work independently, take the lead, and are self-motivated, programming for cloud accounting is it. “You could get thrown in hot water, but you can do whatever you want with the hot water.” says Marie. Essentially, programmers in this field are constantly given opportunities to code and see results instantly. The truth of the accounting industry is that there are less and less accountants entering the workforce, while a huge number of accountants are retiring. There are not enough accountants entering to replace them, but the work is still there. Here lies the need to leverage technology. Marie’s skills shine when it comes to finding linear and logical solutions to business challenges. Drawing on her experiences as an immigrant, Marie has a deep understanding of what it means to overcome unique challenges. She prioritizes creating a nurturing, flexible space for both her team and clients. When Marie is not working with clients, she loves to stay active by stand-up paddle boarding, dancing, hiking, surfing and skiing. A compassionate animal lover, she is a pescatarian and loves to cook with fresh ingredients from her garden. * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ybxoqtkhiaawjpgh9xfiwa-1729031594741-compressed.jpeg) Marie Phillips, Founder & CEO, [Connected Accounting](https://connectedaccounting.co/) LLC --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Five Powerhouse Female Coders Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-10-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/five-powerhouse-female-coders-855c3f53a2e7 * * * ### Five Powerhouse Female Coders #### Learn about five female computer science professionals who use their skills for good across art, sports, geophysics, and beyond! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1m9kehqgunj5xjtg3irkrw-1729031572965-compressed.png) In the CodeHS [Coding in the Wild blog](https://codinginthewild.com/), we often cover unique stories about computer science professionals to offer a glimpse into what a career could look like. We wanted to highlight some of the awesome female coders we chatted to over the years to help showcase careers for women and inspire the next generation of female coders. > “We need more diversity — and not just for the sake of workplace dynamics! Diversity will inform the products we build, how we build them, and our users’ experiences with them.” — Betsty Lam, a Full-Stack Web Developer at [Threadless](https://www.threadless.com/) ### Coding for Basketball #### Meet Rachel Marty, a Data Scientist for Noah Basketball Rachel was studying biology at UC San Diego while spending a majority of her time on the basketball court as a student-athlete. She decided to take a computer science class and the entire trajectory of her career was changed. Learn more about how Rachel started coding for basketball. > _My research has resulted in several invitations to present research to NBA coaches. I guess you can never know where your coding will take you! — Rachel Marty_ [**Coding for Basketball** _By Rachel Marty_codinginthewild.com](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-basketball-9a24286a39d "https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-basketball-9a24286a39d")[](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-basketball-9a24286a39d) ### Coding for UX Design #### Meet Kelley Shanahan, a User Experience (UX) Designer After taking her first computer science class at the University of Washington, Kelley fell in love with coding. She realized she would be able to improve her design process and fully understand how technology enables what she sees on the screen. Read more about Kelley’s coding journey. > _Because I know how to code, I have a better idea of what is possible to design! — Kelley Shanahan_ [**Coding for UX Design** _By Kelley Shanahan_codinginthewild.com](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-ux-design-30d3cdd97f1 "https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-ux-design-30d3cdd97f1")[](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-ux-design-30d3cdd97f1) ### Coding for Geophysics #### Meet Dara Goldberg, a Geophysics PhD Student Dara is a geophysics PhD student who uses coding for everything from creating new computational methods to visualizing large datasets. Learn more about how she studies the physics of large earthquakes and best practices for earthquake and tsunami early warning. > _The algorithms that recognize earthquakes, determine their location, and estimate when a nearby community will experience shaking, must be automated. — Dara Goldberg_ [**Coding for Geophysics** _By Dara Goldberg_codinginthewild.com](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-geophysics-a79438e98f23 "https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-geophysics-a79438e98f23")[](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-geophysics-a79438e98f23) ### Coding for Artists #### **Meet Betsy Lam, a Full-stack Web Developer at Threadless** Working towards a Master in Fine Arts, Betsy decided to try her hand at building her own portfolio website with no prior coding experience. Read more about how she was able to find her passion for coding and incorporate it with her passion for the arts. [**Coding for Artists** _By Betsy Lam_codinginthewild.com](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artists-58bfbfcc650d "https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artists-58bfbfcc650d")[](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artists-58bfbfcc650d) ### Coding for Digital #### **Meet Pauline Navas, a Digital Development and Operations Graduate** Ever since Pauline was a child, she enjoyed making websites. Her favorite hobby led her to decide to pursue coding as an adult. Read about her career journey and how she now uses her computer science skills in the telecommunications industry. > _We need students to get involved with technology and computer science early on, it’s their future! — Pauline Navas_ [**Coding for Digital** _By Pauline Narvas_codinginthewild.com](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-digital-676ca22763f7 "https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-digital-676ca22763f7")[](https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-digital-676ca22763f7) * * * **_Do you or someone you know love to code?_** _We would love to hear your story! Email us at_ [_codinginthewild@codehs.com_](http://codinginthewild@codehs.com) _to share and potentially be featured on the_ [_Coding in the Wild blog_](http://codinginthewild.com)_!_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Air Purification Systems Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-10-04 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-air-purification-systems-4fb8259d366e * * * ### Coding for Air Purification Systems #### By Raoul Valstar, Co-Founder & COO at AirTulip ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0a4trs0izcn4fbhmy-1729032404898-compressed.0*A4tRs0IZCn4FBhmY) #### **Tell us about your background.** I initially studied business and after working several years in different jobs I decided to learn coding to pursue it as a new career. I studied coding on [The Odin Project](https://www.theodinproject.com/), a free and open source curriculum for both Ruby and JavaScript. This is a great online option where you can create an account to keep track of your progress + a Discord chat to talk to other students and alumni. While I was studying coding in 2020–2021, I got involved with [AirTulip](http://airtulip.co), an air purification company. I’m now full time focused on this startup. The best part is that at AirTulip, I get to apply both business and software skills to build the business. So, I get to utilize what I originally studied while further developing my coding skills. #### **What do you work on?** At AirTulip, we build cleanroom-grade air purification systems for individual consumers and large businesses, from schools to offices. At the end of this past August, we launched [AirTulip Sleep](https://airtulip.co/airtulip-sleep), a purification system designed as a headboard that allows you to sleep in clean air! #### **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** We use coding to build our data platform to track the performance of the air purification systems in the field and for air quality monitoring. #### **Any tips for young coders?** Learn the theory, but also spend a lot of time actually building things and working on projects. This way you learn quickly and can improve while building. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** * Sublime Text * Github * Reddit (r/learnprogramming) * JavaScript * Ruby * Python ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1zjrndbl8cyvcz3umvtuea-1729032408131-compressed.jpeg) _Outside of work I like to listen to music and watch soccer. This is me after the video shoot for the AirTulip Sleep with an air purifier in my hands._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Smart Manufacturing and Fashion AI Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-09-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-smart-manufacturing-and-fashion-ai-f7d3f092fd2c * * * ### Coding for Smart Manufacturing and Fashion AI #### By Marko Ristin, Ph.D., Artificial Intelligence Director at LocalAway & Researcher at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0xl1iyczzbl06fcw-1729031777278-compressed.0*xL1iycZzb_L06FCw) Hi! My name is Marko, and I currently work and live in Zurich, Switzerland. I started programming when I was about 6 on a Commodore 64 computer. My programming journey then went on over TI-92+ and x68 computers to cloud computing. I studied computer science, and then pursued a PhD in computer vision and machine learning. Afterwards I worked on diverse projects in the industry, from user profiling to smart cities and airport security. Currently, I work on two projects. One part of my time is dedicated to smart manufacturing and industrial IoT (Internet of Things) as a researcher with the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). The other part, I experiment and create prototypes for LocalAway to see how we can tackle some of the largest problems in the fashion industry using AI. For example, we use off-the-shelf AI solutions to help automate shoppable videos. The nature of my coding is actually two-fold. On one hand, I work on robust code that aims for efficiency, maintainability and correctness. This code then runs on systems which are business-critical to certain degrees. On the other hand, I play with AI, and produce code which is much less robust, with potentially uncertain behavior and possible bugs. Both kinds of programs help us automate tasks at scale unthinkable for human labor. I am indeed surprised at the pace how this scale keeps increasing over years, for both kinds of programs. Some tips for young coders: read books. Think of programming in terms of history, as a living and evolving practice of automating mental tasks. Finally, relax and don’t jump train on every trend — new frameworks come and go all the time. #### **Tools and Programming Languages I use:** Given the variety of projects I worked thus far, I learned and practiced many different languages: from assembler (x86 and 68k CPUs) to C/C++, then Matlab, Java, Scala, C# and Golang, and finally Python which is at the moment the language I use the most. As for developer tools, I converted from a vim fan to a passionate user of JetBrains products over the years. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/11qrm1p2a7wln9m0x0sivhq-1729031780481-compressed.jpeg) _When I am not enjoying my time with the family, I act as a president of a basketball club where I also actively play, and practice and train judo to the kids as a black belt._ * * * LocalAway ([https://localaway.com/](https://localaway.com/)) is excited to be a part of the Techstars Anywhere Summer Class of 2022! Learn more about [this program here](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6954835858164236288/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for 3D Applications and Immersive Content Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-08-02 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-3d-applications-and-immersive-content-70a67d6a3786 * * * ### Coding for 3D Applications and Immersive Content #### By Andres Poplawski, Senior Software Engineer at echo3D ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1izo7nrpcp7vjs1s4xupz7g-1729031559617-compressed.gif) #### **Hey there, tell us about your background!** I’ve programmed as a fun hobby since my first programming class in high school. I kept taking programming courses in college even though I majored in something completely different (chemical engineering). A couple years into my career I got the opportunity to program professionally and it clicked that this is what I really should be doing. Since then I’ve been fortunate enough to work with amazing teams and contribute to a wide variety of fascinating programming projects: spinning up modern platforms for the web, immersive games and installations coordinating projectors, robotics, lighting and sounds and even engineering the hardware and software for rides at theme parks like Universal Studios. #### **What do you work on?** At echo3D we specialize in providing tools for storing and streaming 3D content (think models, videos and images) to help game and application developers create even better experiences. I get to work on a wide variety of platforms and projects because 3D content goes everywhere — mobile, web, games and more. Currently I’m working on creating and improving the tools that let game developers use our platform within the same game engines they use to make their games. This means I can find myself working all over our own technology stack that includes our server backend, our web frontend, our API and the game engines themselves. #### **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** It is everywhere! Managing our customer data, providing an interactive web console, monitoring our platform performance, and streaming complex 3D models from the cloud into your game are just some of the things we rely on our code to do. #### **Any tips for young coders?** * Focus on what you find fun. * Get a raspberry pi or an arduino — they’re great for giving you a sense of what your code can make a machine “do” and you can make such cool fun things with them. You’ll learn some valuable bits of circuit and electrical engineering too. * Don’t try to keep up with every new bit of tech or platform because it will exhaust you _but_ always look out for new solutions to things that annoy you. * On a good day you’ll feel like an elite master of all things programming. On a bad day you’ll feel like a fraud and wonder if you really know anything at all. This is normal. * When you’ve been really stuck on a tough problem, walk away and come back after a few hours or a good night’s sleep. * Last but most important — find joy in teaching fellow developers and allow yourself to learn from anyone regardless of title. A smug programmer sucks all the life out of a room! #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** Typescript, Javascript, Java, C#, Tomcat, Angular, Node, Unity, Unreal ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ahxwszfuyy7bujjsh1dxyg-1729031563563-compressed.png) I love eating at an amazing restaurant or seeing a good concert here in NYC with my wife, walking or running my dog Arbor, and unwinding with some good PC gaming. * * * Learn more about [echo3D here](https://www.echo3d.co/)! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Grassroots Organizing Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-06-28 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-grassroots-organizing-efc5ee6635e8 * * * ### Coding for Grassroots Organizing #### By Erik Beckwith, Lead Software Developer for Kingdom Branding ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0msiasnulzsscikc-1729031636941-compressed.0*msIaSnuLzssCiK_c) I’m Erik Beckwith, a Lead Software Developer for Kingdom Branding, a marketing firm in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. I had a unique route to my current role as a lead developer, and it’s been an enjoyable ride. I started coding as a preteen making Dragon Ball Z websites on Angelfire. My buddy and I both had our own sites, we even had affiliates and took it pretty seriously. It wasn’t much beyond copy and pasting but I learned a lot more HTML than I realized which helped me immensely when I got back into coding almost 20 years later. I found myself interested in complex issues and politics my second half of high school. My parent’s and I would watch Bill Maher religiously every Friday together and it started to give me a real sense of purpose because I found that I had a strength in understanding complex concepts. Those issues gave me something to focus on outside of my troubles with my peers growing up. It also gave me a sense of belonging that I hadn’t ever felt in my hometown. If it wasn’t for my passion in politics I may have never considered any serious career track. I went to Northeastern Illinois University, an urban campus on the north side of Chicago. I wasn’t actually sure I would major in politics right away. However, at one point in my freshman year, a professor told me to do what comes easiest to you. So I went full fledged into politics. I got a Bachelors and Masters in Political Science, both from Northeastern. Getting those degrees was a huge accomplishment for me, however, they were not the only thing I needed to get a job in politics. I needed another skill. Spoiler alert, coding came into play later in my career. I worked on multiple political campaigns starting with Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012 as a Summer Organizer. There I really broke ground and became a political person in practice. I learned all of the basics of grassroots organizing. Organizing for America, or Obama for America, as it was previously called, made a huge impact on my life. It was the first time I used data in a real world way to make a difference. I made at least 50 calls a day from an Obama phone that they gave us to use with a primitive call listing system compared to what we have now, 10 years later. I went on to be a Campaign Manager for a Village Clerk position in 2017 after I completed my MA in Political Science. He didn’t win, but it was the first time I was completely in charge of a campaign strategy and it was a great learning experience. After that loss I went on to work on the biggest political win of my life which was working directly with one of the candidates on Chuy Garcia’s slate in 2018. Chuy Garcia had three candidates besides himself that ran together. I was with one of the candidates every single day knocking on over 3,000 doors. Aaron Ortiz is now the State Representative for the 1st district of Illinois, and I was there for the hard boots on the ground work to see how it’s done. Not only did Aaron Ortiz beat a 27 year incumbent at the heart of the Chicago Machine, the entire slate won in a sweep. Chuy Garcia is now my congressman and the other three are still good friends. The best part of this whole story is that this is how I finally got into coding. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1xzrlfzcpbj-k7op7yji28q-1729031640004-compressed.png) Me with my friends, State Representative Aaron Ortiz and Edgar Gonzalez A few months after the 2018 win on the Southwest Side, I received a flier from Northwestern University’s Coding Bootcamp, specifically for Data Science. A few weeks after applying, Northwestern called me back and wanted to hear my story. I told them the story of Aaron Ortiz and I knocking on 3000+ doors together and they loved it. Especially the fact that I was alongside him doing data entry for all of them. It really helped me get in because most of the people in my cohort were already coders or had way more credentials than I had, even with a MA in Political Science. I couldn’t find a job right away after my bootcamp. I was applying to be a Data Scientist when I didn’t really have the experience or credentials to be one yet. So, I worked on another campaign as a Data Specialist in Oak Park. It was the first time I got to use all of the new Python I learned in my Data Science Bootcamp. I had a lot of fun doing the data crunching and targeting. The candidate didn’t win but he got twice the amount as my last Oak Park candidate with way more people running so I still felt accomplished. However, towards the end of the campaign someone I was knocking on doors with told me, “You’re good, you need to talk to my boss”. That first phone call with my current boss was amazing. He was the creative director for Amara Enyia, one of the candidates for Mayor of Chicago in 2019 who was endorsed by Chance the Rapper. This was incredibly exciting for me but I didn’t know what I would be getting into yet. I went in to offer data services for candidates which he passed along to one of his clients. I didn’t hear back about that, but then he asked if I could make applications. I said yes. I started out as the first Full Stack Developer for Kingdom Branding. They had been building Wordpress websites but mostly using their no code dashboard system. So, I built the company ‘s first [React-Native application](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kingdom-branding/id1487521920) that we still currently use to help clients track the status of their projects with us. I found the knowledge of both JavaScript and Python that I learned from my bootcamp extremely helpful. I could clean data and visualize it. I was a bit of a one man band for a while. Then we received a dream project for myself as a political nerd. We got the Illinois Senate Democrats website. [There I built their State Senator finder](https://www.ilsenatedems.org/find-your-senator/), all using JavaScript and D3, without any React. It is still currently in use and one of my biggest accomplishments in life to this point. The Illinois Senate Democrats liked working with us so much that we got dozens of candidates around the state, and even the Democratic Party of Illinois itself. For the Democrats of Illinois I coded a quality control function by building a Python script to check for a number of things on their site including grammar errors, misspellings and bugs. I also keep viruses at bay and help fight attacks when it does happen for any of our Wordpress sites. Python makes this possible by helping to target unwanted packages or CDN’s in a very precise manner. Along with Python, I get to use a lot of JavaScript and React for these scripts. My latest application I completed is for a client who helps advance the careers of manufacturers around the state. We now have another developer on my software team who I worked with to accomplish this project in only a few months time. It is currently in use and has had hundreds of users since its launch earlier this year. [This Career Pathways in Manufacturing application](https://imeccareerpathways.org/) was a huge accomplishment because of its complexity. The client had tons of data in a system that wouldn’t be able to connect directly to an application at the time. So, I wrote a script to collect all of the data into a Mongo Database. There are multiple sets of data and multiple ways the data crosses between each other. It is a multi-layered data system and I even got to use D3 on it as well for a visualization of the timetable chart for each of the occupations. It is a quilt of data visualization that would seem easy to an untrained eye but it was a huge accomplishment for a team of two people. We would not have been able to accomplish the application if I didn’t have a Certificate in Data Science from Northwestern, especially just the two of us and especially so quickly. That’s my story so far, we are still building React Web Applications and React Native Applications for clients today. I love my job because I get to learn something new almost every day and I am working with clients and projects I couldn’t have dreamed of, like my Illinois Senate Democrats Senator Finder. My young political soul is very fulfilled today and I am extremely proud of the work I do and the projects I get an opportunity to work on. #### **Tips for Young Coders** * Don’t try to memorize everything, determine a good process of learning and things will become part of your memory over time. * If you hit a wall on an issue, go for a walk or take at least a 10–15 minute breather in some way to recollect your thoughts. You will get it but not when you are worn out or frustrated. * Almost everyone gets imposter syndrome sometimes, so if you ever feel like you aren’t really a coder because of this or that or you just don’t feel like you belong, you do. We all can feel like an imposter at times, especially when something we are tasked with isn’t going our way. So just power through and you will see that feeling fade away, but some people feel it throughout their career so don’t feel bad if it doesn’t. Sometimes that feeling is just what makes us work even harder. I hope my experience can help others see the light at the end of the tunnel, because I know it isn’t always easy but keep pushing for your dreams and you can get there. #### **My Core Programming Tools:** * Python * JavaScript * React * React-Native * D3 * MongoDB ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1fq7nmkqm77hjxuddlhy4fq-1729031644831-compressed.png) _Outside of work, well clearly I am a political nerd maybe more so than I am with coding. However, I love to cook and it has many parallels with coding as you do them together over time. You learn and fail and try again with a slightly different recipe over and over again, so I love to cook, just like I love to code and politics._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for FinTech Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-05-26 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-fintech-94c6d003bf12 * * * ### Coding for FinTech #### By Jordan Gillard, Software Engineer at Bloomberg ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0kzc9kxaegkvyhiot-1729032458958-compressed.0*kzC9kxAeGKVYHiOt) Hi! My name is Jordan Gillard. I’m a Software Engineer for Bloomberg in New York City. I grew up in a near-West suburb of Chicago named River Forest. My first encounter with coding happened in middle school. Back then our computer classes were taught with a program called Microworlds. I learned how to use the Scheme programming language to move a tiny turtle around a 15” iMac G3 computer screen. I stopped coding once I went to high school, and I pursued a Bachelors in Geoscience at the University of Iowa. I struggled to find a job in Geoscience after college. I spent some time as a substitute teacher, a community support specialist for a non-profit organization, and a kids kickboxing coach. I started contemplating pursuing software development. I vividly remember going to Coursera.org and completing the “Python for Everybody” specialization from the University of Michigan. I must’ve worked 10 hours a day for a week to complete the whole thing. I am thankful that during this time I was encouraged to pursue this goal by my friends who worked in Silicon Valley. I discovered an online boot camp called RMOTR soon after. They offered a full scholarship for those with financial need. I was broke and living with my parents, so I applied. I received an acceptance email from one of the founders right before the start date of their next cohort. It was so exciting. A fellow RMOTR graduate persuaded his company to hire me as a contractor soon after graduating. It was only around 10 hours a week of work, but I needed this professional experience in programming. I was tasked with querying data from multiple places relating to how users used the company’s mobile app. Some examples of the metrics I was working with are how many downloads there were that day, how many times a user opened the app, and how long they used the app for each session. I cleaned the data and sent it to a Google Cloud database. It took me forever to finish since I was still a rookie programmer! I applied to software engineering roles in Chicago after I finished that contract work. I had a few interviews but my lack of formal computer science knowledge was evident. In a stint of boredom and frustration, I applied to software roles all over West and Central Europe. “Everyone wants to work as a software engineer in the US,” I thought, “so I’ll try my luck in another country.” I never traveled outside of North America, mind you. I wasn’t seriously considering what could happen. Within an hour of applying for a position for Gastrofix GmbH in Berlin, Germany, I had an email asking when I could interview. I nailed the interviews over the following days, and ten days after initially applying I flew to Berlin via Turkish Airlines. The most foreign I ever felt was during my six-hour layover in Istanbul, Turkey. I remember asking two separate kiosks if they could fill my water bottle, and BOTH times they filled it with boiling water. Soon after arriving in Germany, Illinois’ Elmhurst University accepted me into their Masters of Science program for Information Technology. I completed their program remotely outside of work. Let me tell you, working full time and pursuing grad school in a foreign country is rough. I woke up between 2 and 5 am for lectures twice a week. I wouldn’t recommend it! I decided to move back to Chicago after two years in Berlin. The Canadian company Lightspeed purchased Gastrofix and I was given 3 months’ pay to leave. This was March 2020, the COVID pandemic had just begun so it felt like a good time to return home, and I missed the USA anyways. I didn’t have a plan and I wanted to get a master’s in Computer Science, so I knocked out an MS in CS from Virginia Tech during the first year of the pandemic. I was hired by Bloomberg after interviewing through a Virginia Tech career fair. So here I am now, writing this inside my peaceful Brooklyn apartment. #### **What I Work On Now** I write software that runs on the Bloomberg Terminal. The Bloomberg Terminal is the heart of finance software. It provides users with trading, analytics, news, instant messaging, email, legal information — anything Wall Street needs. Within the Terminal I work on EMSX, an execution and order management trading platform. Our users use EMSX to trade options, equities, and futures to over 1300 different brokers. It’s fascinating to work on, even if it’s incredibly complex. Everything we create is written in code. I used to think stock trading was simple. I thought you either buy or sell, but the reality is different. Each stockbroker has different trading strategies and execution instructions. Users need real-time data on the securities they’re trading. They want to collaborate with other traders in their team and set up automated trade execution algorithms. We use code to handle all of that. We write frontend services that take care of the user interface and everything the client sees, and those services are constantly communicating and receiving data from backend services that run in our server farms. Just one simple click can lead to thousands of events transpiring, and all of those events happen with code. #### **Tips for Young Coders** Build things! Break things! Learn! If you can glean anything from my background it’s that the path to software engineering isn’t defined. All that matters is you keep growing and getting better. So make an awesome website or an awful one. Keep it fun. This industry can take you to Berlin, New York, Shanghai, who knows! It’s a roller coaster. Buy a ticket and take the ride. #### **Tools and Programming Languages I Use** I’ve used too many tools to count throughout my professional and academic career. I currently code in TypeScript, which is pretty much JavaScript with type annotations. It transpiled to JavaScript, which just means it is turned into JavaScript by the TypeScript transpiler. It works with all the JavaScript libraries you might know about, like React or Vue. My programs run in the Bloomberg Terminal, which operates like a web browser (i.e. Chrome or Firefox). We also use a bit of React for our frontend work. React is an awesome frontend library for building user interfaces. I also write shell scripts in Bash. Bash is an old language that is run from Unix-like systems’ computer terminals. So it works on Linux, macOS, and Windows computers if Windows has the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installed. I use a few of these when I work on our CI/CD pipelines (Continuous Integration & Continuous Deployment) that run on Jenkins. I also enjoy writing backend code with Python whenever I get the chance. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1umbt56yqumd6qhjxh6qyq-1729032460506-compressed.jpeg) _Outside of work I love to do yoga, learn German, and read tech books (mostly from O’Reilly or Manning Publications). This is me with a deer at Spandauer Forst Wildgehege in Berlin!_ * * * _My opinions are my own and not necessarily those of my employer._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Vehicles Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-04-27 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-vehicles-fc2c7c9b8a27 * * * ### Coding for Vehicles #### By Komal Arshid, Software Developer at General Motors ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0oljbxwl4hex56k7o-1729031666916-compressed.0*oljBXWl4Hex56k7O) Hi, my name is Komal. I am a Software Developer at General Motors (GM). I graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS). I had a unique start to my CIS journey. As a pre-med major, I was looking for a backup career where I could work for a couple of years after college before going to med school. I had never really been great with technology so I figured CIS would help me improve those skills and hopefully help me get a well paying job before I went to med school. My plans changed pretty quickly once I started working in the field. I realized how much I love IT and decided to continue on my coding journey. In our industry, we use coding for everything from bug fixes, tech upgrades, and new feature development. Most of my time is spent working on a Vehicle Configuration Application for GM using a Java and Angular tech stack. This is an internal application used to build vehicle specs by the marketing, engineering, and pricing departments at GM. The vehicle specs in this internal application are quite detailed, allowing for the customization of every aspect of a vehicle. From the steering wheel to the engine to seat covers, all of these vehicle specs are added by engineering, marketing teams and later priced by the finance teams. The code I helped write compares all of the information added to a vehicle by marketing and engineering to make sure that the vehicles being marketed are also buildable and in compliance with engineering. #### **Tips for Young Coders** 1. Don’t be afraid to be wrong or ask questions and learn to use Google well!! There is always something new to learn with development so nobody knows everything. 2. Be open to learning and growing and you will do great. #### **Tools and Programming Languages I Use** Java, Angular, IntelliJ, Oracle, VsCode, and Stack Overflow :) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/14pcvm5shuf70ngqqhlw9mq-1729031668497-compressed.png) I am a certified CorePower Yoga teacher and I enjoy painting and hiking! * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](https://codehs.com/codingforvehicles)_. Comprehension is designed for younger students and can easily be incorporated into your curriculum._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for a Digital Health Nonprofit Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-03-29 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-a-digital-health-nonprofit-c722506bed55 * * * ### Coding for a Digital Health Nonprofit #### By Adrian Soghoian, Principal Software Engineer at The Commons Project ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0gtioudmcthu3vfy-1729031871181-compressed.0*GtIOUDM_CThu3vfy) #### **Tell us about your background.** I started working in the tech industry after finishing my undergraduate degree at Columbia, where I studied math and physics. It makes me feel old to say it, but that was 12 years ago! I started my career at Google, and then formed a start-up tech company of my own (Trigger Finance), which I helped run with my co-founders for a few years before it was acquired by a leading crypto/blockchain firm called Circle. I stayed there for several years before joining [The Commons Project](https://thecommonsproject.org/) in hopes of making a positive contribution through the public sector. #### **What do you work on?** I joined The Commons Project 2.5 years ago as an early contributor to the engineering side. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work on a bunch of things — which is my favorite way to contribute. Some of the highlights have included: building out the first iterations of the CommonHealth app (now used by hundreds of thousands of people to manage their digital health records), building a suite of online services to assist companies in verifying digital health credentials (like a vaccination record), and developing a novel way for patients to share data they collect at home (like through a smart blood pressure cuff, or wearable device tracking their steps) with their doctors in real-time to better inform their treatment. #### **How do you use coding in your projects?** I use coding every day! My favorite thing about programming is the variety of ways that it can be useful. Many people think of coding as mostly being building apps for iPhones or Android devices, but that’s only one way to apply it. Some of my favorite projects I’ve contributed to have been “invisible” — background services used by other applications (or other background services!), or small little scripts that orchestrate some activity across machines. Currently I use tools like: Python, Kotlin, Java, Docker, and Android Studio. #### **Any tips for young coders?** I recommend seeking out classes or professional opportunities that align with your interests. One great thing about programming is that it’s a vast field with a variety of different types or knowledge and skills to be exposed to. Keep following your interests and maintain a life-long learner attitude! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1lqzjkidx7tj8uqpce6d9a-1729031873150-compressed.png) _Outside of work I enjoy watching and playing tennis, reading, walking around NYC, and sharing choice memes with my friends. :)_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for NFT Intelligence Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-02-23 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-nft-intelligence-3f1e8c330634 * * * ### Coding for NFT Intelligence #### By Irina Stanescu, Software Engineer at Mnemonic ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0ftubjctormdz8qvc-1729031865912-compressed.0*fTUBJctOrmDz8QvC) #### **Tell us about your background.** I was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, and currently live in San Francisco, California. I started learning how to code in 9th grade, and I went to a computer science high school. I had always found programming fun and interesting, so pursuing a Computer Engineering degree felt natural. In University, my major was Compilers and Operating Systems, and I liked it so much that I became a Teaching Assistant for the Introduction to Operating Systems course and spent most of my summers doing internships. After graduating, I worked at a Romanian company named Ixia doing embedded development and networking protocols. Within two years, I was hired by Google where I worked on building distributed systems for a variety of projects including ad serving, tv ads and video streaming. After more than five years at Google, I decided it was time for a new challenge and joined Uber in 2016, where I was a Tech Lead on the Marketplace and Uber Eats Delivery Experience. In 2020, I left Uber and took a year off to rest and figure out my next career move, which ultimately was joining [Mnemonic](https://www.mnemonichq.com/) in September 2021 as a Staff Software Engineer. #### **What do you work on?** At Mnemonic, I’m part of the team that develops large-scale distributed systems to build the most comprehensive [NFT intelligence platform](https://www.mnemonichq.com/blog/mnemonic-in-the-news-the-plaid-for-nfts) ever, offering insights across the blockchain universe. My focus right now is building data pipelines for analyzing massive amounts of data to extract insights into how NFT supply and ownership evolves over time. #### **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** The product we offer at Mnemonic is essentially all software. Being such an early-stage startup, we spend most of our time building things from scratch with code. This also often involves setting up the cloud infrastructure on which to run our code at scale. #### **Any fun tips for young coders?** Programming should always be seen as play, even in professional environments, where the complexity of software and stakes are really high. Adopting a beginners mindset and having fun is the key to building a long lasting career in software. Technologies and programming languages change over the years, there are many ups and downs in the day-to-day, and many of the systems can seem daunting. In reality, **everything is built on top of the same core principle: smaller pieces that fit together as a puzzle.** #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** I’m currently programming mostly in Golang using Visual Studio Code. Our code runs on Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform. We host our code on github and that’s also where we do code reviews. We use linear for tracking issues and Google Suite for other planning and writing design proposals. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1oun6oep2qmh6ekbusnsr1w-1729031868337-compressed.jpeg) _I mentor engineers and managers on_ [_plato.com_](https://www.platohq.com/app/mentors/irina-stanescu-930119147)_, blog at_ [_thecaringtechie.substack.com_](https://thecaringtechie.substack.com/)_, read voraciously, love experimenting with cooking and stay active through weight lifting and dancing._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Sales Software Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2022-01-19 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-sales-software-b47808669bbe * * * ### Coding for Sales Software ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0d34xerulnrcejabt-1729032468506-compressed.0*d34xeRuLNRCEJABt) Justin Vaillancourt is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of [Dooly](https://www.dooly.ai/), the connected workspace pioneer and leading CRM automation software making Salesforce fast and painless. In his role as CTO, Justin leads a rapidly scaling team of engineers. #### **Tell us about your background.** I didn’t have a typical career path, but it was certainly interesting. I actually started programming at a really young age. Around the age of 8 years old, a fascination with computers developed and I was constantly messing around with our home computer — which led to me breaking it, of course! To avoid a grounding from a very angry dad, I had to learn how to fix my computer after playing around with it and this led to a life-long fascination with all things computer-related. Enter high school where I discovered a community of people focused on game console hacking. I decided to start a website geared specifically towards the Nintendo DS audience. While doing this, I was approached by a software company to build a similar online community but within the healthcare space. I kept this job all through high school. After high school graduation, I was fortunate enough to use my experience to jump straight into tech consulting and eventually joined a software development team before winding up at Mobify where I met Kris Hartvigsen, my now business partner. The rest, as they say, is history as Kris and I worked together to found [Dooly](http://www.dooly.ai), a workplace enablement platform for sellers. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0fjdevttebiouko9g-1729032470753-compressed.0*fjDEVTteBioUKo9g) #### **What do you work on?** My role these days is on scaling our rapidly growing company! The irony of being in love with technology and product, and building a great company around that, is that the more successful you are the less time you have for building. Before you know it, your responsibilities are hiring, strategy, evolving process, and everything in between. There comes a time where you have to make a conscious decision as to whether you want to continue down that path of whether you find people to fill those shoes so that you can go back to your technical roots. I have found both roles can be incredibly gratifying. People with engineering backgrounds bring a unique perspective to designing an organization. I like to think of Dooly, the organization, as a system. Where are the bottlenecks? How can we improve the speed and quality of decision making? It’s my belief that a well-oiled organization will succeed. As system thinkers, we are well positioned to bring a lot of value here. Ultimately, I have decided to pursue my passions for both product and technology. I’m still working on the transition from my technical roots but am enjoying the continued learning process. Just know that there is no one right path — everyone’s journey is unique. #### **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** Our product at Dooly is software so the bulk of our coding investments are there. However, I often find myself writing scripts or automating little things with code to help streamline work. These can be incredibly fun to build and save a ton of time. Bonus, it helps to keep my skills sharp! #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** These days, I primarily work with Ruby and TypeScript. I also have experience with everything from C, Delphi, to C# and sometimes even find time to dabble with Elixir and other new languages which is always fun. #### Any last tips for young coders? Today, there are a TON of great resources available to young coders to learn and expand on their skillset. This didn’t exist when I was growing up — take advantage of these! My advice to anyone learning is to build things that you think are fun. Personally, I learned by doing — modifying other people’s games, reverse engineering software, reading open source code, etc. Follow your curiosities and, most importantly, have fun along the way. This will take you very far. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1wkqbaau-bf23oebxemcdw-1729032472248-compressed.png) Outside of work, I spend a lot of time reading, cycling, motorbiking, and camping. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Autonomous Vehicles Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-11-03 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-autonomous-vehicles-bc9728b6ec61 * * * ### Coding for Autonomous Vehicles #### By Jason Altice, Head of Embedded Software Engineering at Outrider ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0yspttbjp4ouzdase-1729031579793-compressed.0*ySPTtBJP4OUzdaSE) #### **Tell us about your background.** I graduated with a BS in Computer Engineering and a minor in Computer Science from the University of Old Dominion. I also have a MS in Engineering Management from the University of Wisconsin and I’m a Licensed Professional Engineer. I’ve been developing embedded systems for autonomous vehicles for over 15 years. My career started with developing the Navy’s first autonomous watercraft. These boats ranged between 20- and 40-foot vessels. Some of these unmanned vessels were used for patrolling areas and others were used for detonating underwater mines. Next, I made the move to John Deere where I was a senior systems engineer. I developed a safety-rated operating system currently used worldwide on construction equipment and helped in the transition of future agriculture equipment to AutoSAR (Automotive Open System Architecture). Years later, I switched roles to Liebherr USA as Lead Software Engineer to develop their first autonomous mining trucks. These trucks were unbelievably huge, the tires alone were 13’ high! Finally, I arrived at Outrider as Head of Embedded Systems to help pioneer the future of autonomous yard operations for logistics hubs. #### **What do you work on?** As a project manager my primary focus is that we build a system that performs as expected for our customers. I currently manage six separate projects to ensure we complete the right work at the right time and achieve the right results. With my technical background I’m able to help make design decisions and assist the team when needed. However, the embedded engineers on the team do the challenging work and produce the real results. Each member of the team can see their individual task/project through the entire software development life cycle and help contribute to the success of the overall project. #### **How do you use coding in your projects?** For embedded development on autonomous vehicles, it is typical that the controllers we write software for are closest to the hardware making the vehicle physically move. The software on these controllers have many different roles. Primarily, the code must ensure that the correct information is sent or received so that the correct action can be taken within the correct amount of time. This is common for most software, the difference with embedded systems on a vehicle is that the timing is critical. Stopping a second too late, steering too slow, or not knowing the vehicle’s position for too long can cause catastrophic damage. Therefore, the embedded software must be well-tested for many different scenarios and fail in a predictable way. The embedded software engineers must also have a solid understanding of the hardware and electronics the software is interfacing with. Controlling hydraulics, pneumatics, or electromechanical devices with software is very exciting but can also be very dangerous if the components aren’t fully understood. The embedded code in these controllers will bring multiple sub-components of a system to work cooperatively into a single system. #### **Any tips related to the application of computer science in your area for young coders?** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0t81ab8bunsvfggmq-1729031581060-compressed.0*T81ab8bunSvfGgMQ) If you don’t have enough time to properly document and test the software, then there isn’t enough time for the project. Quite often, we only think of the time to implement the software when asked for time estimates and/or management will want the project done faster and to shorten the development time. The implementation, writing of code, is usually the shortest task. The time it takes to plan, design, architect, write requirements, and test the software takes the most amount of time. **Knowing to estimate time for these tasks and performing them correctly is how you will become a true software engineer, not just a coder.** #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1oc7enbtpnkvdh143csrk-w-1729031582991-compressed.png) HW = Hardware, SW = Software * * * My YouTube channel ‘[CodeMakesItGo](https://www.youtube.com/c/CodeMakesItGo)’ focuses on creating projects that are related to software engineering, easy to understand, and entertaining to watch. * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/autonomousvehicles_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Aviation Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-09-29 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-aviation-2a6d10c21d36 * * * ### Coding for Aviation #### By Kate Marshall, Business Intelligence Analyst for Alaska Airlines ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0xgzgyk01iqsb3ee-1729031754314-compressed.0*XGzgYK_01iqSb3EE) I’m Kate, a Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst for Alaska Airlines. Some may call me a lifelong learner. I have Bachelor degrees in both Political Science and Economics, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA), and a Masters in Data Science. When I was young a lot of my role models were lawyers at my Grandpa’s practice, and I always thought that would be my career as well. Things changed during a Government Relations Internship I had after my undergrad where I worked on a project involving the U.S. Census. The data team that helped me get those numbers impressed me and opened the door to their field which I knew nothing about. > _I loved how they were able to use coding, math, visualization, and overlap on something like Government Relations which is very heavy in research, writing, and communications._ Currently, I work as a Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst for Alaska Airlines, specifically in Operations. The company is in the Aviation and Airline industry which is an amazing sector to be in. You have exposure to aircraft engineering and must understand some of the complexities of how commercial aircrafts work. You also have the customer service side which deals with making customers happy and getting them out on time. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/08qxoymtun7hqhddf-1729031758197-compressed.0*8qXoymTuN7HQHDdf) My team and I handle data for many different areas of the business including Aircraft Maintenance, Airport Operations, Flight Attendants and Pilots, Catering, Scheduling, etc. An example of a request for our team would be: “We have been seeing more delays than usual coming out of the Seattle airport, can we pull the last year’s data and give an update on why this is happening?”. Business Intelligence (BI) is a very well-rounded career for coders. It is a hybrid between a technical data scientist and a business strategist. The coding we use is often to query large datasets and put them into a form we can then relay to leadership in the company. SQL is a must for the BI field as well as more advanced coding languages like Python, R, and Java. The role can be as advanced as building a statistical model or it could be as creative as making a lookback dashboard in Tableau that pulls data from the day before. One area of study that can accompany coding is statistics, which is so much different from other math classes because it has real-world application. My advice to anyone who is looking for skills to accompany coding is to look into statistics as well. One thing to remember is that coding is a newer field that is changing every day. Those of us in the industry are constantly learning and trying to improve our skills. Most of us never had coding classes growing up so taking one or two in school will put you ahead of the pack. Technology is everywhere and the demand for computer scientists is only growing. The most important part is to figure out what your interests are. Do you want to build an amazing website? Do you want to find trends in an industry? Do you want to design a tool that a company can use? Open your mind to the broad nature of coding and find an area you love because there are many. List of tools and programming languages I use: * SQL * Python * R * Java * Tableau * SSRS * Excel ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1brvtognfl5o5wy98dl5ja-1729031762422-compressed.jpeg) _Working for an airline has its perks and one of them is flying to new places, especially when there is a mountain to ski (which is where you can find me)._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Health & Fitness Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-08-31 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-health-fitness-40fb29a268c5 * * * ### Coding for Health & Fitness #### Gabriel Madonna, Co-founder & CTO at CoPilot ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0wmt9nl3kn1bok7qd-1729031677463-compressed.0*Wmt9Nl3KN1Bok7QD) #### **Tell us about your background.** Hi, my name is Gabe. I co-founded a 1-on-1 health & fitness coaching company [CoPilot](https://mycopilot.com/) (formerly DeltaTrainer) my junior year at MIT while pursuing a degree in machine learning and signal processing. I was (and continue to be) an avid athlete and fitness nerd. Today, I continue my work on CoPilot as CTO and am extremely grateful to be able to pour my heart into a mission that unifies my loves of health, tech, and coaching. #### **What do you work on?** As the CTO, I manage general software architecture, ensuring that everything is stable, fast, and scalable. As we are a small company, I still spend a lot of time writing code for new parts of the system (e.g. implementing new automations to make our coaches more effective and efficient). I also maintain and upgrade the fundamental parts of our tech system which I wrote two years ago when the company was just myself and my co-founder (e.g. the signal processing code which analyzes real-time client motion or the algorithms which learn and predict client strength based on their demographic info and exercise history). As a co-founder, I work with our team to make sure our company is always getting closer to realizing our vision of being able to help anyone adopt a lifestyle of health! #### **How do you use coding in your projects?** Coding is everywhere at CoPilot! We use it to help our clients feel like their remote coaches are right there next to them (e.g. by analyzing their form and pacing, giving feedback in real-time, and using text to speech software to give that feedback in the voice of their coach). We also use it to capture data about our company and boil it down to key metrics to always have our fingers on the pulse of the business and the tech. We have hundreds of thousands of lines of code taking care of hundreds of simultaneous tasks, so once a system gets that large you need to build a meta-system to always be checking that everything is functioning as expected! #### **Any fun insights or tips related to the application of computer science in your area for young coders?** The world of coaching is full of opportunities for software to come and change the game. What I love about coaching is that the human component really is not replaceable — that the ideal way software can contribute is to make the coaches more EFFECTIVE and more EFFICIENT. Even if we at CoPilot could make as good of workout plans as top-notch coaches, a machine can never replace the capacity for connection (and in turn, accountability) that a human provides. For that reason, we’ve really focused on making our coaches capable of holding clients accountable in ways and at a scale that simply is not possible without tech. And that general idea is something that I think deserves more attention — rather than always focusing on trying to replace humans, see what things humans do best and make them even better at those things. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** **Programming Languages:** Python, JavaScript, React **Tools:** AWS, MongoDB, PyCharm, Linux, terminal, ssh ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0tfhor2ft6lcajpmk-1729031679147-compressed.0*tFhOR2Ft6lcaJpMk) _Here is a photo from when we opened our new office! I’m the third male from the left (tall, backwards hat)._ * * * I love to read, to work on my fitness, to compete in any way possible, and to talk with introspective people. Connect with me on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-madonna/) or [GitHub](https://github.com/gabe-madonna). You can also see the latest from CoPilot on our company’s [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/35432505), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joinmycopilots/), or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mycopilotcoach) as well! * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/healthfitness_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Custom Web Applications Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-08-03 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-custom-web-applications-a407fce6c8bd * * * ### **Coding for Custom Web Applications** #### By Branden Y. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ue86-alywubybncjnwbf0w-1729031419549-compressed.png) #### **Hey, Branden! Tell us about what you work on.** I work mostly freelance now doing contract work for various companies in need of web applications. I build a lot of custom web software applications — such as this website for the [Democratic Party of Washington](https://www.wa-democrats.org/). The various contracts I work on deal with building APIs and/or building the frontend of a web application using JS frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte. What exactly are APIs you might ask? API stands for Application Programming Interface. It’s a way to programmatically interact with raw data provided by software components. For example, when checking your weather app, you would be requesting to see the weather for where you are located. Your user request would be you entering your location or zip code, and the API would then send over the weather for your location. I also get my hands dirty with server setup, deployment/building systems for code bases and help lead a lot of user strategy in collecting and visualizing data to make informed business decisions. #### **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** My entire job is coding or managing deployment processes to servers. I build backend architecture to create APIs that are accessible via authentication. I build frontend applications that are used to display the data received form the APIs. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0crmimzukh7etjpu-1729031423285-compressed.0*CrMiMzUkh_7etjpu) _A cool photo of Branden._ #### **Any fun insights or tips related to the application of computer science for young coders?** Take breaks in between coding sessions. I always solve an issue I’m stuck on after taking a break. > **Also, it’s okay to take breaks in between jobs. Burnout is real in the industry.** Never stop learning. Half of your job will always be to produce work and the other half will be learning new techniques and skills in the most rapidly evolving field. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** * JS * TypeScript * Node.JS * GIT * Visual Studio Code * Docker * PHP * GraphQL Branden lives the digital nomad life around the world. Connect with Branden on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/branden-youngs-1a650b41/) or [Github](https://github.com/bbuilds). * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/customwebapps_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Exchange Traded Funds Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-06-23 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-exchange-traded-funds-8b0562cfac05 * * * ### Coding for Exchange Traded Funds #### By: Tim Terrezza ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0yarojctqb5lifsjh-1729031672042-compressed.0*yArOjctQb5liFSJH) #### **Tell us about your background.** I grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2015 with a dual major in Game Design and Computer Science. After graduation, I started working for Merck in a rotational program where you spend eight months in three different areas within the company. For my three rotations, I worked on developing internal analytics applications, was part of a team developing a program for the Microsoft HoloLens for scientists to visualize molecules in the drug discovery process and lastly built the USA Animal Health website. After working for Merck, I joined JPMorgan Chase as a frontend engineer and worked on the investments section of [chase.com](http://chase.com/). I became the Lead Developer for the team I was on and eventually learned how to develop iPhone apps to work on the Chase app. Early last year, I joined a startup called SIMON Markets and am currently working as a frontend engineer there. #### **What do you work on?** I work on the ETF (exchange traded fund) section of the SIMON Markets website which is a marketplace for Structured Investments, Annuities and ETFs. Our site connects banks, who are offering these products, to financial advisors, who buy them for their clients. The site is built in JavaScript using React and Redux. #### **How do you use coding in your industry/projects?** A day doesn’t go by where I don’t write any code. It is an integral part of my job and I enjoy it. #### **Any insights or tips for young programmers?** As you can kind of see from my background, coding is industry agnostic. I moved from healthcare to finance and was considering a few other industries as well. Choose an industry that interests you! If you are interested in what you’re working on, it’s the cherry on top of an already fun profession. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** * JavaScript * React * Redux * Redux-Saga * HTML * Handlebars * SCSS * Yarn * Jest ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/00osclavlq4-tlzzb-1729031675201-compressed.0*0OscLAVLq4-tlzzB) _I enjoy playing soccer and video games, snowboarding, cooking and a great day at the beach. Here’s me at Sugarbush, VT._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Real Estate Data Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-05-26 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-real-estate-data-2142d1bc6da9 * * * ### Coding for Real Estate Data #### By: Maxwell Goldbas, Tech Lead at Cherre ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0gyy7ujtepruaneg9-1729031462638-compressed.0*gYY7UJtepRuANeG9) #### **Hi, Max! Tell us a bit about your background.** I started off with an industrial engineering degree from Virginia Tech, after that I moved on to becoming a Data Scientist in Advertising. I found data engineering and infrastructure a bit more interesting because you provide analysts and other stakeholders with tools for understanding their work, so I became a consultant at a small boutique firm. As a consultant, I built out infrastructure for AARP, NYU and a few other companies. I am now a tech lead at Cherre where I build out data pipelines for linking together real estate data. #### **What do you work on?** I work on making it easier for data to come together around real estate entities; mainly lots, buildings and apartments. There are many real estate data providers however the data is siloed for each company. Our technology allows data to become linked together through GraphQL so you can type in an address and get all of the data back from various partners in a single API call. #### **How do you use coding in your work?** Our main infrastructure is Python, SQL and Docker. Python is flexible and easy to use, so we have built out different ways of taking data from our various partners and getting it into our system. Once data is in our system, we transform it with SQL to ensure it’s formed properly and ready to be served in our API. All servers and tasks are containerized with Docker to ensure our local, sandbox and production environments are the same. Docker is a fantastic technology, and I’m thankful I get to work with it. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1d7fcw4jhqerkhgvnqsqjpg-1729031465902-compressed.png) Max is on the right in the unicorn suit. #### **Have any computer science insights to share with young coders?** Do not underestimate domain knowledge. There is an old saying in computer science “When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail”, thus many young programmers come at problems using their past experiences to apply the tools they already know without getting context for the value of their work. I recommend talking to industry experts and domain analysts to truly understand the value of your work prior to starting a project. Ensure that their advice is laden in your application. #### **What are the tools and programming languages you use?** * Python * Singer * SQL * Bash * Docker * Kubernetes * Google Cloud * GraphQL _I am a tech urbanite with a french bulldog, come with hard questions._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Google Ads and Useful Home Tools Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-04-28 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-google-ads-and-useful-home-tools-c4de35bdebc3 * * * ### Coding for Google Ads and Useful Home Tools #### By Sam Sobell, Software Engineer at Google ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0thdezsqd5kogikrr-1729032409620-compressed.0*THDezsqD5KOgIKrR) Hi, I’m Sam. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, went to college in LA for Computer Science, and then moved out to NYC to work in tech at Bloomberg for a year before changing jobs to Google, still in NYC. I’ve always enjoyed technology and tinkering with electronics, particularly for automating tasks, creating art, and making (very) small games. I currently work as a Software Engineer at Google in the Ads org. I build a product that advertisers use to measure how their campaigns are performing by processing huge amounts of data in order to provide useful insights. I use coding every day at work, as my primary role is a Software Engineer. In general, I split my time between building new features for my product, fixing any issues that crop up, and updating / simplifying my product’s infrastructure. For my personal projects, I generally use coding to build useful tools (such as using an Arduino and an infrared LED to make my AC respond to voice commands), create art (such as a large 32x32 LED array that displays patterns and provides light for my apartment), and build other miscellaneous things for fun and to learn more. I generally like how low the barrier for entry is in coding projects. Most other engineering disciplines require large numbers of tools, a workshop, or even multi-million dollar industries to support them but computer science just requires a computer, which these days are essentially ubiquitous! > The knowledge required can sometimes seem daunting, but it’s helpful to remember that somewhere, someone built everything that you use or interact with for coding. Nothing is ever a black box or impossible to understand since it was all created by people (though it may take a whole lot of work!). Tools & programming languages I use: * Languages: C, C++, C#, Python * Environments: VS Code, Unity ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/18hmu3ttmgrpanbt0rs6o8g-1729032411697-compressed.png) Outside of coding projects and work, I like to build woodworking projects, play guitar, read, go hiking / camping, and play video games. * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/googleads_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Spacecraft Design Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-03-25 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-spacecraft-design-6a0d8f1f2bda * * * ### Coding for Spacecraft Design #### By Dr. Columbia Mishra ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0nmih-jqgg34aggmg-1729032421913-compressed.0*nmiH-JqGG34AggMg) Hello Everyone! My name is Dr. Columbia Mishra and I am a Senior Staff Systems Architecture Engineer at Maxar Technologies Inc. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1qw-euezav58iute8dv3c-g-1729032430414-compressed.png) I work in the space industry designing spacecrafts. I primarily leverage my Mechanical Engineering domain expertise, combined with my coding skills as I design spacecrafts considering space and thermal environments. For my most recent project I am working on NASA’s Artemis Mission to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon. The goal is to eventually establish permanent human presence in the Lunar orbit, and I am confident that my work will contribute to getting us there! At Maxar Technologies we use tools that can solve for radiation, conduction, and convection. The diagram below illustrates these three primary modes through which heat transfers from one medium to another. As expected, both domain expertise in Mechanical Engineering and coding skills are critical for success in my line of work. There are several commercial packages available to run our spacecraft simulations and we write code for user-defined functionalities, while also making use of MATLAB programming and Python scripting to develop in-house tools. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ew8bdf3fa6l6zuacardia-1729032432347-compressed.png) #### Tell us about your background. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India, my Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University, and my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Following graduation with my Bachelor’s degree, I traveled to the United States for a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering. I specialized in theoretical fluid mechanics working on highly viscous fluid flow solving nonlinear partial differential equations using analytical methods and coding. Afterwards, I worked at Makino Asia Pte Ltd in Singapore on thermal research and development. I returned to the United States to work in the oil & gas industry at Stress Engineering Services in Houston, Texas. There I worked on applying principles of computational methods to solve challenges faced by the oil and gas industry clients who had floating platforms and drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. We used FORTRAN based solvers and wrote software in FORTRAN and scripting in MATLAB and xml for post processing. > I have wanted to work in the space industry and be an astronaut since middle school. During my time in Houston I met a number of astronauts and engineers from NASA, fueling my passion further. This motivated me to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas in Austin. The focus for my research was nanoscale thermal transport. This took me to the path on coding in C++ and Python. I often utilized other tools such as Matlab as well. Developing this coding background gave me the insights into the machinery behind commercially available packages widely used in the industry. It also allowed me the flexibility to write my own codes into the workplace in the future. My first position after my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering was in the semiconductor industry at Intel Corporation. As a Resolution Enhancement Design Engineer, I developed algorithms to solve for Optical Proximity corrections for Computational Photolithography. This required coding to solve for Maxwell’s equations while optimizing for lithography process biases and model errors. In my next role as a Senior Thermal Engineer at Intel, I did system level thermal-fluids analysis of consumer electronics. I utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) to solve thermal challenges in designing laptops, desktops and handheld devices. #### **How do you use coding in your projects?** We use coding for solving radiation, conduction, and multiphase CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) problems. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/16g7d-jdvdw1olzxc-nqha-1729032433788-compressed.png) Typically the industry also utilizes data processing for large volumes of experimental data, as well as for training large sets of data for machine learning algorithm development. #### **Any fun insights related to the application of CS in your area?** In the domain of heat transfer and fluid dynamics, it is important to understand the fundamental principles. Having access to numerical tools and coding abilities can make you highly efficient and productive in getting a lot done in shorter time frames. Understanding the algorithms can also yield insights into the commercial packages and utilizing it to your maximum benefit. #### **What tools and programming languages do you use?** I leverage a combination of different tools and programming languages: * Thermal Desktop * Python * FORTRAN * Matlab * Excel * Bash programming * C++ * ANSYS Workbench * FloTHERM * FLUENT * IcePak * Several Internal tools ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1rgpmtyo7rwb96rvyqohs9w-1729032437423-compressed.png) Dr. Columbia Mishra has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin, engineers spacecrafts, has multiple research publications, 1 granted and 4 pending patents. A passionate space enthusiast, Dr. Mishra is en-route to becoming a trained pilot. She mentors first generation HS students and uses her title of Miss Asia California 2020 and Miss India Oregon 2019 to raise awareness about social issues. Columbia also leads a music band and enjoys traveling around the globe. * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](https://codehs.com/codingforspace)_. Comprehension is designed for younger students and can easily be incorporated into your curriculum._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Episode 6: Coding for Politics with Joshua Kravitz Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-03-09 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/episode-6-coding-for-politics-with-joshua-kravitz-7b9132845f7c * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/144zynyghtzpfac8uywytza-1729031408460-compressed.png) ### Episode 6: Coding for Politics with Joshua Kravitz #### Coding In The Wild Podcast hosted by [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/a04f3e920f92) In this episode on Coding in the Wild, we interview Joshua Kravitz, a recent Deputy Data Director for the Jon Ossoff U.S. Senate Campaign in Georgia. Joshua talks about how he uses programming in the political world. From creating phone banks for volunteers across 25 different languages to analyzing post-election data, Joshua shares that coding is extremely valuable to manage data and share insights throughout the campaign trail. * * * **Want to hear more?** Follow [Coding In The Wild](https://twitter.com/codinginthewild) on Twitter. If you are interested in learning more about Joshua and his work, visit [joshuakravitz.com](http://joshuakravitz.com/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Fashion-Retail Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-02-25 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-fashion-retail-6ad2e6db85 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0qjolffnkaru08qj-1729031736931-compressed.0*qJOlffnKaRU08Qj-) ### **Coding for Fashion-Retail** #### **By Emma Colner** My name is Emma Colner and I’m a lead software engineer at [Stitch Fix](https://www.stitchfix.com/). I’ve been at the company for over 6 years. We are primarily a personalization company, in the fashion-retail sector, but with a twist. We develop our machine learning algorithms and most of our web-based tools internally. #### **How did I get into computer science?** My parents were both technical people, so we had a computer in our household as far back as I can remember. I played a lot of computer games, and eventually, as a teenager, I became fascinated with the Internet. I spent hours in Yahoo chat rooms, and created a website on Geocities mostly so I could share more about me with people I met online. (The Internet was way more tame back then for a 16 year old girl). I preferred to write HTML from scratch rather than use the WYSIWYG editors that were provided at the time. I had a lot of fun customizing my website as a way to express my interests. This was all pre-2000. In undergrad I got a BA in Cognitive Science. For my cognitive science degree I was required to take some computer science courses, and unfortunately they turned me off of computer science completely. That said, in my graduate studies I had to teach myself how to code in Matlab in order to run my experiments and analyze my data, so in a way, that’s how I got into computer science — through psychology and research. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1m-axl89mabnl6pmcbd55qq-1729031738442-compressed.jpeg) I continued on to get a PhD in Experimental Psychology. After completing a 1 year post-doctoral research position, I decided to leave academia and pursue a career in tech which brought me to Stitch Fix. #### **How do I use coding in my job?** I develop web applications that are used internally at Stitch Fix. Our merchandisers use one such tool to manage our inventory, another tool for communicating with vendors, and another is used by our warehouse associates for managing warehouse receiving, binning, picking, shipping and returns. One thing that I love about my job is that I get to build and work on applications that my co-workers use. This means the feedback cycle is quicker than you’d get with an app that is open for the general public to use. It’s also more fun to brainstorm ideas about how to improve a product, or really dig into the problems we’re trying to solve and come up with creative solutions. > At this stage, I almost think having some basic knowledge of computer science concepts is a prerequisite for any field. We depend so much on technology that it would benefit anyone to learn at a high-level how products and applications are built. If people are interested in getting into more of the details, that’s even better. #### **List of tools and programming languages I use:** * Sublime Text * iTerm * Ruby (Rails) * JS (Jquery, StimulusJS, React) * CSS (sass) * HTML * Github ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ae6-kqrub13wrq-qqxuw-1729031740069-compressed.png) _Outside of work, I live with my husband and preschool-aged son in the East Bay Area. When I have free time (usually between the hours of 9pm-midnight), I read science fiction and fantasy books voraciously, and sometimes play video games on my Nintendo Switch. As a family, we try to get outside as much as we can hiking in the regional parks near us. I also enjoy baking and having my son “help” out._ Follow Emma Colner on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/meemameemameema). * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/fashionretail_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Satellite Internet Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2021-01-26 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-satellite-internet-4cc368a946da * * * ### Coding for Satellite Internet #### By: Rachel Simone Domagalski, Software Engineer at Astranis ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0fxqsoznp3dukz4-m-1729032398260-compressed.0*fxQsoZnp3Dukz4-M) Hi, I’m Rachel. I took a fairly non-traditional pathway towards becoming a software engineer. After high school, I went to my local community college without much of a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I eventually decided on physics after reading some popular science books and went on to doing a double major in physics and astronomy at a university. After spending about a year and a half working in an astronomy lab after graduating, I decided to give grad school a shot, initially in pursuit of a PhD in astronomy. Two years into grad school and I realized that it wasn’t my thing, so I left with a Master’s degree and got a job working at a robotics startup. About a year ago, I joined the company Astranis as a software engineer. #### **What do you work on?** Astranis is a company that works on small satellites that deliver internet access to places that currently don’t have a lot of options for getting online. We are an aerospace company and we’re currently working on making a satellite that will target Alaska with its internet coverage. My duties as a software engineer have touched on a decent amount of things. Right now, I’m working on the software stack that we use on the ground to send and receive packets from the satellite, but in the past year, I’ve also worked on software to help electrical engineers test boards and components and have written a small amount of flight software. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0kmy9iltdmdf4s0cy-1729032399864-compressed.0*Kmy9iltDMDf4S0cy) In June of 2020, the Astranis team went on a major testing campaign to put their satellite through thermal vacuum testing. Rachel is in the bottom row, second from the left, wearing a gray sweatshirt. More information about the test where this photo was taken can be found [here](https://www.astranis.com/news/astranis-passes-major-technical-milestone-for-microgeo-product-line). #### **How do you use coding in your projects?** At Astranis, my recent projects have primarily been writing software that controls hardware, such as some of the spacecraft components as well as the radios we use to talk to the satellite from the ground. I also have helped electrical engineers develop scripts to control lab equipment to automate some of their testing procedures that would otherwise be fairly tedious. There’s definitely been a bit of a learning curve, but it’s been a blast so far. Outside of work, I write software to control some appliances in my apartment, such as light bulbs, with some custom routines. When the California fires hit really hard a few months ago, I picked up an air quality monitor and wrote some code to have a few of my light bulbs change colors based on the air quality, which has been really useful. #### **Any tips for students?** One thing that I’d recommend to people interested in the technical aspects of the type of work that software engineers at my company do is to learn how to program microcontrollers. There are several low-cost options, such as the Arduino, STM32 Nucleo, and ESP32 boards. There are also a lot of fairly cheap hardware components available that can be controlled with microcontrollers as well, such as thermometers, motors, accelerometers, and lots of other components. Getting a feel for the type of software used to control hardware is a great idea for anyone interested in working in aerospace as a software engineer. Even if you don’t necessarily have a project in mind, grabbing some components and playing around with them can be really fun. #### **Tools and programming languages you use:** My main programming languages are: * Python * C++ * Rust Some other software tools that I use on a regular basis are: * Git * Linux * Vim * InfluxDB * Grafana My home projects typically run on Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards. * * * _Outside of work, I can be found playing the synthesizer badly, as well as jogging or roller skating around my neighborhood._ Connect with Rachel on: GitHub: [https://github.com/domagalski](https://github.com/domagalski) Twitter: [https://twitter.com/MersenneTwisty](https://twitter.com/MersenneTwisty) LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsdomagalski/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsdomagalski/) * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/satelliteinternet_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Episode 5: Coding for Sustainability and Equity with Arno & Floor Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-12-16 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/episode-5-coding-for-sustainability-and-equity-with-arno-floor-f7f8fee0f9d0 * * * ### Episode 5: Coding for Sustainability and Equity with Arno & Floor #### Coding In The Wild Podcast hosted by [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/ae5107e75e34) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1zw4xenhe9plumgowxry1g-1729031577317-compressed.png) In this episode of Coding in the Wild, we interview Floor & Arno from the Netherlands! Floor Drees is a Developer Relations Manager at Microsoft, and Arno Fleming is a Tech Lead at The Next Closet, a sustainable marketplace for second hand designer fashion. Together they co-organize the Ruby Community in the Netherlands. Tune in as we discuss their love for the Ruby Community, English as a universal language for coders, and building inclusive communities in the programming world. _The Coding in the Wild podcast is also available on_ [_Spotify_](https://open.spotify.com/show/3fimuliFB2BfnFrTX5WrJS?si=_tiUZSm2Qhyx1Ph9v5R0ZA) _and_ [_YouTube_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKDi24MCdQI)_!_ #### Episode 5 Highlights [Free web development for beginners course by Microsoft](https://aka.ms/webdev-beginners) mentioned by Floor. > “The Next Closet is a secondhand store for designer clothes, but on the other hand it is just a way to make sure we waste less, so sustainability is at the core of the company. That for me was the reason to apply there…” — Arno, Tech Lead at The Next Closet > “Where you typically might not think about making sure that a venue is wheelchair accessible suddenly we needed to make sure it was, we were confronted with this and thought oh gosh this is something we never thought about but maybe that’s also something that’s keeping people away from our meetups…” > “I was suddenly in all of these events where organizers would ask me “what even is a code of conduct” or where the lineup of speakers wasn’t as diverse as I am used to or even the range of topics wasn’t as diverse as I was used to from Ruby communities so I just became sort of hyper aware that we’ve been very privileged in the Ruby community and that’s something that we should bring to more communities…” — Floor Drees, Developer Relations Manager at Microsoft * * * **Want to hear more?** Follow [Coding In The Wild](https://twitter.com/codinginthewild) on Twitter. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Artificial Intelligence Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-12-09 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artificial-intelligence-9165104ea3af * * * ### Coding for Artificial Intelligence #### by Mona, AI/ML Specialist Solution Architect at AWS ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1urfa5hqrfhxm2rjdcpvg-1729031532624-compressed.png) I am Mona, an AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning) Specialist Solution Architect at Amazon. My background, I did my bachelors in computer engineering followed by a Masters in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University. I also worked for overall social development of underprivileged children through an NGO in India. #### My Work I work on helping organizations with adopting machine learning in AWS Cloud. My Industry is Information Technology. We also work with a lot of schools to help students learn machine learning in a fun way. At AWS, our mission is to put machine learning in the hands of every developer irrespective of their background in AI/ML. In order to achieve that mission we have created AI services to help with common machine learning use cases such as text to speech, speech to text, finding insights, and more. I was recently part of this show called [AWS Power hour on Twitch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKDUZdvMLK8) where I taught developers how to use natural language processing using Amazon Comprehend by just using simple python APIs. Before joining Amazon, I was a Java developer and did coding to support a financial application. Currently, I use simple Python coding to create machine learning solutions using AWS AI services. I write blogs to help anyone looking to learn AI/ML with no ML background. Links to my blog can be found from my [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mona-08b73837/) page. #### Amazon Deepracer Try Amazon Deepracer, a fun way to get started with reinforcement learning (RL). RL is an advanced machine learning technique similar to how you would train your dog. It’s based on reward , you would reward your dog for positive behavior and punish for negative behavior. That’s how the dog learns new behavior. Similar concepts are used in RL and Amazon Deepracer, where you train your car to follow a path or track using a reward function. You would give positive reward if the car is in the centre of the track and would negatively reward it for going outside the track. That’s how you use reinforcement learning to play with Amazon Deepracer! We provide you with a starting model to begin with, which you can load in the AWS DeepRacer and start learning RL in action. Amazon DeepRacer is for all skill levels, offering the opportunity to get hands on with machine learning through a cloud based 3D racing simulator. A fully autonomous 1/18th scale race car driven by reinforcement learning allows developers to partake in global racing leagues! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0x82d2u71yrdqxzet-1729031533938-compressed.0*x82D2U71YrdQXZEt) You can participate in DeepRacer events and compete with other developers here: [https://aws.amazon.com/deepracer/league/](https://aws.amazon.com/deepracer/league/) #### Programming Languages Previously, I used to code in Java, now I use Python. * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1lqjv651nlfdecxprhneyya-1729031535701-compressed.jpeg) _I love to cook, explore new places and paint._ [LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mona-08b73837/) Hear from Mona in the [AWS Tech U Series: Building a Technical Career at AWS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjql4P038oU&feature=youtu.be) * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/machinelearning_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for a Sustainable Marketplace Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-11-12 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-a-sustainable-marketplace-a15e1cdf9f87 * * * ### Coding for a Sustainable Marketplace #### By Max Bonhomme ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1mdond6omqwnrlewyw4omsa-1729031633017-compressed.png) I’m Max, a Full Stack Developer working at Everpress. Everpress a global curated marketplace with the goal of promoting independent creativity while eliminating risk and waste. I started as a Front End Engineer in a web agency after graduation. I was mainly working on marketing websites and experimental experiences for small to medium sized businesses. After working for 2 years with this company I made the switch to freelance where I worked with many different types of clients, from working directly with designers or small agencies to working with bigger businesses like Dropbox or Netflix. It was a really fun experience — I met a lot of great people, worked on some great projects and learnt a few different skills along the way like client relations, account management and business operations. After 4 years of freelancing it was time for me to join a company that I believed in and where I could be part of a great team of doers to help drive the business upwards. That’s why I joined Everpress, which helps creators be more independent and bring them closer to their community whilst having a strong focus on sustainability in a world of dead stock and abundant waste. We work closely together within the tech team to bring new features to the ecommerce experience or updating existing parts of the site, from revisiting the checkout flow to improving the UX on the creators dashboard to adding a new filtering system on the shop page. We also work cross-functionally between all departments to try and make everyone’s life easier, we automate a lot of the production teams day to day tasks so that they can focus on more important things. We fix bugs that users share with customer support and we keep open communication so that everyone stays up to date with how the business is going and what is needed to improve things. On a day to day basis we start with a short standup to talk about our current tasks and anything that might be blocking another team member. During each sprint we usually have a mix of new features, improvements and bugs to work on. We mainly use React and CSS Modules for the frontend and Symfony for the backend which are very flexible and perfect for our use case. We release our work twice a week and often talk about how we could improve our code base (new technologies, improving documentation) or in our workflow so we never stay still and always improve as a team. One thing I learned throughout the years is that as a developer you have to be lazy. The less you write the better, if you’re re-using the same code over and over there’s a way to make it more efficient or to automate it. The key is to write clean and readable code, use variable and method names that make sense, you should be able to read the code and not decrypt it. Doing that will help you understand your code if you come back to it 2 months after but more importantly it will help your team members understand and update your work. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1twk8k0rdfvn-ckiqddnopa-1729031634958-compressed.jpeg) #### **Tools and Programming Languages I Use** * VSCode * PHPStorm * Docker * AWS * Tuple (for pair programming).HTML & CSS * Javascript * PHP * SQL When not coding you can find me hiking or windsurfing. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Machine Learning Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-10-06 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-machine-learning-f8203cf37fa2 * * * ### Coding for Machine Learning ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ty8icll0y4z2xn4kojxg-1729031528183-compressed.png) Hi, I am Richa Sinha. I completed my Bachelors in Electronics and Communication Engineering from NIT Jamshedpur, India in 2012 and moved to the USA in 2016 to pursue a Masters in Computer Engineering. I worked for a little over 3.5 years in India in the field of computer communication and networking before my masters. During my bachelors, I did not learn coding as that was absent in my curriculum. Later, I started learning coding and basic fundamentals of computer science because of my work. I started as a Software developer with Alcatel Lucent IP Division (now known as Nokia IPD). I was responsible for designing the IPv6 control as well as data plane for their service routers. The whole infrastructure was written in C/C++ and I had to design the IPv6 infrastructure over that. It also required a good understanding of Operating Systems. Since I had no background in Computer Science, I started taking certain online courses on Coursera to read and develop my programming skills. It also helped me in improving my knowledge of data structures and algorithms. It intrigued me so much that I started freelancing and learning new programming languages like Python and JavaScript. I also tried developing games using vPython. In my free time, I started reading various technical blogs like Slashdot, hacker news and various subreddits related to Computer Science. All of these piqued my interest in the field of computer science in general and I decided to pursue my masters. I got my MS from Virginia Tech with a focus in Computer Vision. During my masters, I interned at Amazon and after graduation, I joined Amazon as a full time software developer. #### **What do you work on?** I currently work as a Software Developer Engineer with Amazon. I have been a SDE with Amazon for a little over two years and have been with three different orgs during this time period. I interned and started as a full time engineer in the Alexa Skills Kit development org. As an intern, I had an amazing time where I worked on creating and hosting various skills in Alexa. Geolocation was still not supported back then and I worked on prototyping geolocation usage with Alexa. Prior to the geolocation feature, Alexa could only take in a single device address (a static address). In order to incorporate Alexa with vehicles or phones (a moving device with changing address), it was needed to continuously update the location of the device. During my internship, I created an Alexa out of a raspberry pi (called [Alexa Voice Service](https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/alexa/alexa-voice-service)). The raspberry pi acted as a moving device and kept on sending its geolocation. I wrote Alexa skills which could use the geolocation coordinates. Post Alexa, I spent around 1.5 years in Amazon Advertising. Here, I worked on low latency distributed cache solutions to support relevant ads to the search and detail page of Alexa (sponsored products). Whenever a customer searches anything on an Amazon web page, s/he sees various results, some with a tag called “sponsored”. These are advertisements on the Amazon page. **A lot of machine learning goes on in the background** to ensure that ads on Amazon are as intriguing as a non-advertised product. The latency of Amazon search pages is always very low to provide a seamless customer experience. The infrastructure requires us to understand the query and return desired results within a few milli-seconds. I wrote various applications in Java to support the end to end functioning of this workflow. Our ad server hosts many machine learning models to return relevant results to the customer. I also worked on designing an application which could help in managing the whole model development and deployment life cycle. I have recently moved out of Ads to work in another part of the Amazon retail page team. Now, I work as a software developer for machine learning (ML) with the Econ Tech team at Amazon. Here, I work on managing and designing systems that could help in productionalizing a machine learning model. A ML model needs various data processing and data validation jobs. These are the first steps in generating a ML model. It is called the feature generation step. As a machine learning engineer (MLE) in my current team, I am responsible for automating these feature generation jobs. My team uses Scala in Spark framework to generate the features. As MLEs, we also investigate ways to automate the ML training, testing and deployment pipelines. We continuously work on Open source tools or AWS products to help us with the automation. Amazon is investing in Auto-ML and as MLEs we are working towards automating the process of generating a ML model. #### **How do you use coding in your projects?** Coding is used everywhere. Be it writing a large scaled application or even a small part that could help in speeding up the development process (automation). In my 2 years at Amazon, I have programmed in Java, JavaScript, Ruby, Scala and Python. Most of the projects go through the normal software development life cycle model where there is a design review. Many senior engineers review the requirements and the proposed design for the application. Once approved, a software developer implements the design through the code. As an engineer, we are encouraged to apply various software engineering principles and write modular code. This helps in extension of the architecture if needed in the future. Most of the teams at Amazon follow the [SOLID principles](https://williamdurand.fr/2013/07/30/from-stupid-to-solid-code/) for coding. A programmer is encouraged to write testable code. Keeping test cases in mind while writing code also makes them a lot more extensible. Programming is even used to manage our infrastructure. If there is a certain component within our systems that is manual and takes a long time, we automate them programmatically. Various teams at Amazon also hold Lunch and Learn sessions, where various senior and junior developers interact and talk about coding fundamentals. Each and every programming language has a standard of their own and as programmers, we are encouraged to learn them more. #### **Any fun insights or tips related to the application of computer science in your area.** Coding takes away a lot of manual work. > At big companies like Amazon or Google, engineers program the way the voice assistant listens. On retail websites, the engineers are trying to enhance the shopper’s experience by showing them what they want. Platforms like YouTube and Facebook Video are enabling us to share high quality content all across the world. Each of these applications has [CDN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_delivery_network) and a high powered [distributed infrastructure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_computing) support. The networking infrastructure makes the communication better. There is a lot of engineering and machine learning going in the background in order to better serve customers. These days, coding is everywhere. An english major might want to learn it to get an insight of various scripts. That will come under natural language processing. A painter or a graphics/3D programmer might want to use it. Hollywood studios use it to reduce the cost of going outdoors. Various coding languages have evolved through time to provide such features. And the best and the worst part of Computer Science is that each and every part of Computer Science keeps evolving now and then. Anyone can learn programming and perform wonders in this area. #### **List of tools and programming languages you use** * Python * Scala * Java * JavaScript * Ruby * C * C++ I consider myself a digital polyglot who has to Google syntaxes a lot of times. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0zkhcpuc9dh0x1m31-1729031530771-compressed.0*zkhCpuc9dh0x1m31) _Apart from being a software developer, Richa is a self-taught painter who enjoys learning all sorts of mediums (acrylic, oil, water color, gouache, etc.). She also does digital art on her iPad at times and is trying to learn shader programming which is used to create graphics. You can check out her work on Instagram (@_[_painter\_wizard_](https://www.instagram.com/painter_wizard/)_) and on Github (@_[_richasinha_](https://github.com/richasinha)_)._ _LinkedIn:_ [_https://www.linkedin.com/in/richasinha17/_](https://www.linkedin.com/in/richasinha17/) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Episode 4: Coding to Equalize Workforce Opportunities with Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-09-16 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/episode-4-coding-to-equalize-workforce-opportunities-with-dr-sreyoshi-bhaduri-550acd5f986a * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1nw-hy8cljggrsiuap7ifw-1729031487860-compressed.png) ### Episode 4: Coding to Equalize Workforce Opportunities with Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri #### Coding In The Wild Podcast hosted by [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/a04f3e920f92) In this episode on Coding in the Wild, we interview Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri, Global People Research and Analytics lead at McGraw Hill. Sreyoshi uses her engineering background and interest in education to generate data-driven insights to improve culture, diversity, inclusion, leadership, and training in the workforce. > “Coding is an integral part of people analytics and can help address challenges of inequities in the 21st century workforce by highlighting trends, predicting outcomes, and drawing insights to make sense of large datasets on employees at organizations.” — Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri **Recommended literature in this podcast on coding biases:** * Book: Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble * Documentary: Coded Bias * * * **Want to hear more?** Follow [Coding In The Wild](https://twitter.com/codinginthewild) on Twitter. If you are interested in learning more about Sreyoshi’s work, feel free to [reach out](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreyoshi-bhaduri/)! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Government Electricity Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-09-08 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-government-electricity-39cae8e3379f * * * ### Coding for Government Electricity #### By: Indrani Sen ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/18xwetyxii9oay5nlvwgwha-1729032358290-compressed.png) Hi, I’m Indrani Sen. I am a woman working in computing with over 5 years experience in the software industry. I earned my Bachelors in Computer Science from Assam University in India. I also completed my Masters in Computer Applications from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in India. During my final semester, I got an opportunity to intern at Infosys — an information technology consulting company. Following graduation I joined Tata Consultancy Services — a global leader in IT services, consulting and business services where I now manage projects and mentor junior engineers. #### **About My Work** I am primarily involved in overseeing important parts of the software development life cycle, including understanding project requirements while working with clients, working with cross-functional teams to address bottlenecks, delegating tasks, and conducting final acceptance testing with clients. In addition, I am also leading a team of junior engineers and mentoring them to tackle various industry challenges encountered on a daily basis. You learn only by doing. Unless you take up the problem and try executing it in multiple ways, you won’t be able to come up with the varying magnitudes of errors. A good debugger will eventually become a good programmer. > A good debugger will eventually become a good programmer. #### **How I Use Coding** Being a part of the software development industry, our primary objective is to reduce human error and automate services beneficial for our clients. My recent project is with the various State Government Electricity Boards in India. Using technologies such as J2SE, Spring REST, AngularJS and Materialize CSS, I led automation of services, such as asset maintenance schedules incorporating text/email notifications, automated data-rich energy utilization reports, and more. In addition, I have developed REST web-services for utility SCADA applications using spring framework, designed upstream SOAP web-services for inter-module data communication and have utilized SQL to generate various diagnostic reports. The major impact of my project has been the improvement in down time arising due to human error and faster processing times, subsequently saving taxpayer money. Sticking to stringent deadlines almost year round the clock can be extremely challenging to accomplish without conducting some fun activity at the workplace. We at TCS dedicate our Friday’s to Fundays. Using front end technologies, we develop banners and pamphlets which we distribute among the mass population for the various events conducted by our organization. These events include TCS Fit for Life Corporate Challenge to promote wellness in the community. Various marathons are organized at different cities across the globe. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the scheduled 2020 marathon in New York got cancelled. We have also developed an application where employees can log their daily physical activity which can include the time spent in gymnasiums, to commuting via cycling or as simple as the amount of time spent in walking. The noble part about this website is it contributes the amount logged to various non profitable organizations. We have also designed a forum “TCS-ioN” to reach out to aspirants who dream of joining our organization tomorrow to help them develop important skills and technologies. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1tjmz1zrrjifl69szkirjua-1729032359905-compressed.jpeg) **Programming Languages & Tools I Use** * Java/J2SE * MaterializeCSS with Angular * Visual Studio * Eclipse * Maven * Apache Tomcat _I am a singer and a big time foodie. So, I spend most of my idle time exploring music and trying out my hands in preparing new cuisines for friends and family._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding to Equalize Workforce Opportunities Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-08-10 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-to-equalize-workforce-opportunities-1393aea73e6f * * * ### Coding to Equalize Workforce Opportunities #### By: Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1dn7nuk3xgvmvdjf9tetzzq-1729031468799-compressed.png) The 21st century workforce has several inequities. Most prominent, for example, is the gender pay gap — in the U.S., for every dollar that a man makes, a woman in a similar role makes 81 cents. Pay inequities are further exacerbated due to intersections of race, caste, socio-economic background, and other attributes of an employee. Similarly, at organizations, there may be inequities in the hiring, promotion and retention processes. People research and analytics is a field of research that focuses on employees at organizations and enables inclusive, equitable work environments so that everyone can be their productive best. > Coding is an integral part of people analytics and can help address challenges of inequities in the 21st century workforce by highlighting trends, predicting outcomes, and drawing insights to make sense of large datasets on employees at organizations. #### **My Current Role** I am Dr. Sreyoshi Bhaduri. I currently lead Global People Research and Analytics at McGraw Hill — the learning sciences company. McGraw Hill is a leader in educational content, and applies science of learning to create innovative solutions to improve education outcomes around the world. I use code to problem solve challenges of the 21st century workforce by using data science, statistics, and organizational behavior to understand employee engagement and present insights to enable data-driven decision making. #### **My Background** My academic background is interdisciplinary. I am an engineer and an educator who enjoys working with people data — I earned my Bachelors in Mechatronics Engineering from Manipal University in India. I then completed my Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, here in the U.S. Subsequently, I earned my second Masters in Applied Statistics and my Ph.D. in Engineering Education, both from Virginia Tech. I am passionate about using innovative and ethical research methods (for example, combining predictive analytics and/or natural language processing with insights from qualitative research) and applying them to challenges faced by global organizations. #### **Learning to Code** I don’t have a background in computer science and so most of my experience with coding is essentially building upon concepts that were self-taught. I credit my growing inclination to persist with code to the interdisciplinary courses I took while I was a graduate student at Virginia Tech. Interacting with software developers and machine learning technologists helped expand my worldview, and allowed me to apply innovative methods and technology to the wide range of problems I was working on. While working part-time as a Research Assistant on a project with the Federal Rail Authority during my masters, I contemplated the use of machine learning to classify signals generated from railway tracks to detect whether or not they were defective/broken. This contemplation materialized into my M.S. thesis. Post masters, I was interested in learning more about machine learning. A few graduate-level courses in Applied Statistics and Natural Language Processing helped me find innovative tools that I could apply to a host of problems. Since then I have coded to problem solve for challenges in the classroom (such as analyzing large volumes of student data across institutions) and now, in the workforce, as I analyze employee data from across the globe. #### **How I Use Coding for People Analytics** I work on exciting projects related to the global workforce. At McGraw Hill I manage Global People Research & Analytics, where I lead research leveraging employee data from across 45 countries to generate data-driven insights for policy decisions impacting organizational effectiveness, culture, and talent. Essentially, I use code in a wide range of projects such as examining gender or racial pay equity and talent acquisition, predicting voluntary turnover, strategizing workforce planning, among others. Recognizing the biases that researchers bring into their codes and automation, I use my work to emphasize inclusive and ethical mixed-methods research to answer questions and glean actionable insights to drive decision-making. My areas of research are Women in Stem/Tech, Innovative Mixed Methods Research Designs, Sustainable Development Goals, Communicating Data, People Analytics, AND most importantly — making the world a better place! > Researching people and social contexts is tricky, to say the least! A large part of ethical methods while researching people and their experiences, is to seek inclusive tools and methods to understand various data-sets and their sources holistically. We often think of numbers, codes and algorithms as synonymous to logic, ground truth, and think of them as unbiased. Although numbers and algorithms in isolation may be mathematically thought of as unbiased, their usage on human data and subsequent decision-making allows bias to creep in. For example, think about training a machine learning algorithm to predict employee turnover — i.e., who may leave the organization. Bias can creep into this analysis in multiple forms — from the training set that the algorithm was tuned using, or even the choices that the coder makes as they make various decisions in the algorithm development process. When working with data about and impacting humans, going beyond the numbers is crucial while drawing inferences. This is especially true for data-driven decision-making. Inferring with empathy and context-specific understanding helps draw meaning from data that mere algorithms cannot. [Some tips](https://www.thatstatsgirl.com/my-research/inclusive-research-methods) to overcome these are: 1\. Employing Mixed Methods as much as possible 2\. Recognizing one’s own biases 3\. Reporting findings and insights transparently #### **Tips for Starting Out with Coding** It is never too late to learn how to code! Many learners are typically intimidated by code, but thinking of it as a tool to assist oneself rather than a whole new language, may help lessen the fear. Go beyond learning syntaxes and quizzes. Employ code for a project that you are passionate about. Using code on real data helps gain perspectives that a course or clean data may not be able to. I love connecting with those who are new to the field. If you are interested in learning more about my work, feel free to [reach out](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreyoshi-bhaduri/)! #### Tools and Programming Languages I Use * Python * SPSS * R * Tableau ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/14bfp9hiqwn7jjbcmopg81a-1729031471314-compressed.jpeg) _I am a maker of lists and itineraries, who — likes statistics, loves dogs, practices feminism, dabbles in writing, and enjoys tea and long conversations. I use she/her/hers pronouns._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Major League Baseball Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-07-13 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-major-league-baseball-b1d8323106a8 * * * ### Coding for Major League Baseball #### By: Eli Katz ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/10uojlinx1v0z04x9zyfmow-1729031647724-compressed.png) Hi! I’m Eli, a Master’s Student at Johns Hopkins University studying Applied Mathematics and Statistics, and an incoming Analytics Fellow at the Baltimore Orioles. I’ve always been an avid sports fan and adept at math, but the combination of the two is not something people always think about. I had never considered how they could work together, that is until 8th grade when I saw the movie Moneyball. Like so many others, that movie (and of course the book it was based on) inspired me to dive headfirst into the field of Sports Analytics. After that movie, I had the singular goal of working in a front office of a major league franchise as an analyst. After many research opportunities and projects over the past few years, I was lucky enough to intern with the San Diego Padres this past summer, and will be continuing my work in baseball with the Baltimore Orioles following the completion of my degree. Many factors go into making a successful analyst. I’d say the most important is knowledge of the sport, since no analysis can be done without first asking the right questions, and then being able to translate your results into actionable change on the field. However, the next most important skill is programming. > With so much data being created in every play, every dribble, or every pitch, sports analytics needs to be able to collect large data sets and analyze it efficiently to find those important insights. My first exposure to coding came in the summer following 11th grade, when I signed up to be a part of a program called the Wharton Moneyball Academy. This program was a week long course that included a basic statistics class, an amazing set of speakers including MLB pitching coaches and baseball analytics, as well as an introduction to programming in R. Following that course, I tried to find whatever resources I could to expand my R knowledge. I remember spending hours trying to download years of baseball data and try my hand at replicating some analysis that I had found online. My goal in college was to gain as many analytics skills as I could, and become extremely versatile as an analyst. Through my time at Johns Hopkins, I’ve learned optimization techniques using MATLAB, how to use machine learning in Python, how to perform statistical analyses using R, and much much more. Even more important than the coding experience from my classes has been the research projects where I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned. My favorite project that I’ve worked on has been creating schedules for Minor League Baseball using MATLAB and Gurobi Optimization software. Working with many of the Minor Leagues, our research team works to translate the scheduling parameters that the league presidents want to see into mathematical equations, and then into code which can optimize for the best possible schedule. Additionally, I’ve worked on projects such as finding the best strategy in extra innings when a runner begins on second base (a scenario which we’ll see in the Major Leagues for the first time this upcoming season), modeling bullpen fatigue in order to decide which pitchers are rested enough to pitch on a given day, and projecting how international prospects would perform in the Major Leagues. Sports Analytics is an exciting and rapidly expanding field. While this analytical revolution began in baseball, you can now find analysts working for almost every team in every sport. There’s no limit to what kind of new insights Sports Analytics can offer in any sport, and that is thanks to the many analysts who have contributed to the Sports Analytics world, and have made their data collection and analysis open for anyone to learn from and use. > My advice to anyone trying to break into the sports world: become familiar with a programming language where you can download and analyze data in your favorite sport, search for an exciting question and see what discoveries you can find! #### Tools and Programming Languages I Use: * R * Python * MATLAB * Gurobi Optimization * SQL ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0xdmm0e4qruk5p6yn-1729031654910-compressed.0*XDmM0E4QRUk5p6yN) _Outside of work, Eli likes playing video games, playing poker with friends, and watching whatever sports he can find on TV._ * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](https://codehs.com/codingformlb)_. Comprehension is designed for younger students and can easily be incorporated into your curriculum._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Programmatic Advertising Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-06-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-programmatic-advertising-84ffb4457aa1 * * * ### **Coding for Programmatic Advertising** #### By Phanindra Cherukuri ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1bphuwxrc7jktu3chcuk2q-1729031514126-compressed.png) Hey! My name is Phani, and I’m currently a Senior Solutions Engineer at TripleLift. #### Coding Background While I was taking Computer Science classes in college, I had no idea how I was going to use that knowledge in the future. All I knew was that there were people out there creating cool apps like Snapchat, Airbnb, and Uber. As I graduated from college, I started turning my own ideas into some side projects to get my feet wet with web development. One of these side projects gained traction and became my full-time startup job for a year, where I was building a website that offered mobile VR tours for real estate buyers or renters. Working on that startup made me realize that I was passionate about using coding to solve interesting, real-world problems — but at the same time, it made me realize that I enjoyed being business-facing too. Funnily enough, there’s an engineering job made just for that! A Solutions Engineer sits at the intersection of tech (e.g. Software Engineer, Product Manager) and business (e.g. Sales, Business Development). They’re seen as highly technical experts on the company product that also understand what success means to the end customer. In many cases, that means putting on an entrepreneurial hat and using coding to come up with creative solutions for customer success. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1sy4fsgifwtkn1kmb1t-ziw-1729031521685-compressed.png) _A Solutions Engineer intersects across three main roles._ #### How I Use Coding Today I’m now 2 years into my role at TripleLift, which is a leading company in the competitive world of programmatic advertising. There are many big companies that have made their name through facilitating internet ad transactions (e.g. Google), but we all know that these ads can be pretty annoying to the end user. I’m willing to bet that you have an ad blocker running right now, dontcha? That’s why TripleLift made its mission to reinvent how we think about ads — if ads are a necessary evil for the internet to continue running, why not strive to make them as pleasing and engaging as possible for the viewer? TripleLift accomplishes this with computer vision technology that makes sure ads blend into the aesthetic of any online medium where content is shown (websites, mobile apps, even streaming devices and smart TVs!) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/035z1wd-iggdmiock-1729031523677-compressed.0*35z1Wd-IGgdmIocK) [triplelift.com](https://triplelift.com/) In my day-to-day, I’m expected to devise custom engineering solutions that enable TripleLift’s buyers to effectively spend their ad budgets on the inventory of various content publishers. My responsibilities are: * Leading client meetings as the technical expert on TripleLift’s products to help our Business Development team sell in new deals * Writing clean, scalable code that “plugs” client technology into TripleLift’s exchange to start bidding on inventory and render ads seamlessly * Optimizing the way we emit our business information over HTTP requests to increase platform liquidity * Staying up-to-date on the latest web development trends (the entire advertising industry can shift with just one Google Chrome update!) ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/06x4dlcpro4nldicw-1729031525670-compressed.0*6x4dLcpro4NlDicw) I believe that learning how to code opens up endless opportunities for one’s career, and life in general. That doesn’t necessarily mean only working as a software engineer at a classic tech company like Microsoft — it’s a skill that lets you contribute in **any** industry these days. Want to use AI to help banks and hedge funds trade more effectively? Cool, Python is widely used in quantitative finance. Want to build tools that help our space explorers on their mission? Awesome, JavaScript powers the glowing screens that astronauts used during the June 2020 SpaceX rocket launch. Want to provide our doctors with faster ways to treat illnesses? Guess what — “telemedicine” is the next frontier, and it requires speedy mobile app platforms that can remotely connect healthcare workers with their patients. The modern-day world is all about using technology to solve problems, so the people that are able to build and improve technology are highly sought after and can go on to create incredible things. #### **Programming Languages & Tools I Use** * Java * JavaScript * PHP * Python * HTML/CSS * SQL * MongoDB _Besides work, Phani’s hobbies are fitness, curating Spotify/SoundCloud playlists, hiking, and trying food from around the world._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Digital Product Design Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-05-19 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-digital-product-design-dc7256ca44b7 * * * ### **Coding for Digital Product Design** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/148yac3nt4dpgim4zzzuaba-1729031412200-compressed.png) 👋 Hey, I’m Ryan and I’m a Digital Product Designer — which basically means I solve problems and help design the experience users have when using mobile/web apps, websites, and products. Similar to how an architect designs homes and buildings, a digital product designer helps design software. Currently, I help simplify the home remodeling experience and am working on building a smart-home app around the doors in your home. Prior to this, I helped build an app for banks dealing with fraudulent credit card transactions. Before shifting to product design, I worked in the business-end of healthcare — where I helped investigate key business problems for pharmaceutical companies. I actually majored in Healthcare Informatics and Biostatistics in college but would learn about design in my free time through my elective college courses, design books, and experimentations with design tools/code. #### **What exactly does a product designer do?** ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0ubb2ju-xlx6le4ay-1729031414132-compressed.0*ubb2ju-xLx6le4AY) Every company will have a different definition of what it means to be a product designer, but for most, **it’s a role that balances psychology, art, computer science, and business strategy**. Being in a product design role means you’re most likely going to take on a wide array of responsibilities: * Helping define aspects of the end-user’s interaction with an app or website * Creating patterns and visual design in an app * Thinking about product/business strategy for a product or app * Validating market research and user feedback ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1gx2erckpky908b17mflbjg-1729031417064-compressed.png) _A mobile app in the works for a smart-home device._ Product designers typically work and collaborate between software engineering and business/marketing teams — helping build software and understanding in relation to the business. #### How does coding fit into this role? As a Product Designer, knowing the building blocks of how apps are built helps me move faster and collaborate better with software engineers. In my experience, understanding code gives me and the software engineers I work with a shared understanding of what we’re really working towards and what technological constraints we’re going to have when building an app. It’s helpful for us to understand the limitations we have with code for the web (HTML, CSS, Javascript). > _“Knowing how to code gives me and the software engineers I work with a shared understanding of what we’re building”_ Even when I’m not using code to help build software, I use code made for statistical computing (SQL, R) to look at mass amounts of data. After collecting user feedback and market research, I can use code to search for answers in the data much more quickly — helping us target which design solutions will make for a better experience for the people using the application. Code is one of many tools in my “toolbox”, but it’s one that helps me build the things I want to design and collaborate more meaningfully with the people on my team. #### Should you pursue digital product design? Product design is fundamentally about solving problems for people — understanding the problem, seeing how people are affected by that problem, and identifying a solution. If you enjoy continually learning about things and like using a mix of logic, visuals, science, and technology to help solve problems, product design may be a great fit. Phones, computers, and the internet have become integral parts of our lives, and as designers, code helps us understand how the digital things we interact with everyday are built. Anyone can learn how to code and design, and everyone will have a different way of learning. If you feel this type of career may be a fit for you, I’d encourage you to start tinkering with how you could make an experience on a website or app better. Find a simple problem and sketch out a way to solve it! Test your solution with different people and learn how to implement your design using code. Most of all, have fun through the process! #### What tools/programming languages do I use & what for? * Pen & Paper: _I start my ideas with these, my desk is littered with rough sketches of app screens_ * Design Software: _Figma, Sketch, Framer, Principle, Visual Studio Code, Git_ * Languages to help build/design digital products: _HTML, CSS, Javascript, SwiftUI, Dart_ * Languages to help view, search, and transform data: _SQL, R, Python_ If you have any questions or want to learn more about how I use code to design digital products, you can always contact me using the info in my [portfolio](https://ryanparag.com/). _Outside of designing for work or side projects, I’m cycling around town 🚴‍♂️, learning how to race cars 🚘, fumbling around with playing guitar/piano 🎸, or trying to make the perfect cup of coffee ☕️._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Episode 3: Coding in Interactive Art with John Henry Thompson Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-03-27 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/episode-3-coding-in-interactive-art-with-john-henry-thompson-663665e016ec * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1axvio2l2bttrzhswjwvg-1729031786471-compressed.png) ### Episode 3: Coding in Interactive Art with John Henry Thompson #### Coding In The Wild Podcast hosted by [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/ae5107e75e34) ### Episode 3: Coding in Interactive Art with John Henry Thompson ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1msmnyqva-u9hloqmqe3q-1729031791782-compressed.jpeg) John-Henry Thompson circa 1984 In this episode on Coding in the Wild, we interview John Henry Thompson, an app developer and computer science and creative learning teacher, about his interest in both technology and art. John’s most recent project is DiCE, an open source platform for exploring art, learning, and computer science. > “I want to make it easy for people to use the computer as an expressive instrument, and to inspire people to learn about themselves and the world.” — John Henry Thompson * * * **Want to hear more?** Follow [Coding In The Wild](https://twitter.com/codinginthewild) on Twitter and visit John Henry Thompson’s website at [johnhenrythompson.com](http://www.johnhenrythompson.com/). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding In the Wild Podcast — Episode 2: Coding in Open Source Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2020-02-07 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-the-wild-podcast-episode-2-coding-in-open-source-78ffed79dbad * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1tomhm8ev0i0s1r4jebdj7w-1729031848313-compressed.png) ### Episode 2: Coding in Open Source with Feross Aboukhadijeh #### Coding In The Wild Podcast hosted by [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/ae5107e75e34) In this episode on Coding in Open Source, we interview Feross Aboukhadijeh about his innovative projects and experience with open source software. Feross is an entrepreneur, programmer, open source author, and mad scientist who will tell you, “It’s possible to make a profit and share your code with the world!” [https://codinginthewild.simplecast.com/episodes/2-coding-in-open-source](https://codinginthewild.simplecast.com/episodes/2-coding-in-open-source) * * * **Want to hear more?!** Follow [Coding In The Wild](https://twitter.com/codinginthewild) on Twitter and visit Feross’ website at [feross.org](http://feross.org.). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## [NEW] Coding In The Wild Podcast: Episode 1 — Coding in Law Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-11-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/new-coding-in-the-wild-podcast-episode-1-coding-in-law-b39eae87da87 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/14joao7rb-eboq9hx-h2q-1729032413592-compressed.png) ### Episode 1: Coding in Law with Adam Adler #### Coding In The Wild Podcast hosted by [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/a04f3e920f92) We are very excited to launch the first episode in our new Coding in the Wild Podcast! This [CodeHS](https://medium.com/u/a04f3e920f92) podcast will be a series of interviews with people who use computer science across a variety of industries. In today’s technology-driven world, computer science applies to every industry from law to music to healthcare and beyond! No matter what students want to do when they grow up, programming will be a foundational skill to learn so they can meaningfully impact the future! ### Episode 1: Coding in Law with Adam Adler CodeHS CEO and Co-founder, Jeremy Keeshin interviews Adam Adler, a lawyer, about his experience using computer science while practicing law. [https://codinginthewild.simplecast.com/episodes/coding-in-law](https://codinginthewild.simplecast.com/episodes/coding-in-law) * * * **Want to hear more!?** Follow us on Twitter [CodingInTheWild](https://medium.com/u/87460f25b0f9). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for the Cloud Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-11-11 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-the-cloud-b80b1313c6a * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1r5xuoorvoz4vrrzycuwdg-1729031438650-compressed.png) ### **Coding for the Cloud** #### By Nick Trettel My name is Nick and I’m a full-stack web developer at [Rackspace](https://www.rackspace.com/), where I write automated services in “the cloud.” ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/01xlbf-eyzxynasyi-1729031441223-compressed.0*1xlBF-eyzxynaSyi) I knew right out of high school that I wanted to pursue a career in software development. I took a class on the topic and immediately took an interest. To me, it was like building a puzzle. All of the pieces are already there; you have the computer, you have the software to process your code, all that’s left is putting it all together. I took an interest in web development specifically when I studied Computer Science at Virginia Tech. I did a few projects building websites and loved being able to physically see the results in the form of a nice, clean looking webpage. > “Before cloud providers, if you wanted to setup a website or some other form of web application, you needed to buy your own server and install all of the hardware and software.” As a Racker (that’s what we call our employees), I develop software for the Managed Public Clouds service. What is a cloud, and how do you manage one? Glad you asked. At a high level, a cloud simply means someone else’s computer. Before cloud providers, if you wanted to setup a website or some other form of web application, you needed to buy your own server and install all of the hardware and software. Now, you can go to any popular cloud provider such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, or Alibaba, and essentially rent the server from them. But even with a rented server, you still have to think about things like your Operating System and security vulnerabilities, and keeping it running 24/7. For that reason, the cloud’s biggest attraction is “serverless” infrastructure. Most cloud providers have services enabling you to simply upload your code, without any servers, and let them handle the details. However, managing all of your cloud infrastructure is still complicated, and that’s where Rackspace comes in. We offer various levels of support depending on the customer’s needs. We can do as little as “keeping the lights on,” — simply make sure everything stays running — or as much as help you setup your entire application’s infrastructure. If your application breaks in the middle of the night, someone on the support team will be there to get it back up. It would be nearly impossible to monitor the thousands of accounts we have under our management if we had to do it manually. Instead, we have automated tasks do all of the monitoring and only if something looks wrong, they will alert a human to fix it. My job as a developer is to help build those automated services to make our support Rackers lives’ easier. I spend a lot of my time thinking about how to automate tasks that are currently done manually. I write everything, and I mean everything, in JavaScript. Our backend code is written using Node.js and the frontend is React.js. We deploy all of our code through a pipeline which does one last test to make sure everything works fine. If it does, that code is uploaded to Amazon’s cloud and becomes “live.” Yes, our services which help automate our customers’ cloud are also deployed to the cloud! The most impactful task I helped develop, for example, is an automated ticketing service. The service continuously monitors all of our customers’ infrastructure and creates a support ticket if things are not performing well. Let’s say the customer wrote some bad code in their application and their memory usage begins increasing. Eventually, it will run out of memory and crash. However, our automated service will notice and create a ticket. A support Racker will respond to that ticket before the customer even notices something is wrong. > “… in a world where you can’t escape the internet and self-driving cars are inevitable, I feel extremely prepared and confident that my knowledge will be relevant in the decades to come.” I absolutely love what I do for two reasons. I love seeing the impact Rackspace has on customers who would otherwise shy away from the daunting task of “migrating” to the cloud. I also love the experience I’ve gained working with the cloud; in a world where you can’t escape the internet and self-driving cars are inevitable, I feel extremely prepared and confident that my knowledge will be relevant in the decades to come. It also doesn’t hurt that my team at Rackspace is remote, meaning I can work from anywhere I want! As with most software developers, I take what I learn and apply it to side projects in my personal life. Because of my background, I’m always thinking about ways to automate my everyday tasks. Most recently, I built a web service in the cloud to automate my shopping lists. I love cooking, but hate the whole process of grocery shopping. So I made it easier and wrote a service to randomly pick meals for a week (it only picks from recipes I like), generate the shopping list, and send it to my phone. You can do virtually anything in the cloud! #### **What tools do I use?** * Node.js * React.js * Amazon AWS * Terraform * Jenkins * GitHub ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0z81pd1cffz-k7es-1729031447024-compressed.0*z81pd1c_FfZ-k7eS) _In my free time, I’m either playing Ultimate Frisbee, rock climbing, or hiking. I also love traveling and am working on my pilot’s license so I can travel really long distances!_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Astronomy Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-07-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-astronomy-8c313b242732 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1zw8bqlsesgbzqsyh2a-ufa-1729031473479-compressed.png) ### **Coding for Astronomy** #### By Dillon Dong I’m Dillon, an observational astronomer finishing up my 3rd year as a PhD student at Caltech. I use telescopes like the Very Large Array in New Mexico, and the Keck telescopes in Hawaii to study the birth and death of massive stars. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/13kol5ifwv7ehrmkqsmjitw-1729031476289-compressed.png) The Very Large Array in New Mexico, Photo by [Chuck Coker](https://www.flickr.com/photos/caveman_92223/ "Go to Chuck Coker's photostream") via Flickr #### My Background I’m a second generation Chinese American, born and raised in San Francisco. My parents immigrated to the US in the late 80s, and worked a bunch of odd jobs (delivering newspapers, selling jewelry wholesale, selling farm equipment for a German manufacturing conglomerate, and as a personal assistant in a non profit, just to name a few) so that they could save up and provide me with a comfortable childhood. They also worked hard to give me a good education really early on. Through many bribes of candy, I could read most children’s books and could multiply up to 12x12 by the time I was 3 or 4. This early and deeply ingrained foundation in reading and math made learning new things that much easier for me. Learning became fun, and as a result, I started developing this curiosity-driven approach to life. I’d spend a lot of time hanging out in the library next to my elementary school, just reading about anything that looked interesting. I didn’t really care if it was useful or if it would help me “succeed” in any way — as long as it was fun, I’d dive right in. At various points in my life, I’ve wanted to become a mathematician, a historian, a short story writer, a theoretical physicist, a veterinarian for small animals, and a long-distance hiker. > With our eyes, we can see a few thousand of the brightest nearby stars. But with some hard work in instrument design, observation, theoretical calculations, and computer programming, we can capture so much more of that information that’s raining down on us from the skies above. I still might do some of these things — particularly long-distance hiking. But ever since college, the field that has really caught my eye is astronomy. One of the things I find most appealing about astronomy is this idea that we’re just awash in light, particles, and gravitational waves from unimaginable numbers of astronomical sources, all the way to the edge of the observable universe. With our eyes, we can see a few thousand of the brightest nearby stars. But with some hard work in instrument design, observation, theoretical calculations, and computer programming, we can capture so much more of that information that’s raining down on us from the skies above. #### Learning How To Code I first learned to program from my favorite high school math teacher. One summer, Mr. Cohen decided to teach me and another one of his students how to code in Python. I have no idea how or why he decided to volunteer his time to do this (other than just being a really great teacher), but I’m really glad he did! Programming always seemed a bit scary and mysterious to me, but this was the perfect way for me to start. That summer, we met up every week at a local coffee shop, and Mr. Cohen would teach us the basics of programming — functions, loops, etc. Then over the week, we’d apply them to [Project Euler problems](https://projecteuler.net/archives). The next week, we’d meet up again, go over the problems we worked on, and learn some new things. I loved this! Each problem taught me something new about how to code. And as the problems got harder, I had to get more careful and resourceful in the way that I approached them. This process of trying, failing, outlining a new approach, trying again, checking stack overflow, trying again, debugging, and finally getting the answer has really stuck with me in both science and programming. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0fyuklt6cjac8krr9-1729031481488-compressed.0*fYuKLT6cJaC8KRR9) #### How I Use Computer Science Today Right now, I’m working on the VLA Sky Survey (VLASS): a multi-epoch survey of the entire northern sky with the Very Large Array, which will detect about 2 million radio sources. Most of these sources are quiescent, changing slowly over millions or billions of years. But some of them are brief and brilliant flashes: black holes launching new jets at close to the speed of light, massive stars exploding and plowing into the dense gas that they ejected decades before collapse, and whole new populations of explosions that we might have never seen before. To search for these explosions, I’ve been running some source extraction code on the radio images produced by VLASS. I cross match the catalog of VLASS sources against a historical radio survey looking for sources that have recently appeared or disappeared. To narrow down what might be producing these transient sources, I then cross match their locations against many catalogs of known astronomical objects. Then after some vetting to make sure that these objects are real, I do followup observations with optical and radio telescopes to identify what they might be. Finally, I interpret these observations using theoretical models, and hope to learn (and publish) something new about astrophysics/the universe! > Something like 50–70% of my work time is spent writing and debugging code. Something like 50–70% of my work time is spent writing and debugging code. This time is split into 3 main categories right now: 1) developing the software pipeline for identifying explosions, 2) writing wrappers for pre-existing software packages to turn raw radio interferometer data into usable scientific images, and 3) miscellaneous tasks, such as making plots to visualize my data. In the near future, I’m hoping to improve my pipeline by automating artifact rejection with machine learning (perhaps using a convolutional neural net). I’m really lucky to have a huge amount of data to play with (courtesy of all of the hard work put in by the staff of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory). There are lots of new discoveries to be made buried just beneath the surface of this data. The first step to making these discoveries is to ask approximately the right scientific question(s). But the next 10 steps are to play around with code until you find something new! Some of the biggest data rates in the world will be generated by next generation radio interferometers! The Square Kilometer Array will produce something like an exabyte per day of raw data, which is a substantial fraction of the current global internet traffic. High-performance computing and dedicated clusters of ASICs and FPGAs will be essential in being able to handle that tidal wave of data. > Programming is one of the most flexible and useful skills that you can add to your toolkit. Programming is one of the most flexible and useful skills that you can add to your toolkit. With just a little bit of code, you can do routine things so much more efficiently, and with a little more, you might find yourself doing things that you never thought were possible. #### **What tools and programming languages do I use?** * Python (Numpy and Pandas) * Various astronomy packages (Astropy, CASA, PyBDSF) * Bash/shell scripting * HTML/CSS _Outside of work, I like hiking, rock climbing, and cooking vegan food._ * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](http://codehs.com/astronomy_elementary)_. Comprehension is designed for upper elementary independent reading (Lexile level no greater than 1000), or guided reading for younger students._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Aviation Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-04-09 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-aviation-f65b0f9ee3b2 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/13ep1hfpjia8bdhox-ethq-1729031589688-compressed.png) ### Coding for Aviation #### By Zack Wand I’m Zack, a software engineer working in the aviation industry by day, and a side project enthusiast by night. I’ve been writing code since the early age of 9, when my dad taught me how to make a simple computer game. He has been in the computer programming industry since it’s very beginning, and he showed me the light. I immediately fell in love with creating games and have been doing it ever since! I went to college at University of Illinois to get my computer science degree. While I was there, I created many Flash games in my free time. My most popular game, [Mirror Runners](https://www.kongregate.com/games/zwand19/mirror-runners), was played over a million times across the world, and earned me over $300! Since then, in my spare time I’ve developed: * An iPad app called StageBook, which helps high school teachers coordinate show choir routines. Teachers no longer need to draw out charts on paper of where all of their students should be standing throughout their songs. * A website for my friends and I to manage our fantasy football leagues and show interesting analytics about who we pick. There may or may not also be a way to trash talk each other through the site. * An Xbox game! Well, I’m still working on it… I am currently employed at a small startup in Chicago called Provenair. We are working to help airline companies organize the massive amount of paperwork that gets passed around when airplanes need to swap out old parts. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0kahxncn5ntmrq9xu-1729031591259-compressed.0*kAHxNCN5NtmRQ9Xu) [https://www.provenair.com/](https://www.provenair.com/) In some cases, when an airplane is purchased it’s cargo hold needs to get physically loaded up with boxes and these boxes are full of paperwork for the thousands of parts that make up the airplane. Wouldn’t it be much easier if companies were just sent a link to a website to view all of the documentation in an ordered format? We are building a system that will use machine learning and computer vision to read in and process thousands of documents a day, automatically scanning all of the data off of the documents and into a queryable database. Customers will hire us to save themselves countless man hours currently spent combing through paperwork. Or, of course, it’s quite possible no one wants to use our system and we go bankrupt. That is the fun of a startup! 😄 #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * C# * JavaScript * HTML * SQL * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](https://codehs.com/codingforaviation)_. Comprehension is designed for younger students and can easily be incorporated into your curriculum._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Statistics Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-03-22 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-statistics-37013407ce89 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0ktkpqqq6ddysjzy-1729031748193-compressed.jpg) ### **Coding for Statistics** #### By Tiffany Schleeter My name is Tiffany, and I am a data scientist in Washington, D.C. Unlike other types of scientists, I don’t spend my days in a laboratory surrounded by bubbling test tubes and Petri dishes. I don’t even own a lab coat. My background is in applied statistics. I spend a lot of my time sifting through all sorts of datasets — quantitative and qualitative data, longitudinal studies, functional data, etc. I summarize, diagnose, and assess information from data using statistical methods. > _Part of my job is to code computer programs that allow me to make sense of large and complex sets of data._ Mountains of data are being generated every day for just about anything you can imagine — computers, websites, wearable devices (like Fitbits), all generate data — and much of this information is available to anyone. But data can be complex, messy, and oftentimes completely overwhelming. Part of my job is to code computer programs that allow me to make sense of large and complex sets of data. The type of data we have, and the questions we try to answer, determines the computer software I will use and the statistical methods that I’ll apply. Components can vary from dataset to dataset, which means statisticians need to be fluent in several programming languages. With every degree I’ve earned, and with every job I’ve had, my programming skills have evolved and expanded. In school, I was always good with numbers. Numbers made sense. When it was time for me to declare a major in college, I made what I thought was the most logical choice — statistics. Although I didn’t major in computer science, it was no surprise to me that my major required a number of CS courses. C language was the first programming language I learned in college. While I don’t use C anymore, it gave me the foundation I needed to learn other languages later. I also studied a language known as R in college and another called MATLAB in graduate school. While I rarely use MATLAB in my profession, I still use R for statistical modeling and for applying data science techniques, such as network theory and functional estimation. SAS is a common programming language that I have used quite a lot — both in graduate school and in several jobs that I’ve had. SAS is useful when dealing with survey-based data, longitudinal data, or large datasets. Over the years, I’ve worked with many other programing languages including SQL, Python, and LaTeX. > _Data is everywhere, and wherever there is data, there are statistics to be analyzed._ ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1raqxoiwajk0umiuxt57sg-1729031751171-compressed.png) Data is everywhere, and wherever there is data, there are statistics to be analyzed. Statistics provide insight into how things work and why, or they can help explain why something didn’t work as expected. The remarkable thing about data is that it comes from so many different sources, places, and industries — from public health and finances to defense and innovation. Statistics and computer science help us make sense of data and arms us with the tools we need to make informed decisions. #### **Tools and Programming languages I use:** * SAS * R * SQL _Outside of work, Tiffany enjoys yoga, travel, and eating sushi._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Financial Trading Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-03-06 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-financial-trading-8116cf488d04 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1zrfd8iyphrx-vfyrd7yhkq-1729031836624-compressed.png) ### **Coding for F**inancial **Trading** #### By Brennen Hi, I’m Brennen. The firm I am employed by creates automated and high frequency trading applications to trade products in financial markets. Since being exposed to the electronic markets in high school, I became enthralled with the the industry. Trading has evolved from orders on paper ‘tickets’ and over the phone, to servers capable of sending orders faster than a blink of an eye to exchanges all over the world. Companies that not long ago employed thousands trading in the pits of New York and Chicago, have been replaced by software applications and high-end computers. Some of the best programs along with very high-end hardware operate on the order of nanoseconds (0.000000001 seconds) to send information. > _Python is widely used for its versatility, readability, extensive documentation and ample third party packages._ Currently, I trade futures and previously traded equity stocks and option markets. My role has evolved from operating software applications and making trading decisions to analyzing trade data and testing trading strategies. Numerous languages are used in the data analysis some of the popular ones being R, MATLAB, Java and Python. The coding “standard” in the industry and the language I am most familiar with is Python. Python is widely used for its versatility, readability, extensive documentation and ample third party packages. Pandas, SciPy, NumPy and Matplotlib are some of the packages I use in Python on a daily basis. Because of its flexibility Python can be used for a wide variety of tasks. Writing code for parsing files, building Twitter bots, or sending automated emails are a few common applications. Many websites offer API (Application Programming Interface) connections so you can easily send and receive online data to build into your code. Other high end machine learning applications can be built with Python utilizing popular packages such as TensorFlow. Our lead developers use languages such as C and C++ to create the software that run the trading strategies. In addition, instead of using the popular Microsoft operating system Linux is becoming increasingly commonplace in our industry. After the code is written, debugged and numerous checks are done it is uploaded to our servers where they send and receive information to and from the exchange. > _The most cutting edge technologists are now moving into coding languages such as Verilog and VHDL as the trading industry is becoming more competitive._ The most cutting edge technologists are now moving into coding languages such as Verilog and VHDL as the trading industry is becoming more competitive. These languages are highly advanced and are mostly used by computer scientists for very intricate and specific designs. The programming and hardware knowledge involved with these languages are highly sought after at the moment. > _I do not have any formal training in computer science or software development, but I believe anyone can learn to code._ I do not have any formal training in computer science or software development, but I believe anyone can learn to code. With the abundance of information and training available I would highly recommend Python to beginning students. Although learning can be a daunting and frustrating task a simple google search or visit to StackOverflow can usually solve the issue. More often than not someone else has had the same problem or bug in their code, and solutions are readily available. Even the best developers reference code documentation and have to look up things up on a daily basis. #### **Tools and programming languages I use:** * R * MATLAB * Java * Python * Pandas * SciPy * NumPy * Matplotlib --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Litter-Free Streets Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-02-21 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-litter-free-streets-2b8a7bc3d67d * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1-28bzkwbajecd0mzahnatw-1729031449187-compressed.png) [https://www.rubbish.love/](https://www.rubbish.love/) ### **Coding for** Litter-Free Streets #### By Elena Guberman I’m Elena, jane of many trades. My background is in supply chain operations, helping food and beverage startups grow. Recently, my life took an unexpected turn when my childhood friend Emin Israfil and I were inspired to team up and create [Rubbish](https://www.rubbish.love/), a solution to tackle litter and build stronger, healthier communities. > We decided to unite our skill sets — mine in supply chain operations and Emin’s as an iOS developer — to use technology to address litter and create cleaner, healthier neighborhoods. The idea for Rubbish began after Emin and I experienced a scary moment when my dog Larsen choked on a chicken bone he found on the ground during our walk. We were furious! Who left that there? How many other people saw the bone and didn’t pick it up? Why is litter still such a constant problem? We are both naturally curious, so we started researching city guidelines and litter policies. We learned that litter has been a topic of conversation since the 1960’s when the first anti-litter laws were passed. However, little has changed in the last 50 years. We decided to unite our skill sets — mine in supply chain operations and Emin’s as an iOS developer — to use technology to address litter and create cleaner, healthier neighborhoods. Our industry is, well, trash. More specifically, it’s identifying, cataloguing, and cleaning what’s on the street. We’re developing a way to keep communities clean, healthy and litter-free. > We use this data to analyze litter trends and identify better solutions for cleaning up. Our Rubbish app engages users to pick up litter while the technology tracks and maps where the trash is located. We use this data to analyze litter trends and identify better solutions for cleaning up. We’ve also connected the app to a hardware component, a “picker-upper” called the rubbish beam, that automatically logs litter as it’s picked up! We’re currently cleaning up Polk Street in San Francisco, California. In the first 30 days, we logged and cleaned over 15,000 pieces of litter. **Since we started, we’ve picked up almost 100,000 pieces of litter and seen a 7% reduction in litter each week.** Not too shabby! This tells us that our tracking works. And now that we have the data from Polk Street, we’re figuring out how to optimize the locations of garbage cans and cigarette dispensers. We’re also talking to local business owners about the litter problem and ways they’re inadvertently contributing to it — for example, how many napkins from their restaurant end up on the ground? — and ways they can help. We use coding everywhere! Our i[OS app](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rubbish-love-where-you-live/id1374702632) is built in Swift, our backend is Firebase and AWS, as well as a combination of Javascript and Python. We actually just published a [blog](https://firebase.googleblog.com/2018/11/rubbish-app-case-study.html) with Google explaining how we use Firebase as our backend. Litter patterns can be as dynamic as traffic patterns. However, we’ve come to learn that people tend to do the same things, in the same places. Identifying the root cause or location of litter can lead to an analysis that is capable of curbing and stopping the issue. When we track the patterns, we can help break them. Cool, right? We also enjoy creating [maps](https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/9lc2ir/tobacco_litter_picked_up_on_polk_street_sf_over/) that help people visualize the extent of the litter problem in their neighborhoods. Knowing where litter is located is the first step in addressing it. #### **Why It’s Important for Students to Learn Computer Science** Analyzing complex information is key to the future of many industries. This skill set allows you to take large pools of data, separate the important parts, and find hidden trends we didn’t even know were there. These insights are extremely valuable and can help find important solutions to some of the biggest problems. Even if you don’t want to be a programmer, studying computer science will empower you to break down problems and connect the dots in ANY field. #### **Tools and Programming languages we use:** * Swift * Firebase * Javascript * Python * Github * AWS ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/03obhk4sxtmsweplt-1729031452498-compressed.0*3oBHK4sxTMSWEPLT) _Emin is a Brooklyn native and self-taught programmer who likes to solve problems and create awareness about litter._ _Born in Russia and raised in Brooklyn, Elena is an organized optimizer who believes in efficiency, ethical sustainability and litter-free streets._ * * * _Interested in utilizing this resource in your elementary classroom? Check out our elementary version of this blog_ [_here_](https://codehs.com/codingforlitter)_. Comprehension is designed for younger students and can easily be incorporated into your curriculum._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Digital Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2019-02-05 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-digital-676ca22763f7 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1xtxrrr6yveezmredsotiuw-1729031430313-compressed.png) ### **Coding for Digital (Telecommunications)** #### By Pauline Narvas I’m Pauline, a Digital Development and Operations Graduate at BT, one of the UK’s biggest communications and IT companies. I work in the Digital Engineering team within Consumer Digital. I’m also a remote developer for The University of Sheffield, advocate for Women in STEM and blogger at [pawlean.com](http://pawlean.com). In 2018, I was listed in [_Code First: Girls’_](https://www.codefirstgirls.org.uk/) _Top 25 Under 30_ list and voted [5th most influential woman in the UK](https://thetab.com/uk/brands/the-future-100-2018) by JP Morgan and The Tab. My degree is not actually in Computer Science. I studied Computing at the GCSE Level (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in the UK which was heavily influenced by my interest in developing websites when I was 8 years old — my favorite hobby! At the moment, I work in the telecommunications industry at British Telecoms (BT). As I mentioned before, I’m in a graduate training program for 2 years which allows me to rotate between the different teams within the Engineering department. These rotations include Architecture, Development, Testing, Release and more! It’s a unique opportunity to get involved in different areas and the development lifecycle for the BT and EE products. EE, a mobile network operator and internet service provider, is a division of BT. As part of my graduate scheme at BT, one of my rotations involves coding including front-end development (HTML/CSS) and back-end development (Java). In addition, in my remote development role I create and maintain websites for the University’s research project, which is where my true spark for computer science is. > We need students to get involved with technology and computer science early on, it’s their future! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1twdqik-3by7t4vobmivog-1729031432589-compressed.png) Overall, I think that it’s extremely important for students all over the world to learn about technology in general. It is something we use day-in and day-out and it has a huge impact in our lives — whether we realize it or not. And it is only getting bigger and bigger with time. We need students to get involved with technology and computer science early on, it’s their future! #### What tools and programming languages do I use? * HTML * CSS * Javascript * Git/GitHub, Git Kraken, Atom _Outside of work, Pauline loves weight lifting and yoga. Health and well-being has become the centre of her life — it makes her feel like a superhero!_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Data Journalism Author: Jonah Blazek Published: 2019-01-02 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-data-journalists-cm4lsld4w00a110m8xc4nfmkl By Ben Blatt ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/unnamed-1734037961254-compressed.png) I’m Ben Blatt, a writer and data journalist. I have always been fascinated by the ubiquitous patterns in culture. I love to quantify things that everyone senses on a gut level but may have never been described precisely or definitely. Are best-selling authors [writing](https://www.npr.org/2017/03/31/521836700/nabokovs-favorite-word-is-mauve-crunches-the-literary-numbers) in a simpler tone than they used to? Are sitcoms [cramming in](https://www.google.com/search?q=seinfeld+blatt+slate&oq=seinfeld+blatt+slate&aqs=chrome..69i57.3889j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) more and more jokes? Is [Waldo](https://slate.com/culture/2017/03/where-s-waldo-didn-t-just-get-harder-to-find-he-got-80-percent-smaller.html) getting harder to find? I try to tell a story which is filled with trends and data but does not overwhelm the reader with too much information. My writing is meant to entertain more than it is serve as a reference. I want to create clear graphs which capture the larger points and distill figures in the writing to the easiest to understand point. Because I want the writing to be enjoyable and quick to read, I tend to write about simple terms like averages, maximums, or ranges and leave the more complex statistical work in the notes or in the code. I use Python for most of my work and more recently love working with the Pandas package. Most of the work involves taking a messy data source and distilling that into simple outputs. For example, I may need to find the number of times a particular phrase was used by JK Rowling in all her Harry Potter books and compare it to the rate that same phrase was used by amateur authors posting Harry Potter fan-fiction online. With some packages such as NLTK for python individual questions may only take a few lines of codes to answer. When I am displaying the information online, such as building an [interactive widget](http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2015/04/baseball_road_trip_use_slate_s_itinerary_generator_to_map_a_30_day_trip.html) which helps add to the article, I like to code in D3 and JavaScript. I particularly like D3 which allows graphs and figures to be animated beautifully with simple code. When I am displaying the information in a book I usually use Adobe Illustrator. Although this requires more customization and a simpler result, the aesthetic matches the format I am trying to achieve. Although I use the same set of languages and programs for the majority of my work I find it important to be willing to learn new languages or packages to accomplish a specific task. **What tools and programming languages do I use?** * Python * JavaScript + D3 Ben Blatt is the author of [Nabokov’s Favorite Word is Mauve](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Nabokovs-Favorite-Word-Is-Mauve/Ben-Blatt/9781501105395) and [I Don’t Care If We Never Get Back](https://groveatlantic.com/book/i-dont-care-if-we-never-get-back/).  ![](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/screenshot-2024-12-12-at-2-1734036918452-compressed.png) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Industrial Manufacturing Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-10-31 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-industrial-manufacturing-425f42b7cf88 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1-akaadk1pljeyotg9vwe9q-1729032380518-compressed.png) ### **Coding for Industrial Manufacturing** #### By Michael Shank Hi! My name is Michael Shank. I’m a software engineer at [Daisy Data Displays](https://www.daisydata.com/), a hardware manufacturer based in Southeast Pennsylvania. > I was (and still am) a big gamer, which initially sparked my interest in computers. Computers and electronics have been a big part of my life since I was about 11 years old. I was (and still am) a big gamer, which initially sparked my interest in computers. By middle school, you could catch me disassembling, rebuilding, upgrading, wiring, and anything else that would get my hands on a computer. During my senior year of high school, I was offered a special opportunity to work a paid internship, as a student IT technician. This was a great experience and continued to fuel my passion. After graduating from high school, I spent 5 years bouncing from warehouse job to warehouse job. In the midst of those jobs, I was pursuing a degree in Information Technology. I will admit, at times, it was difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel — working full time and attending college online. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1gocofmzvdkmrfjp9-2j1wg-1729032382857-compressed.png) In 2014, I had an interview with Daisy Data Displays for an IT job. I didn’t get it… As you can imagine, it was disappointing, but they offered me another position doing warehouse work. I decided to take it, knowing it was going to be a stepping stone. > Eight months after working at Daisy Data Displays, I was sitting in the IT office, taking calls, solving problems, and doing something I really enjoyed! Eight months after working at Daisy Data Displays, and I was sitting in the IT office, taking calls, solving problems, and doing something I really enjoyed! Today, I write software for both internal and external uses at Daisy Data Displays and manage our servers, network, user workstations, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/17uq2rvpstn6vwwxuhxkxoa-1729032385088-compressed.png) As a hazardous computer manufacturer, my company designs, manufactures, and sells computers that are built to go in some of the most unforgiving environments such as, oil & gas rigs and flight simulations. Almost everything that keeps our company running relies on a program or at least an update/patch that we have written. From writing linux shell scripts to carry out daily tasks, to advanced Ruby and C scripts that are used to run our units through rigorous software tests, to utilizing Ruby on Rails, Java, and Javascript to develop user-friendly applications and interfaces, we really do it all. > Coding let me see that I don’t have to find a work-around — I can design and make programs that are faster, and more efficient than any clunky freeware online. I’m a gamer at heart so computers have always been cool to me. However, in the end, my true passion for computers was ignited when I wrote code for the first time. I had built and repaired computers in the past, but coding was different. Coding let me see that I don’t have to find a work-around — I can design and make programs that are faster, and more efficient than any clunky freeware online. A piece of advice: Don’t be afraid that the knowledge or experience you have won’t be enough. I can guarantee you that no amount of schooling will prepare you for every possible situation. Instead, you should focus on your strengths, and be willing to learn as you go. When I started working in IT with Daisy Data Displays, I had never written a single program outside of a batch file. Now, I have written hundreds of small applications that work together to make life at Daisy Data Displays easier. > Computer science is becoming a part of our everyday lives. The more familiar you are with technology and computers, the more useful you will be to your employer. #### **What tools and programming languages do I use?** * Java * Ruby * Ruby on Rails * HTML * JavaScript * Linux Shell/Bash * Powershell * GABscript * JRuby * C ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/19znmiwfxpngad7x2ehnwoq-1729032389452-compressed.png) _Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Artists Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-09-25 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-artists-58bfbfcc650d * * * ### **Coding for Artists** #### By Betsy Lam Hi I’m Betsy, a full-stack web developer at [Threadless](https://www.threadless.com/) — an online community of artists and an e-commerce website based in Chicago, Illinois. When I was in high school and college, a career in tech was not at all on my radar. To me, computers were just fancy word processors. I loved math, writing, science and art — and I wished there was some kind of magical major which incorporated all of my interests. I compromised by earning bachelor degrees in Fine Arts (with an emphasis in Painting) and Journalism, while taking math courses (alongside Actuarial Science majors) for fun. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0fygo8rgbhkejvkn-1729031766857-compressed.0*fYgo8Rgbh_kEjVKN) Betsy Lam (Photo credit: Nikki Carlson, Threadless) I fell into web development by accident while working toward a Masters in Fine Arts. I wanted to publish an online art portfolio, so I learned how to build a website from scratch (this was before Squarespace and Wix). It was such a fun challenge and satisfying process. I was hooked and eventually, I honed the skills to land my first gig as a web developer! > _“For me, every day on the job is different, and serves up a unique blend of visual and abstract problem-solving.”_ More than ten years and several companies later, I still love web development. It’s constantly evolving: there is always an opportunity to learn fresh techniques and new languages — and there is an ever-growing plethora of contexts in which our skills can be applied. For me, every day on the job is different, and serves up a unique blend of visual and abstract problem-solving. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0t76jkhybmtekdms-1729031769984-compressed.png) At [Threadless](https://www.threadless.com/), I work on our Artist Shops platform. We provide “software as a service” to help hundreds of thousands of artists create and sell t-shirts and other products to millions of people. I collaborate with smart, enthusiastic, creative people on a product I care about. Being a web developer also offers an awesome work-life balance: when I’m not on the computer, I love making art, writing, rock climbing and being a mama. > **“We need more diversity — and not just for the sake of workplace dynamics! Diversity will inform the products we build, how we build them, and our users’ experiences with them.”** P.S. I strongly encourage girls and women, and people of color, to pursue careers in web development. We need more diversity — and not just for the sake of workplace dynamics! Diversity will inform the products we build, how we build them, and our users’ experiences with them. A deeper variety of voices, experiences & approaches will make our (online) world a better place. #### What tools and programming languages do I use? * Javascript * Python (+Django) * CSS (+Sass) * HTML ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1no9mws6uaiv8qoj0rhg6ia-1729031773278-compressed.png) Betsy Lam (Photo credit: Nikki Carlson, Threadless) _Follow Betsy on Instagram (@magicalthinklet) and check out her personal website at_ [_betsylam.com_](http://betsylam.com)_._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Fitness & Music Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-09-05 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-fitness-music-ad8f305e0c6b * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0jcyaw6meurfnfmig-1729031723124-compressed.0*jcYaW6MeuRfNFmig) ### Coding for Fitness & Music #### André Crabb is a Mobile Engineer at iFit. High school is the time to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life, right? Not exactly, but like many high school students, André was met with the pressures to make a decision on what type of career he wanted to pursue in the future. At the time, André knew exactly what he didn’t want to do, yet no idea what he did want to do. It wasn’t until André’s dad introduced him to a friend who was a construction engineer that André discovered his interest in computer science. While shadowing his dad’s friend, he stepped into the computer server room at the company’s headquarters, and was immediately drawn in by the big machines and flashing lights — “the brains behind the entire operation” in one room. > _It was a perfect mix, combining his passion for computer science with music._ Four years later, André graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and accepted his first full-time job at Pandora. It was a perfect mix, combining his passion for computer science with music. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1blw4sn7xtdbcgkew8dixgw-1729031725844-compressed.png) At Pandora, his team focused on connected devices. As many know, Pandora’s main platform is the mobile app, however, with more and more connected technology they needed to ensure that there was a high-quality Pandora experience across a wide range of devices. His projects included refreshing the Chromecast user interface, refactoring the mobile Chromecast speakers for IOS and Android, and spearheading the Apple CarPlay integration. As he gained more experience in his career and life, André also discovered other passions including fitness and traveling, and decided to shift careers to give himself a better work/life balance. This decision eventually led him to join the remote engineering team at iFit in March 2017. > _Once you understand one programming language, it is easy to learn others._ ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1irandqskqh9yxatov84vog-1729031727065-compressed.png) [iFit](https://www.ifit.com/) is a health-tracking standard used to bring together fitness activities, all with a single login and device. Due to his previous experience with devices and apps for Android and IOS, it was an easy career transition. Once you understand one programming language, it is easy to learn others. iFit has multiple apps, one of which is for workout equipment like treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, etc. André works on the code that is shared among the many iFit apps, but his main focus is on the cardio app. One recent application that they built gives people the opportunity to follow along with actual courses through Google Maps on their own stationary bikes! ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1fslmauagwi07weuepizaw-1729031730192-compressed.png) > _No matter what you’re doing or what you want to do… you can find something within computer science._ Looking back, André is very thankful for his exposure to computer science in high school. No matter what you’re doing or what you want to do… you can find something within computer science! #### **What tools and programming languages does** André use? * C# * Swift * IOS * Android * Xamarin * Visual Studio * Github * Sourcetree * Bitrise ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1jglmu0sjbpuvh7gke8ida-1729031733414-compressed.png) _Outside of work, you can find André working out at an outdoor gym, reading personal growth & success books at a cafe, or salsa dancing the night away!_ _Check out his personal website:_ [_www.andrecrabb.com_](http://www.andrecrabb.com) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Geophysics Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-07-06 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-geophysics-a79438e98f23 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/17ornlfiqbom6gxco-s6bfq-1729031806503-compressed.png) ### **Coding for** Geophysics #### _By Dara Goldberg_ I’m Dara, a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. I study the physics of large earthquakes, and best practices for earthquake and tsunami early warning. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1vwrjrw9tug5adtphvv3-a-1729031811516-compressed.png) When I started college, I had absolutely no programming experience. I majored in geology and engineering because I have always loved problem solving and was intrigued by the many unsolved problems in the fields of earth and planetary sciences. I was required to take a single introductory computer science course during my sophomore year where we learned the basics of Matlab and C. Now, as a geophysics PhD student, almost everything I do involves coding, either for creating new computational methods or for visualizing large datasets. The goal of early warning is not to predict earthquakes (earthquake prediction continues to elude scientists!), but rather to detect the start of an earthquake using precise instruments and transmit a warning to nearby communities ahead of the arrival of damaging seismic waves. > _The algorithms that recognize earthquakes, determine their location, and estimate when a nearby community will experience shaking, must be automated._ The algorithms that recognize earthquakes, determine their location, and estimate when a nearby community will experience shaking, must be automated; they run continuously as our instruments collect data so they are ready at any time to trigger the warning system. The fastest traveling seismic waves, P-waves, are small and typically harmless. The larger, slower-traveling S-waves and surface waves cause the major damage we see after an earthquake. So, automated algorithms that can accurately detect P-waves give us time to warn those nearby before the destructive S and surface waves arrive. Just a few seconds of warning is enough to take simple precautions like getting under a desk, slowing trains to a stop to avoid derailment, or clearing bridge traffic. > _Coding allows me to analyze huge datasets efficiently._ Coding allows me to analyze huge datasets efficiently. When a large earthquake occurs, there may be hundred of instruments that recorded it. With just a few lines of code, I can add new data to previous analyses, and quickly understand how the new earthquake behaved in comparison to all the earthquakes previously studied. #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Python * Matlab * C * Generic Mapping Tools (GMT) * Bash ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1tqg3so7z8fmds1wkd02nq-1729031816686-compressed.png) _Outside of work, you can find Dara outdoors, horseback riding or hiking._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Healthcare Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-06-21 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-healthcare-e015be8e9ba * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0eodttahr2z0umzq0-1729032416439-compressed.jpg) ### Coding for Healthcare #### By Mark Connolly As a childhood cancer survivor, I always knew that I was going to end up working in healthcare. Medicine saved my life, but I knew that there were other people who would face more difficult challenges and wanted to do something to positively impact the care they received. When the time came to pick a college and major — I fell into Bioengineering. Early on in undergrad, I got the opportunity to work in a research lab that studied different ways to improve walking function after stroke and spinal cord injury. What started out as just being an extra set of hands turned into a full time position out of school as a research engineer. I collected and maintained our research data — metabolic performance, motion capture analysis and step activity. I interacted with various software and hardware to collect this but utilized Matlab to process this data. > Finding ways to practice your coding on things you care about does wonders for developing comfort with a particular language. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0ievp7rlfat5kncv3-1729032418352-compressed.jpg) Working with Matlab allowed our group to improve turnaround time on analysis by automating work that could have taken months if done manually. Research is done to share what works with the rest of the world so the sooner we had results available the sooner we could share and improve care! We were taught Matlab in undergrad but it was directly applying it in this research lab where I really got strong in my first programming language and coding in general. Finding ways to practice your coding on things you care about does wonders for developing comfort with a particular language. While I started with Matlab, for those just starting off I do recommend starting with R or Python as these are used more, are open source and have tons of support online. The more time I spent in the research lab, the more I realized how important data in healthcare was and how it was evolving. I also saw how messy it could be and how much data could be collected for a single person — let alone an entire hospital or country. With this in mind, I decided to begin a master’s program to concentrate on Bioinformatics and hone my skillset. We learned about more advanced statistical analysis, machine learning techniques and database management. Prior to completing the master’s, I moved to another hospital to work as a senior analyst (my current role today). I found an opportunity to work with a major health center, with an electronic health record data and alongside a group of strong data analysts, data scientists and data architects. It was a different world seeing an entire team focused on providing analytic support to an entire hospital compared to a single lab and the data we were working with there. > You’ll find that once you learn one or two programming languages you can pick up others quicker as general concepts are consistent between languages. In my role, we work alongside hospital leaders (C-suite, doctors, nurses, social work, case management) to improve the quality of care our patients receive. We’re often tasked with identifying patients at risk for certain negative outcomes or identifying inefficiency within the care we provide. I had to learn SQL for the first time at this role but was able to quickly pick it up due in large part to my experience with Matlab and undergraduate work. You’ll find that once you learn one or two programming languages you can pick up others quicker as general concepts are consistent between languages. An additional tool we use here is Tableau — a business intelligence tool that allows for data visualizations and analysis of large data sets. This helps us quickly identify areas of opportunity and monitor ongoing initiatives to make sense of all the noise data brings with it. While the tool is quick to pick up, I felt my prior experience with coding helped expedite the learning curve and accomplish more advanced work. > Hospitals are constantly trying to improve the quality of care they deliver and lean on analytics and predictive modeling to do this. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1svccukqluiqqkz8awa-n3q-1729032420021-compressed.png) The value of computer science and data in healthcare is apparent today. Hospitals are constantly trying to improve the quality of care they deliver and lean on analytics and predictive modeling to do this. I’m a strong believer that healthcare data is the most challenging to work with and a great field to hone computer science skills while making a positive impact on the lives of people every day. _Outside of work, Mark enjoys Chicago Cubs baseball games, sushi dinners with his friends, and training his puppy Bailey. Connect with Mark on_ [_LinkedIn_](http://www.linkedin.com/in/mconnolly1993)_!_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for UX Design Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-05-11 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-ux-design-30d3cdd97f1 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0xs5p7pxmnwzuzbuw-1729032365709-compressed.) ### Coding for UX Design #### By Kelley Shanahan I’m Kelley and I am a user experience (UX) designer for a fintech company in San Francisco, California. What is a UX designer? Well, there are many different definitions. In a nutshell, I create what people experience when they use digital products. I explore the intersection between the digital and physical worlds and how to produce experiences that are intuitive and easy to use. Right now, I am working on design and product strategy for a personal finance mobile app. As a UX designer, my knowledge of computer science helps me every single day. At first glance, it may not seem to be that way, but to design delightful products, it is key to understand the technology enabling them. > Because I know how to code, I have a better idea of what is possible to design! Before I was introduced to coding, I never really understood the value of it but after my first computer science class at the University of Washington, I couldn’t get enough of it. I ended up majoring in Human-Centered Design and Engineering with a focus in Human-Computer Interaction. (I know, what a mouthful.) Ultimately, it was a mixed degree of computer science, design, and psychology. I worked on projects with Google Glass and basketball teams, created a social mapping app, researched rumoring on Twitter, and much more. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1gvfkmapu1bx0dtlvbnjxg-1729032370179-compressed.png) SOMA: THE SOCIAL MAPPING PROJECT by Kelley After college, I wanted to get into product design/strategy and having a computer science background gave me a real competitive edge. Because I know how to code, I have a better idea of what is possible to design! > So much of our world and our lives touch the digital space. Anyone can learn to code and we are all affected by computer science. Computer science is a powerful tool outside of programming. This was something that I didn’t realize right away when I learned how to code, and it opened up a lot of possibilities for my career. So much of our world and our lives touch the digital space. Anyone can learn to code and we are all affected by computer science. I’d encourage everyone to try it out and see what they might learn! #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Java * C * Python * Swift * HTML * Javascript * CSS Various design softwares: * Sketch * Invision * Principle * Adobe creative suite ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1hqpkxxfh2iaw0tpx3g5xw-1729032372104-compressed.png) _Kelley loves to swim, bike, and run; she is also an avid skier and traveler. She is passionate about empowering young women to pursue computer related fields and volunteers for Girls Who Code. Check out Kelley’s_ [_portfolio_](http://www.kelleyshanahan.com/)_!_ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Web Development Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-05-01 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-web-development-c4ac4c1b901c * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1xtmtexefm6o80f0s42abeq-1729031711130-compressed.png) ### **Coding for Web Development** #### By Chris Mavricos I’m Chris, a software engineer and founder of [SevenSpark](https://sevenspark.com/), a web development studio focused on the [WordPress](https://wordpress.org/) plugin space. During my sophomore year at Duke University, I took an Intro to Computer Science course on a whim and fell in love with it. For me, it was the perfect fusion of both creative and scientific disciplines. I loved both the beauty of well designed code and the mathematical precision of its execution. It also required a logical approach to problem solving and solution engineering that really clicked for me. I declared my major in Computer Science that same semester and never looked back. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0ktdbje6ulqrnc0sz-1729031714598-compressed.) After consulting for IBM for a year after college, I decided to start my own company. I have a passion for travel and photography, so I set out to design a business that would allow me enough flexibility to pursue those interests by automating as much as possible, with the goal of being location independent and able to work from anywhere. I struck on WordPress software development as a great opportunity and started creating WordPress themes and plugins to sell online. Having a completely digital product makes it much easier to decouple from the physical aspects of a business that tend to strap it to a specific location. > My business uses code in just about every aspect. My business uses code in just about every aspect. The products themselves (WordPress plugins) are software, of course: effectively, tools that allow non-developers to configure and administer advanced web functionality through a user-friendly interface. Our flagship product is [UberMenu](https://wpmegamenu.com/), a plugin for building content-rich mega menus. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1wwblrjxpjn2ktsvycn0qmw-1729031716409-compressed.png) But we also have many systems we’ve coded that are designed to automate that business — from an eCommerce system that allows sales to be made while we sleep, to customer support automation that attempts to present customers with solutions without waiting for a reply, to license tracking and updates systems that automate distribution of new releases, we use software systems as much as possible to handle any task that doesn’t require a human for decision making. By eliminating repetitive and time consuming tasks, we’re able to stay very lightweight and focus more on the creative and customer-experience side of things, rather than getting bogged down in administrative chores. Being able to code solutions to many of these problems allows us to run as efficiently as possible, which is critical when you’re a small distributed team and on the road a lot. One of the reasons I love web development is its accessibility; I think it is a great stepping stone toward more advanced computer science disciplines, with plenty of room for growth and innovation in the field itself. Getting started with web development is really easy and provides immediately visible results — anyone can code their own website. And as our online experiences become more complex and many web sites move toward the realm of full-fledged software applications, there’s a whole new world of possibilities to explore. It’s incredible how fast web technologies are expanding, and with the “Internet of Things” still in its infancy, there’s a whole lot more innovation to come. It’s undoubtedly an exciting time for budding tech entrepreneurs, but learning about computer science isn’t only important for those who want to work in tech-specific fields. To state the obvious, the world has become more and more technology-driven, with connections now evolving beyond the virtual realm into every aspect of our daily lives; software is no longer something we interact with solely at our desks, or built only by “tech” companies. From ordering a taxi, to tracking our fitness goals, to adding egg rolls to our take-out orders, a growing percentage of our experiences are initiated through our connected mobile devices or other digital interfaces — and all of that is powered by code. > Being “tech-savvy” is fundamental in a world where that tech is pervasive. With software’s presence in so much of what we do, it’s critical to have a solid comprehension of the underlying principles of how computers and the code that runs on them work — whether or not one’s job description involves working with code directly. Not only does a better understanding of technology lead to better, more productive interactions with it, but as our lives become ever more digitized, our ability to comprehend those systems that are responsible for our privacy and data security will be crucial to navigating that technology responsibly. Being “tech-savvy” is fundamental in a world where that tech is pervasive. Everyone should have a solid grasp on how computer systems “think,” in order to use these tools effectively and responsibly, demystify the “magic” behind the apps we rely on on a daily basis, and be better equipped to spot the inevitable misuse of technology when we are confronted with it. The last of which, in the wake of Facebook’s recent privacy scandal and the myriad of data breaches that occur every year, will only continue to grow in importance. > To think critically about technology, we need to understand it. And that means learning about and gaining a deeper understanding of how computers, code, and the internet work. To think critically about technology, we need to understand it. And that means learning about and gaining a deeper understanding of how computers, code, and the internet work. To that end, I believe it will be of vital importance for this generation of students to be properly educated in these subjects. Beyond that, computer science and the study of algorithms also offers a great paradigm for solving complex problems in a logical, systematic way. Coding forces you to think critically about how to handle different scenarios efficiently and robustly, and to design systems that are flexible and extensible. I’ve found these skills to be invaluable when applied to my life outside of software development as well. Effectiveness in any arena often comes down to having good systems in place, and if you have a background in software development, you already have the skills to design those solutions — code-based or otherwise. Finally, coding can be a lot of fun. It stimulates both the creative and logical sides of your brain, and forces you to think in new ways. It provides satisfying, engaging challenges and can be used to solve everyday problems. It’s a field that is directly applicable to all of our lives, and a useful tool whether or not it is your chosen profession. While it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, I think it’s something everyone should be given the opportunity to try. You never know who it might just click for. #### What tools and languages do I use? While, like most developers, I’ve dabbled in a lot of different languages and tools, those that I use on a regular basis for my business are primarily: * JavaScript (ES6, React, jQuery), CSS, HTML * PHP * SQL * Git — for version control * Grunt — to automate repetitive code tasks * Slack — for team communication * Things 3 — for personal projects and to do lists * Trello — for project management * HelpScout — for customer support ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/19arjsdcgmo2yodjvv8sog-1729031720047-compressed.png) _When he’s is lucky enough to find himself outside the range of a mobile network, Chris treats his internet-withdrawal symptoms with adventure travel, wandering in the mountains, utilizing drainage ditches as points of ingress, getting lost in the woods, and_ [_pointing his camera at pretty objects_](https://instagram.com/cmav)_._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for E-commerce & Social Media Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-04-18 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-e-commerce-social-media-18b29a5f0241 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1dpbbute4xzxll0ca6oubpw-1729031793746-compressed.png) ### Coding for E-commerce & Social Media #### By Alex Meyers I’m Alex, I work as a Product Manager at eBay and I graduated from Cornell University in May 2015 with a degree in Information Science. Working in tech has been my dream and passion since I was a freshman in high school. I grew up loving computers, and later became enthralled with smartphones with the release of the original iPhone in January 2007. > I thought the only options were being an engineer writing code or being a designer creating interfaces, but my experience with startups in college introduced me to the world of product management. In high school (and most of college), I had no idea what it meant to work in technology. I thought the only options were being an engineer writing code or being a designer creating interfaces, but my experience with startups in college introduced me to the world of product management. #### **daapr** I co-founded a startup called [daapr](https://www.alexjmeyers.com/blog/2017/7/17/remembering-daapr) during in college in 2012 that helped me transform my learnings from school into real-world applications. Daapr was a social media platform exclusively for sharing article and video content. My role at daapr started as a frontend developer, but ultimately grew to that of Chief Technology Officer and a primary leader in the company. I learned to write full stack applications from [Michael Hartl’s Ruby on Rails Tutorial](https://www.railstutorial.org/) and built daapr with a team of engineers using [Foundation](https://foundation.zurb.com/), React, and [Ruby on Rails](http://rubyonrails.org/). I also learned how to deploy applications on [Heroku](https://www.heroku.com/) and [Amazon Web Services](https://www.alexjmeyers.com/amazon-web-services-opsworks-ruby-on-rails/). Ultimately, we shut down daapr because we could not acquire enough users to create a situation for raising capital. Facebook took off in the article/video space and we failed to identify the trend of users wanting a mobile application, not a desktop website. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/09mob3smpi-9ee2lm-1729031799923-compressed.) Aside from expanding my technical knowledge, daapr also taught me the foundations of product management. I identified user problems, I helped craft the product vision, I detailed user and technical requirements, and more. It ultimately led to getting an internship at eBay the summer after my junior year, and my full time offer after graduation. #### **eBay** At [eBay](http://ebay.com), I have managed a number of products including 1. Top-level category pages (ex: [Fashion Page](https://www.ebay.com/rpp/fashion-main)) 2. Marketing promotion pages (ex: [Black Friday Page](https://www.ebay.com/rpp/black-friday)) 3. eBay Stores (ex: [Adidas Store](http://stores.ebay.com/adidas)) 4. [eBay Motors Homepage](https://www.ebay.com/b/Auto-Parts-and-Vehicles/6000/bn_1865334) 5. [eBay Garage](https://www.ebay.com/g/mygarage) 6. Navigation (the Header and Footer on every page) 7. New Buyers on Mobile Web Growth Initiative A day in the life as a product manager at eBay is extremely multidisciplinary and involves wearing different hats. Most of my job activities involve communication: I have a flood of emails regarding engineering requirements for the products, information regarding user data, product updates for stakeholders, messaging to discuss design ideas, coordination of user experience research (UER), and more. My daily activity varies depending on where my project currently is in the product life cycle. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1wpohy7x3qw7rusfyty-gug-1729031801723-compressed.png) Early in the product life cycle, there is a lot of product discovery. This means that I am working to discover or understand customer problems. In order to discover and understand customer problems, I spend a lot of time researching what eBay has done in the past or currently to address similar problems, I conduct competitive analysis, I look over data from past UER, and I query product metrics. I also coordinate new UER to understand parts of the customer problem that I am missing from past UER and competitive analysis. After product discovery, I spend time articulating who the target customer is, and defining the target customer problem(s). This spawns the basis of my design and engineering requirements. I work with designers and engineers to form solutions for these customer problems. I also review requirements with stakeholders to make sure I address all needs or dependencies that involve them. Next, I work with the engineers and designers through the building phases. This involves making progress, iterating on the product, making modifications to the plan, then ultimately launching it on the site and mobile apps for customers. Generally I will A/B test a product launch to understand the impact on customers and the business. This helps me to report business metrics and to confirm whether the work my team has done is better for the customer. > My computer science background has helped me clearly identify and articulate customer problems at eBay, frame technical requirements for engineers, and lead technical architecture discussions... My computer science background has helped me clearly identify and articulate customer problems at eBay, frame technical requirements for engineers, and lead technical architecture discussions when crafting solutions to address customer problems. Knowing how to write code has also helped me to write scripts for parsing and analyzing data when my engineers do not have bandwidth to take on extra pieces. #### **MacroFuel** In addition to daapr and eBay, I previously co-founded a food startup called [MacroFuel Food](https://www.alexjmeyers.com/blog/2017/10/8/a-retrospective-on-macrofuel) and was the Chief Information Officer. The idea behind MacroFuel was to create a healthy and easy-to-make meal replacement that customers could drink when they were on-the-go and did not have time for a normal meal. At MacroFuel, I helped craft the product vision for the technology suite, and I built the online store and company website using a combination of [Meteor](https://www.meteor.com/), React, and Ruby on Rails all hosted on [Amazon Web Services](https://www.alexjmeyers.com/meteor-with-aws/). MacroFuel ran a successful [Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/macrofuel/macrofuel-fuel-your-life) campaign and generated sales through the online store I built for over a year. Ultimately, we could not nail a business model that allowed us to be profitable without a massive customer base, and we did not have the means to acquire a sizeable customer base. In the end, MacroFuel allowed me to expand my computer science knowledge on new frameworks, and it also allowed me to have complete autonomy when crafting the user experience for our technology suite. #### **Quick Tips** * Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you don’t know a coding language, a framework or any other technical skill, go play with it and try to understand it. If you only work with the skills that you have today, it limits your ability to learn, grow, and deliver the right technical solution. * Understand who your target customer is and what his or her problem that needs to be solved. A great engineering and design solution is wasted if you have not identified the target customer or the customer problem properly. * It’s OK to fail. Not everything goes as planned and a lot of things won’t work. Don’t let the fear of failure dissuade you from trying something. When you do fail, take the time to reflect on what happened, why it happened, and what you can do better next time. * Have fun. Make sure to find the joy in the projects you are working on. If you’re not taking any pleasure in the work you’re doing, then it might be worth working on something else. #### What tools and languages do I use? Amazon Web Services, JavaScript, React, Meteor, Ruby on Rails, Ruby, Python, Java, SQL, NoSQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Heroku, Git, HTML/CSS, Zurb Foundation, Twitter Bootstrap, Materialize, Material UI, Compose, mLab, Braintree Payments, PayPal, Chef, Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, Kadira Performance Monitoring, Squarespace, Sendgrid, Mailchimp, Github, Bitbucket, Jira, Confluence, Asana, S3, EC2, OpsWorks, ELB, RDS, Route 53, CloudFront, VPC, Namecheap _Outside of work, Alex is extremely passionate about technology and fitness. He loves researching the latest in tech news, and is currently working on a passion project that helps users find the perfect gym-based workout for their needs and goals._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Data Visualization Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-04-06 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-data-visualization-bc04732d3207 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1dlteicv6al8cca53h88amq-1729031491347-compressed.png) ### **Coding for Data Visualization** #### By Blair Hutchinson I’m Blair, a Sr. Product Consultant at Tableau Software in Seattle. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a Business Degree and a concentration in both Finance and Management Information Systems (MIS), I moved back to Seattle where I work full time at Tableau Software. I am also a Assistant Professor at the University of Washington for a Masters Data Visualization class. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0rix-82wlbfiyev7m-1729031496820-compressed.) > Knowing how to use Ta_bleau is one of the most desired skills listed on LinkedIn right now. Do yourself a favor and learn it!_ At Tableau, my team and I use software to help people see and understand their data. Tableau Desktop is a tool used for data discovery. It creates visualizations and dashboards to tell a compelling story around a data set. I work as a Sr. Product Consultant helping customers, really anyone with data, use Tableau to its highest potential. Since Tableau is designed to do the work for our customers, my job does not require 24/7 coding. That being said, having a foundation in SQL, Python and R has really helped me. For example, I’ve recently been using JavaScript because more and more of our customers are embedding Tableau visualizations in websites. > Whether you want to become a developer or an artist, it seems like coders are involved in every department these days. Computer Science will open many doors for you, just as it has for me. Whether you want to become a developer or an artist, it seems like coders are involved in every department these days. Being able to talk at a high level, or relate to the process has been invaluable to me in my experience. Not to mention, with even a very elementary understanding of Python, you can automate those menial, everyday tasks you do, and stand out among your peers because of it! #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Tableau (tool) * R (programming language and free software environment for statistical computing and graphics) * Python * SQL * JavaScript * Linux ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1r5kh1gobjrsyeluubup3oq-1729031500699-compressed.png) _When Blair’s not schooling people on data visualization, he’s probably busy getting lost in the Cascade mountains climbing and skiing with friends._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Basketball Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-03-15 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-basketball-9a24286a39d * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/09u0tczv9lpxjyaph-1729031854712-compressed.) ### **Coding for Basketball** #### By Rachel Marty I’m Rachel, a PhD student at UC San Diego studying Bioinformatics and a Data Scientist for Noah Basketball. I never anticipated becoming a computer scientist. I started my degree at UCSD with aspirations of becoming a doctor. I majored in biology but spent most of my time on the basketball court as a student-athlete. After some coaxing from my wiser-than-I-was-willing-to-admit father, I took a computer science class. It was VERY challenging and I often questioned if I was smart enough to continue. However, I could not deny the unique satisfaction I felt when I solved a problem. Not long after my first computer science class, I ended up switching my major to Computer Science — Bioinformatics. > _Could I help millions of patients instead of just a couple by designing scalable treatments with the help of computer science?_ I quickly became enthralled with the idea of studying genomes. Could I help millions of patients instead of just a couple by designing scalable treatments with the help of computer science? I have spent the past four years in a PhD program studying the role of genomic immune variation on cancer progression and discovering new biology through coding. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0y-cyonh1gtvbmv8-1729031857531-compressed.) Outside of my PhD program, I am actively involved with Noah Basketball, which is a small startup that develops a basketball training tool that watches players shoot and measures precisely how every shot makes or misses. Three years ago, they needed a data scientist to drive the research on the massive amount of data they were collecting. Never losing sight of my love for basketball, I jumped at the chance to apply my bioinformatics-trained data science skills to a basketball analytics problem. Who knew that the same skill set could cross such different domains? > _My research has resulted in several invitations to present research to NBA coaches. I guess you can never know where your coding will take you!_ ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0x3tjxukvibefoslo-1729031861250-compressed.) Noah Basketball has collected millions of shots taken by NBA, college and high school players. I use python to find interesting trends in the data and apply libraries like scikit-learn to train machine learning models. I recently presented a paper at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference about better predicting shooting ability based on this immense amount of 3D data. In a crazy turn of events, my research has resulted in several invitations to present research to NBA coaches. I guess you can never know where your coding will take you! #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Python * R * Jupyter Notebooks _Rachel loves to bike, swim in the ocean and drink way too much tea._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Digital Cartography Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-03-01 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-digital-cartography-58dbd1a4f5f0 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0tnyjldmjz9my3ho6-1729031599755-compressed.) ### Coding for **Digital Cartography** #### By Peter Wilczynski I’m Peter Wilczynski, a Product Manager at Palantir Technologies. I grew up thinking that I’d be an academic scientist, and when I went to Yale, I assumed I was destined for an MD/PhD in some kind of biophysics. I grew up in suburban Connecticut reading Wired and doing a ton of random sports and academic things. I programmed a bit in C / Lua, but nothing super-serious. Now, I work on a full-stack mapping application that deals with a bunch of different types of data. As GPS data has become more commonplace and commodity sensors have flooded the market, the world has started to accumulate vast quantities of geospatial information. Traditional digital mapping techniques, built for cartographic analysis on one end and lightweight data visualization on the other simply weren’t designed to render this type of data in a first class way. These quintessentially modern datasets combine geospatial characteristics with a frequency that has forced us to borrow techniques that were developed to deal with more standard time-series data. To actually build immersive, interactive maps on top of all this data is a challenge that requires a lot of creativity across the full stack. We build tools that clean, normalize, compress, rasterize, and process this data in myriad other ways, as well as systems for querying and rendering the data on the frontend. > I’m constantly struck by the insane beauty of the modern society as I explore it. Once you know where to look, you’ll see computers in planes, taxis, restaurants, museums and national parks. Programming gives you a totally different way of thinking about the world. I’m constantly struck by the insane beauty of the modern society as I explore it. Once you know where to look, you’ll see computers in planes, taxis, restaurants, museums and national parks. It’s amazing to look at all of those computers and be able to say “I understand how that works.” It’s obviously not possible to understand the whole system at a really deep level, but even just understanding a small part of it can really shape the way you think about how the world is changing and what the future holds. #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Java * Typescript * Elasticsearch * TurfJS * Mapbox GL JS * React/Redux _Peter dabbles in software, rides bikes a lot, and has a penchant for debate._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Healthcare Technology Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-02-27 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-healthcare-technology-c6275cf034fe * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/13szhrnzwgwdh2lrouf5gfg-1729031876124-compressed.png) ### Coding for Healthcare Technology #### By Karan _Bhatia_ I’m Karan, and I am a software engineer at a healthcare technology company called ZocDoc. I build software that improves an otherwise stressful experience. I studied Computer Science at Cornell University, where it was almost assumed that post-graduation you would end up as a software engineer. The only questions were — What industry would you join? Would you do front-end, back-end, or full stack development? Would you work at a startup or a bigger company? A lot of these questions make more sense now, being 4 years out of college and having a better idea of where I want to bring my career. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1xzovubsjrzlwf9pooloskg-1729031885717-compressed.png) Right out of college, I joined a trading company in Chicago. We traded complex financial instruments, whose intrinsic value was the result of a multitude of formulas and levers cooked up by some really smart PHD Math majors. The good news is that I wasn’t being paid to do complex math, but to write software that would be used to allow our own traders to make decisions during their day. Our software was only consumed internally. I wrote tools and services in both R, python, and C# that showed graphs highlighting good trading opportunities. Some projects even gave me the chance to be the lead developer, which was a huge confidence booster for me. I later worked at a software consultancy, focusing on web development. My main project was assisting a non-profit in building an app to help low income families. Being one of the only developers on the project (and at times, the only developer) put me in a position to have the flexibility to make a majority of the technical decisions that went into the project. The company coded in mostly ruby and javascript, which two languages I had no knowledge of prior to joining. If there is one thing I learned on the job, it is that language choice is just a means to accomplish a goal. Lots of languages have the same pillars that comprise them, so when being tasked to learn a new language for a project, it is ok to not have all the answers right away. It is all about asking the right questions — such as, how do I write a for loop in scala? Or how do I throw exceptions in python. Going with that attitude has turned what could be a daunting process (learning a language), to an opportunity: to learn another language could come in handy down the road. > I love coming into work every day knowing that my work leads to a product that is used by millions of people in the United States. That brings me to today — I work at ZocDoc, a healthcare technology company that eases the process of finding an insurance covered doctor and booking with that doctor right from your computer or phone. Specifically, I work software that surrounds our “sponsored” doctors that you may see at the top of your search. I love coming into work every day knowing that my work leads to a product that is used by millions of people in the United States. Work days go by fast when you are engaged in building something that you actually believe in. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1rpmlc-bvlfzuwwabnuenyq-1729031891137-compressed.png) #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Scala * Python * C# * Ruby * React JS * Sql * Postgres * Mysql * Redis * Neo4j * Docker * Ansible _Outside of work, Karan enjoys attending concerts, salsa dancing, playing the accordion, and doing yoga._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Human Resources Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-01-31 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-human-resources-6769cfff0593 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1dhbtz5pvlfkif1grw898ka-1729031626226-compressed.jpeg) ### **Coding for Human Resources** #### By Crystal Huang I’m Crystal, the Co-Founder & CEO of [ProSky](https://prosky.co/), a venture-backed, high-growth HR SaaS company that gives organizations the ability to innovatively evaluate candidates and develop employees through succession pathways, so they can recruit, hire, and retain the best diverse talent & culture fit. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1tx7vzcrciyl7rbk7zzdbpq-1729031628184-compressed.png) I’m in HR Tech and we have developed a platform for companies to track, evaluate, and develop candidates and employees in their companies. Our mission is to help companies create a more systematic, transparent environment that promotes workplace satisfaction which increases retention in the company. We started by creating one simple feature and evolved into a full-featured platform with multiple use-cases. Our system also has the ability for users to collaborate in code and for employers to evaluate and give feedback on candidates’ and employees’ code. We are able to facilitate large-scale virtual hack-a-thons which give wider accessibility to candidates from all backgrounds. > Who would have thought that a boring industry like Human Resources could be disrupted and turned into an exciting, fun, and much-needed industry. Who would have thought that a boring industry like Human Resources could be disrupted and turned into an exciting, fun, and much-needed industry. That has only been possible because of technology — especially software systems. #### **What tools and languages do I use?** * Rails (main language) * 20+ other languages to create and maintain the platform _Crystal is an award-winning entrepreneur and has been asked to speak for organizations like the Gates Foundation, Institute for the Future, Close It Summit and the ACT Foundation. She previously led marketing for Vivint, who sold one entity to Blackstone for $2 billion and brought a second entity to IPO. Having been overseeing hiring for years, she is passionate about initiatives that can power the workforce and tweets @crystalprosky._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Speech Therapy Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2018-01-19 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-speech-therapy-e4ae3b4654ba * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1ozgtsejjn6pnjln1rbtra-1729032453359-compressed.png) ### **Coding for Speech Therapy** #### By Ethan Drower I’m Ethan, the Founder and CEO of Speechbytes. Since I was young, I always worked on software projects. Back then they were mostly for amusement and to try and learn more. As I improved as a “Computer Scientist” and as an entrepreneur, my ideas grew more complex. My University curriculum from DePaul was challenging and very worthwhile for building hard skills in software development, but I was also eager to get out there and tackle some real world challenges. The Speech Therapy field is a really interesting one. Notorious for being ‘technically challenged’ many experts in this field will be the first to say that their adoption of the latest technology as an industry is not always the fastest. I often helped my mother (who is a practicing Speech Pathologist) with various software/website related things for her business. One day as I spoke with her about some challenges she faces, that there was a opportunity to use software to improve her treatment practices. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/0p62apxpjere0kv2g-1729032454867-compressed.) Thus, Speechbytes was born, a software platform that combines an interactive tablet game for children with a highly effective administrative platform for their Speech Therapist. The idea here is to provide a struggling child with a game they want to play that simultaneously helps them practice various speech sounds. We record those sounds (during gameplay) and make them available to their Therapist to listen to online later. This gives the Speech Therapist a never before had ability to review their client’s home practice sessions. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/15e1mgwydy58gf6klfwp08q-1729032456636-compressed.png) Robo Chef, a Speechbytes game for childern From a software perspective, I work on both parts of the business. The more creative side, is the game side. There we build our games with the Unity2D game engine and have had a lot of fun working with users to improve gameplay. The second half of our platform is the web based panel for Speech Pathologists. That uses primarily frontend Javascript and communicates with our cloud based storage of all the client sound recordings. > One of the more rewarding parts of this industry is seeing something you’ve created digitally affect and improve lives in the physical world. Without computer science, I likely never would have been able to conceive of this challenge in the speech world let alone be able to build a solution that is effective. One of the more rewarding parts of this industry is seeing something you’ve created digitally affect and improve lives in the physical world. Speechbytes has been my most rewarding venture in Computer Science to date, and I look forward to continuing to grow the company and improve our platform. #### What tools and languages do I use? * Unity2D * Javascript * Python * Linux Servers * Heroku * Mongodb _Ethan is a software entrepreneur, who’s ventures/interests range from Financial and Regulatory to Speech and Language Pathology._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Open Source Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-09-13 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-open-source-d9d0a2f9e636 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1nzxopzno4vutydlnoaxtw-1729031658779-compressed.png) ### Coding for Open Source #### By **Feross Aboukhadijeh** I’m [Feross](http://feross.org/) and I write open source software. ### What is open source? The term “open source” refers to code that other people can modify and share because the source code is publicly accessible. ### Why is open source cool? Open source software has brought enormous amounts of good to the world. Open source is everywhere today. The majority of servers on the Internet are powered by Apache (an open source web server) and Linux (an open source operating system). Most networks in large corporations are powered by Linux, and even 95% of the desktops and servers at major Hollywood movie studios like Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, and Sony run Linux. Nearly everyone in the world directly benefits from open source software, whether they’ve heard of it or not. ### How do I get involved in open source? There’s an enormous trove of open source software on [GitHub](https://github.com/). You can learn a ton about coding just from reading code that’s been written by better programmers in the past. Try searching for some of your favorite projects, for example: jQuery, Node.js, Python, or Linux. You’ll find all the code that was written to make these projects work! Whenever you find a bug or problem in one of these projects, you can go to GitHub to “file an issue” which is how you let the developers know about the problem. If you’re feeling really brave and want to take your involvement to the next level, you can try fixing issues that have already been filed by downloading the code to your computer, fixing the problem, and sending your changes back to the project for inclusion. This is called “sending a pull request”. If you want to get involved but aren’t sure where to start, check out [My First PR](https://twitter.com/yourfirstpr) which highlights good issues for first-timers to tackle! ### Why do I write open source software? I work on projects like [WebTorrent](https://webtorrent.io/), [Standard JS](https://standardjs.com/), and [Study Notes](https://www.apstudynotes.org/) which are entirely open source. Not everything I’ve worked on in my career has been open source, but most of it has been. I have over 100 open source projects on GitHub and npm. I am able to create lots of value in the world when I don’t restrict how people can use my work. Publishing things under an open source license lets anyone use my code however they like. For example, my business [Study Notes](https://www.apstudynotes.org/) is doing extremely well in terms of making money, even while the code is available for free. It’s possible to make a profit and share your code with the world :) ### What tools do I use? Some of my favorite tools at the moment are: * [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) * [Standard JS](http://standardjs.com/) * [Browserify](http://browserify.org/) * [GitHub](https://github.com/) * [Sublime Text](https://www.sublimetext.com/) * [Electron](http://electron.atom.io/) Happy hacking! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Public Service and Health Care Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-06-14 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-public-service-and-health-care-335955e6ada9 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1jlmzszbip1edzio84hsfzw-1729032391806-compressed.png) ### Coding for Public Service and Health Care #### _By Sam King_ Growing up, I never thought that I would be a computer scientist or that I would be working on health data. I wanted to make the world a better place, and I thought that everyone who did that worked in politics, medicine, or law. However, I always enjoyed computers, so I tried taking a computer science class in college, and I enjoyed how creative it was — in my assignments, I wasn’t just crunching numbers or writing a paper, I was actually making something new! Since I enjoyed programming so much, I decided to make it work and find out what the connection was between computer science and social change. > I wanted to make the world a better place, and I thought that everyone who did that worked in politics, medicine, or law. After talking to a bunch of nonprofits, local governments, and social enterprises, I found that pretty much everyone needs more computer scientists. That’s great for me since I am interested in social change considered broadly rather than just one part of it. That means that whether I want to work on public health, education, the environment, international development, social justice, or something completely different, I’m sure that I’ll be able to find a good job in that field with my skills as a computer scientist. > After talking to a bunch of nonprofits, local governments, and social enterprises, I found that pretty much everyone needs more computer scientists. I’ve taken advantage of that flexibility to do some pretty cool things. When online courses were starting to take off, I made a [course on using Unix](https://practicalunix.org/). I worked at Google’s Engineering Education team on a [programming language for kids](https://developers.google.com/blockly/), diversity outreach, and tools internal to Google. When the Affordable Care Act was in jeopardy because of the failure of healthcare.gov, I joined the fix it team to [make a streamlined user interface and a new login system](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/07/the-secret-startup-saved-healthcare-gov-the-worst-website-in-america/397784/). And now, I’m at [Nuna Health](https://www.nuna.com/), where we work with Medicaid and employer sponsored health plans to make health care higher quality and more affordable. > It’s learning how to write code that is easy for other people to read and maintain since software engineering is a team activity. ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1fpgizeejvoz8a8daj5vg9w-1729032395558-compressed.jpeg) Sam at the White House One of the reasons that you can do so many different things as a computer scientist is because studying computer science isn’t just learning about a couple programming languages. It’s learning how to solve problems efficiently. It’s learning how to write code that is easy for other people to read and maintain since software engineering is a team activity. Really, it’s learning how to think systematically and how to learn. So, don’t worry too much about the specific programming languages or technologies you’re using when you’re getting started as a computer scientist — you’ll probably get the chance to play with more before too long! I’m incredibly thankful that I was lucky enough to stumble into computer science. It has opened countless opportunities for me, and it has been an effective tool as I try to make the world a better place. _Sam King is working on health data at Nuna Health_ **Tools and Languages Used: Python and a little bit of everything else** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding for Cognitive Science and E-Commerce Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-05-28 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-for-cognitive-science-and-e-commerce-993e9c345bd0 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1uyaffrzy-fzlxbte1osfnw-1729031597020-compressed.jpeg) ### Coding for Cognitive Science and E-Commerce #### By Michael Brandt _Michael Brandt has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford, and is co-founder of_ [_Nootrobox_](http://nootrobox.com/)_, a company that makes_ [_GO CUBES Chewable Coffee_](http://gocub.es/) _and other cognitive supplements. Nootrobox and GO CUBES have been featured in the_ [_New York Times_](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/technology/at-sxsw-a-shift-from-apps-to-innovation.html?_r=0) _and_ [_Bloomberg_](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-05-10/these-bro-scientists-want-to-sell-you-mind-hacking-pills)_, and are backed by prominent_ [_Silicon Valley investors_](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/business/dealbook/andreessen-horowitz-to-invest-in-nootropics-start-up.html)_._ At Nootrobox, we use coding on a daily basis in 2 key ways: #### Cognitive Science Research Nootrobox researches and develops cognitive supplements, which are things you can eat to enhance mental performance. To give a sense of what that looks like — a couple billion cups of coffee are drunk on a daily basis all over the world, oftentimes for performance and alertness. We are researching compounds that work better than coffee at improving things like attention, focus, and memory, with a low side-effect profile. > Reaction time, error rate, fatigue, and other factors related to cognition are usually tested using software, since software allows for a degree of consistency and precision that is simply not possible otherwise. The primary question in this space is, “how do you measure cognition?” This type of research is done regularly in clinical psychology, and there is almost always software involved. For instance, the [n-back](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-back) test is popularly used to measure working memory. Reaction time, error rate, fatigue, and other factors related to cognition are usually tested using software, since software allows for a degree of consistency and precision that is simply not possible otherwise. In the future we’re looking into ways of creating personalized supplements for people, based on genetic analysis, biomarker levels in blood/urine, and input from devices like pedometers and smartphone apps. This all involves novel software to crunch data and provide a beautiful easy-to-use interface to users. #### E-Commerce We sell the vast majority of our products online via our website (as well as [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Go-Cubes-Chewable-Coffee-4-packs/dp/B01BSZV3OC/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1464322277&sr=8-1&keywords=go+cubes)). A great e-commerce website depends on well-written software that’s both visible to the user, as well as doing heavy lifting behind the scenes. > A great e-commerce website depends on well-written software that’s both visible to the user, as well as doing heavy lifting behind the scenes. On one level, we develop an e-commerce frontend: a website that loads smoothly, that communicates our product & lets people learn more, that’s easy to navigate, explore, and buy, and that works well on all different devices from large monitors to smartphones. We don’t have any physical store locations, so our website is our window to the world, and we put a lot of effort into making it awesome. On the second level, we develop an e-commerce backend: secure payment processing, sending orders to our warehouse, sending shipment tracking information to customers, and automatically managing subscriptions. Each day, this system lets us ship hundreds or thousands of orders from multiple warehouses around the country, with virtually no errors. #### Conclusion It’s exciting to see the ways that software can be used to create new discoveries and make novel experiences for customers. You can read more about what we’re up to over at [thinking.nootrobox.com](http://thinking.nootrobox.com/). Thanks for reading! **Tools and Languages Used: JavaScript, including libraries like React, Reflux, React-on-Rails, Cssguidelin.es, and velocityjs** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding with Music Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-05-27 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-with-music-80b0a1491d03 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1l7imjobn7rkp0wusigs2yq-1729031608042-compressed.jpeg) ### Coding with Music #### By Jason Riggs When I was thirteen, I always liked creating electronic music on my computer. But for all my endless nights making music, I never understood how all my music-making machines worked: synthesizers, drum machines, and all the other goodies music producers live and breathe. > Learning computer science is what showed me the insides of my music. Instead of using other people’s software to create music, I got to create my own music-making machines. Learning computer science is what showed me the insides of my music. Instead of using other people’s software to create music, I got to create my own music-making machines. This way of learning computer science is different from what most students expect, but it was perfect for me. Usually, a budding programmer learns by writing code that does exactly what someone else tells them it should expect. “When your program completes, all of the numbers should be arranged from lowest to highest.” > “Do I like how it sounds? Does it sound musical?” There was no right or wrong answer; it was subjective, an art class. But the only constraint for me was, “Do I like how it sounds? Does it sound musical?” There was no right or wrong answer; it was subjective, an art class. This was a happy revelation for me, and this kind of mindset drove me to learn to create video games, too. There’s no objectively correct program for a video game. The success of a program is not just, “Is the output correct? Does it have any problems?”, but rather, “Is it fun to play? Is it beautiful? Does it feel right?” Many students think programming is for folks who are interested in rigid rules, structure, and mathematical gymnastics. > But if you like, you can think of a computer as an instrument, a guitar or flute. But if you like, you can think of a computer as an instrument, a guitar or flute. If you practice your instrument enough, you can create beautiful things. Maybe you’ll find as I did that aesthetics will be your most powerful motivator in learning to program. I’ve met many others who feel this way, too. And if you do, you’ll find something else magical will happen. The code itself will become as beautiful as whatever program it creates. To the uninitiated, computer code may look cold, unforgiving, and cryptic. But that’s how a violin feels if you’ve never played it. Once you’ve put in sustained, focused practice, you’ll find that coding itself becomes something you love.” _Jason Riggs creates music, software, and sometimes music software. He’s studying to receive a masters degree in computer science._ **Tools and Languages Used:** There are like 50. Here are random ones I like: Web languages, Rails, C/C++, Python, Swift, ChucK! --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding the Internet of Things Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-05-26 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-the-internet-of-things-615b8b402da5 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1pgl7kp6cr4av-mvu9klmg-1729031782348-compressed.jpeg) ### Coding the Internet of Things #### By Jeff Eiden My name is Jeff Eiden. I studied at Northwestern University, where I was first bitten by the technology bug through an entrepreneurship course. The company I co-founded through this course folded soon thereafter, largely because of my inability to contribute technically to the product we were building (I was a communications major and had never been exposed to programming!). From then on, I made a pledge to do whatever it took to teach myself how to code, and prove to myself that I could indeed be a software engineer! That pledge has driven my career from then on — I was a front-end engineer for Deloitte Consulting, application developer for a home security company, and now a senior engineer at a startup in San Francisco called [Particle](https://www.particle.io/). > I use coding **every single day** in my industry. My company builds tools to help enable the “Internet of Things,” which is just a fancy term for bringing intelligence to the physical world around us by connecting stuff to the internet. I use coding **every single day** in my industry. My company builds tools to help enable the “Internet of Things,” which is just a fancy term for bringing intelligence to the physical world around us by connecting stuff to the internet. Coding is fundamental to both my company’s mission, as well as my own personal responsibilities. We use software to solve problems constantly — from programming micro-controllers, to creating marketing websites, to measuring our success as a business with analytics, to building web applications that are useful to our customers. Frankly, our company wouldn’t be anything without coding! > First and most importantly, it empowers you to build and create, giving you wizard-like abilities. I believe in the deepest part of my gut that anyone would benefit from learning computer science. Why? Because in my opinion, it is the single most empowering skill to have in today’s technology-driven economy. And I mean empowering in a couple of different ways. First and most importantly, it empowers you to build and create, giving you wizard-like abilities. So many of the world’s issues can, in part, be solved with technology. If you see a problem in the world that you feel is worth solving, **you have the power to make an impact** without needing to depend on anyone else. That’s amazing! Professional empowerment also means giving you a leg up in your career. Simply put, knowing how to code has helped me get the jobs I want, and rise quickly at the companies I’ve worked for. The reality is that the engineering skill-set is still in incredibly high demand, because there simply aren’t enough qualified people to fill technical roles. As our world continues to grow more dependent on computers, so will the need to hire smart, passionate people with deep technical expertise (as long as computers don’t start programming themselves for a while :) ). _Jeff Eiden is a software engineer and product designer at Particle, a prototype-to-production platform for developing an Internet of Things product._ **Tools and Languages Used: JavaScript, including Ember.js and Node. Ruby on Rails, HTML, and CSS.** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding in Chemical Engineering Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-05-25 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-chemical-engineering-d72c3b41533e * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1gdhr6bl8bdecmt563y5wmq-1729031844980-compressed.jpeg) ### Coding in Chemical Engineering By Mia Divecha I am not a programmer, a software engineer or a developer. I did not study computer science, and I only took 2 CS classes in my life. And yet, as a PhD student in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota, I use computational tools and code almost every single day! I studied chemical engineering in undergrad because I loved chemistry and math, and thought I could use engineering techniques to solve complex and interesting problems. I imagined that as a PhD student I would be in the laboratory, pipetting solutions and mixing chemicals around in beakers to accomplish this. Turns out, there are a lot of ways to explore science and engineering outside a laboratory — like using a computer! > As a PhD student in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota, I use computational tools and code almost every single day! My current research uses computational techniques to simulate how heat and mass move in complex systems. I can visualize how fluid would move in a system that is heated from the bottom (like a pan on the stove), versus heating from the top (like broiling). I can model and track how well mixed a salt-water solution would be if you swirled it at 10RPM versus 1RPM. Doing computational simulations are so powerful because they are often cheaper and quicker than doing experiments and they give you information that you could not measure in an experiment. The program I use to solve these problems is written in C. Although I didn’t write it myself, I will often modify it in order to suit the problem I am trying to solve. While I would not consider myself a C programmer, I know enough about programming that I can pick up the syntax to address the problem at hand. I also do a lot of post processing and Matlab and Python. The simulations often output a bunch of temperature and velocity data that I then need to transform into a plot. I can write Matlab scripts to make informative plots that can be easily read. Additionally, I’m often repeating the same simulation with one variable changed while measuring the outcome. Instead of doing this manually, I can write scripts in Python to automate this! I have probably saved days of my life by automating these processes. It’s quite fun actually — I even have an app on my phone where I can remote login to my work computer to check on the simulations while I’m doing something fun… like kayaking on a lake here in beautiful Minnesota :). > It’s quite fun actually — I even have an app on my phone where I can remote login to my work computer to check on the simulations while I’m doing something fun… like kayaking on a lake here in beautiful Minnesota :). I am so grateful for the computer science tools that I have learned that make me a better engineer. _Mia Divecha is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota._ **Tools and Languages Mentioned: C, Python, Matlab** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. --- ## Coding in Economics Author: Jeremy Keeshin Published: 2016-05-20 URL: https://codinginthewild.com/coding-in-economics-47bc90ceb246 * * * ![undefined](https://superblog.supercdn.cloud/site_cuid_cm26y24gn00rpkt5xcilzmy3f/images/1nxpaufsgk9k3qnb-znpara-1729031484341-compressed.jpeg) ### Coding in Economics #### By Otis Reid I’m a PhD student in economics at MIT. I studied economics in undergrad and after spending a year as a consultant, came to MIT in 2013. I focus on development — why are poor countries poor? — and political economy — why do political leaders make the decisions that they do? Most of my work involves traveling to different countries to collect data, most recently Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but I also work with existing data sets that have been collected by other researchers or organizations like the World Bank. > One secret of economics, like any data-based science, is that there is a lot of coding that goes into producing our final analyses. One secret of economics, like any data-based science, is that there is a lot of coding that goes into producing our final analyses. I mostly work in **Stata**, a data analysis program, but I also do some work in **Python**. Most of the coding I do is to combine and clean data sets. A simple example would be that I do two different surveys with the same set of people and then I want to have all of the answers that one person gave in a single file for analysis. A more complicated example might involve combining data from different agencies, which use different identifiers: one of the agencies writes “Tennessee” and another writes “TN”. Maybe a third agency even has data at the level of cities or counties. Combining this data means writing code that not only merges the files, but also gives them all a common set of IDs so that all of the data can work together — writing good code can be the difference between having all your data in one place versus scattered across many files. > Knowing how to code can save tens or hundreds of hours and makes projects like analyzing the complete history of a huge Indian public works program possible. The other way I use coding is to collect data. Even working on development topics, there is a surprising amount of data that’s online. More and more countries are posting data to webpages as part of transparency efforts. I use Python to make simple web-scrapers to download this data in batches. Knowing how to code can save tens or hundreds of hours and makes projects like analyzing the complete history of a huge Indian public works program possible. > By hand, that would have taken days if not weeks — with Python I did it overnight. As data sets grow larger and larger, knowing how to code effectively is only getting more important in economics. Knowing programming languages like Python can also save you tons of time in surprising ways: in February, I needed to rapidly format thousands of assignment sheets for my survey teams to take with them into the field. By hand, that would have taken days if not weeks — with Python I did it overnight. As data sets grow larger and larger, knowing how to code effectively is only getting more important in economics. Today’s grad students are much better equipped if they have programming experience in high school and college, since it makes learning new techniques easier — and they can often leverage their existing knowledge. Plus, it’s always pretty cool to be able to go for a walk outside and tell people “I’m working right now: my code is running.” Always good to have the computer working for you! _Otis Reid is a PhD student at MIT in economics, studying development and political economy._ **Tools and Languages Mentioned: Stata and Python** --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---