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2025

Does Software Development Change the Way You Think?

As a developer, have you noticed that you approach life differently than "normal" people? After all those years of training and career, do you think differently than how you used to?

In other words, do you approach non-coding problems like code?

Some examples:

  • Breaking problems into parts, like modular code: e.g. you plan a trip by organising flights and hotels like modules.
  • Spotting reusable patterns: e.g. you standardise meeting agendas using templates.
  • Debugging: e.g. you troubleshoot a friend's wifi by methodically working from the edge to the ISP.

Are these shifts unique to coding? Do they make life better or just annoy those around you?

Everyone and anyone are welcome to join as long as you are kind, supportive, and respectful of others.

thinking

Consolidating Systems

The topic for the May 6th, 2025 chat is consolidating systems. Organizations often have data and business logic in several different databases and applications. They would like to have everything in one place, which is a noble goal but hard to achieve.

How do you consolidate these disparate systems? How do you avoid creating an extra system and avoid the XKCD standards problem (substitute application for standards).

Everyone and anyone are welcome to join as long as you are kind, supportive, and respectful of others.

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How Would You Teach It?

As the head of the computer science and IT department at your university or college, you have a unique opportunity to reshape the program with a generous budget approved by the Dean. Will you enhance existing methodologies or introduce a groundbreaking approach? What compelling topics will you prioritize to prepare the next generation of programmers and technologists? How will you inspire students to engage with this dynamic field?

Everyone and anyone are welcome to join as long as you are kind, supportive, and respectful of others.

a computer at the science museum