The Final 20%: Improving Craftsmanship in Web Development - WordCamp DFW 2015

JEREMY GREEN @GREENHORNET79

THE FINAL 20%Improving Craftsmanship in Web Development

WordCamp DFW 2015


VILFREDO PARETO20% of people had 80% of the wealth


PRINCIPLE OF LEAST EFFORT20% of the work completes 80% of the project


PROJECT WORK

Repetitive

Creative

Creative


REPETITIVE WORK

Energy GainEnergy Drain Energy Gain


WHAT CAN BE IMPROVED OR AUTOMATED SO THAT I DON’T HAVE TO

THINK ABOUT IT NEXT PROJECT?


CREATE A PROCESS


HIRED FIRST EMPLOYEEGetting everything out of my head


PROCEDURES DOCUMENTA fancy word for “checklist”


GET IT ON PAPER• Eliminates guessing • Sets guidelines for what is expected • Greatly improves consistency between projects • More “brain space”


HOW TO WRITE A PROCEDURE1. Do the task as you normally would 2. For each step you complete, describe it in detail in a

1-2-3 step checklist. 3. Evaluate each step to see if it can be simplified or

improved. 4. Experiment with different techniques 5. If you find an improvement, update the original working

procedure.


1. DO THE TASK AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD


2. FOR EACH STEP YOU COMPLETE, DESCRIBE IT IN DETAIL IN A 1-2-3 STEP CHECKLIST.


3. EVALUATE EACH STEP TO SEE IF IT CAN BE SIMPLIFIED OR IMPROVED.


TOYOTA


WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, ASK WHY FIVE TIMES.



1. WHY DID THE ROBOT STOP?

The circuit has overloaded, causing a fuse to blow.


2. WHY IS THE CIRCUIT OVERLOADED?

There was insufficient lubrication on the bearings, so they locked up.


3. WHY WAS THERE INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION ON THE BEARINGS?

The oil pump on the robot is not circulating sufficient oil.


4. WHY IS THE PUMP NOT CIRCULATING SUFFICIENT OIL?

The pump intake is clogged with metal shavings.


5. WHY IS THE INTAKE CLOGGED WITH METAL SHAVINGS?

Because there is no filter on the pump.


4. EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES


PROJECT MANAGEMENTFolders

Trello

Basecamp


SITE DEVELOPMENTLocal environment

Version Control

Deployment


5. IF YOU FIND AN IMPROVEMENT, UPDATE THE ORIGINAL WORKING PROCEDURE.


START SIMPLE1. Create text file in a shared Dropbox folder 2. Add my workflows in a checklist format 3. Saved text file 4. For every repeating task in project, repeat steps 1-3.


REPETITIVE WORK



DEEP PRACTICETurning mistakes into skills


CREATING MYELIN


FIRE CIRCUIT OVER AND OVER


2 X 3 = 6



ENGAGE IN DEEP PRACTICE1. Try something that is slightly beyond your comfort zone 2. Slowly struggle through learning the new technique 3. Repeat until you can do it correctly over and over


WHAT SKILL DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE?


STRUGGLE IS THE KEY TO PRODUCING MYELIN


CHOOSE A PARTICULAR STRUGGLE1. Pick a target 2. Reach for it 3. Evaluate the gap between between the target and the reach 4. Return to step one


REPETITIVE WORK



AUTOMATION & SYSTEMSAutomation of menial tasks lets you focus on building,

creating, and improving your skills.


WHAT TASKS OR SERIES OF TASKS DO YOU EXECUTE MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT A

PROJECT?


SNIPPETS IN ALFRED


USING THE KEYBOARD


CREATE AN ALIAS


ZAPIER CONNECTIONS


SLACK CONNECTIONS


GET OUT OF EMAIL


QUALITY IMPROVES WITH EFFICIENCY

• More time and energy to focus on code quality • More time and energy to problem solve • More time and energy to learn new techniques


REPETITIVE WORK



LOW HANGING FRUITWhere in your workflow would an efficiency improvement

make the most impact?


IDEAS TO GET STARTED


• Keep all notes and todos for a project in one place • Use code snippets • Develop locally • Use a starter theme or framework • Speed up your computer • Learn how to use your tools better • Create project templates with checklists • Learn keyboard shortcuts • Create canned email responses • Use build tools like Grunt or Gulp


RESOURCES


GREAT COFFEE


CRAFTSMANSHIP


THANKS!Jeremy Green

@greenhornet79 www.endocreative.com

http://www.endocreative.com

Technology

The Final 20%: Improving Craftsmanship in Web Development - WordCamp DFW 2015