My New Website codedonkeyUK
Why build CodeDonkey.uk?
A few years ago I was working on my own project called Tabletop Build. I demoed it to several interviewers at that time, and those interviews went really well. Tabletop Build ultimately failed as a project, but the idea of live examples stuck with me. So I decided to build a portfolio of non-emotionally charged examples for folks to view. I plan to keep this site going, as I like writing code in my spare time, and I like writing about the industry, its a very interesting time to be a developer.
FYI I have re-engineered some of my old TableTop Build code as custom dice roller.
- Demo: https://dice.codedonkey.uk,
- Github Project: https://github.com/codedonkeyuk/3D-dice
Why don’t you just contribute to open source GitHub projects, and then share that activity on LinkedIn?
No thanks, I like writing code, I even build projects in my spare time, its really a passion not a vocation for me. I don't feel that way about collaborating with people, I am very much an introvert, and I need my alone time to recharge. I don't do social media, and I don't do social activities. Give me a good book, film, or anime to watch, and in my happy place!
Why call the site Code Donkey?
Batman was scared of bats as a child, so he used the symbol of the bat to strike fear into the heart of his enemies. Im not that cool, but I was called a code donkey once by peer, and I never forgot that term. He called me that because I didn't organize my imports alphabetically in a Maven app, and I was forced to fix the SVN servers history, holding back the the delivery of that project, which was meant to be released that day. Totally unfair and unnecessary incident, the lead developers perfectionism was more important than the companies delivery timelines. When I made a complaint, I was told to retract it, my manger said "hes really smart, he used to work at google" 🤮. I threw my notice in the next day, that company no longer exists, surprise surprise!
This was not a single occurrence, how I build software, even how I conduct my self has often been criticized by the intellectual perfectionist types. Yet I always deliver bullet proof code on time and on schedule, faster than them. When I have run teams I've made sure to give everyone a voice, I've mentored everyone that needed it, and stopped the perfectionist types from holding the team hostage. Never missed a deadline!
If you asked perfectionist developer to build you a dog house, they would build it out of bricks, with central heating, and a porch light, and you will be hit with the bill. If you ask me to build you a dog house, its wooden box with a hole in the front, probably used to be an apple create. It will cost you far less and it will still work.
How did you build the site?
I first built my own markdown-blog, and then built the site out of that.
I hate CMSs. I believe 90% of data leaks and hacks are the direct result of folks using CMSs. Not to mention, professionally speaking they are a nightmare to build and maintain. I wanted absolute control, so I built my own tool.