OK I admit it.
2009 was the year that I became a convert to social networking and as a developer it's been a godsend.
Here's why....
Since starting out on Domino development on version 3.33 at Standard Life I have always been a 'lone' developer. Mostly it was because I was the only developer in the team/department/company. Now although that I was able to find help using the Dev Help Guide (paper format to start with) and then onto the Client help...it was still only me.
After Standard Life..there was a brief job with a small firm in Stirling (FDF Infonet) and then my first contract job with IBM in Greenock.
Great (I thought) finally working with other developers with whom I could share ideas/thoughts/code....err nope.
I was stuck diagonally opposite where the Notes team were working..on my own. No space in the team (apparantly - although I did sniff my armpits...just in case). Further bad news....no work for me. I sat for 3 months on contract rates...surfing - which sounds great..but is REALLY boring and depressing. Every morning I would ask Chris if he had work for me..and every day he said 'soon'.
Soooooo no contact with the team and no work.
After this easy but depressing job..I soon got other contracts until I hit the motherload (in terms of contracts). Started a 4 week contract with Scottish Courage Brands and left there 7 years later.
I will still on my own though :-(
The it was a perm job with Campbell Lee. Great - other developers. The problem with this job is that as a consultancy, we were mostly away working on other stuff and very never working as a team on a development.
Stay with me...it will come together soon.
It was at this point that the guru's from IBM started showing us Social Networking. Dogear, Activities, etc. I couldn't see a market opportunity in Scotland for it and dissmissed it. I think I did this primarily as both my boss and the MD were of that opinion and I just went along with it.
WRONG!
Since starting my new job with the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) I have been introduced to Twitter and Facebook (and Blogging) as well as the Domino/Quickr and other wiki's.
Finally I can interract with other Developers and get help and offer help - Get hints and tips and offer in return.
Seeing how other people are using the products is making me a much better developer. I think I have learned more in the last 6 months than in the last 6 years - simply by using Social Networking.
There is a great big world out there full of developers..and now I have access to their knowledge (and they access to mine)....and its great to feel like a part of the family!
OK enough with the gushing..put the hankies away.....and lets Develop!
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