What I’m Doing Now

In the Foreground

I’m Looking For A Software Developer Role

After five years as a data analyst, I’m looking to move into software development as I find it both more engaging and better aligned with the skillset I want to build. Over recent years I’ve explored website creation and functional programming, and used Linux exclusively on my home computer. I’ve also read about the history of computing and visited a few computing museums. I’d be looking for an entry-level role with room to grow, and I think my ability and interest make up for my lack of formal experience.

I’m Working Through HtDP

How to Design Programs teaches the craft of good programming. The focus is on the principles of systematic program design that can be applied to produce systematically designed programs across a variety of programming languages and problems.

Overall, it’s likely to take a few hundred hours to go through the second edition’s 754 pages and 528 exercises. Thus far I’m around halfway through and it brings me great joy that programs I now write are substantially better than they were previously.

In the Middleground

I’m Thinking About Going To University

I would study Computer Science. I figure such an extended period of time under expert guidance studying the principles on which these magical machines are built and the practice of effectively manipulating them will grant me great foundational knowledge that I can build upon for decades to come.

A key apprehension is the opportunity cost, but over a thirty-year career there will be ample opportunity for this education to pay for itself. Besides, I’d rather spend my life pursuing mastery of craft than I would optimal financial gain.

I’m Reading More Fiction

For the last few years I’ve been an avid reader, though the vast majority of the books I’ve read thus far have been non-fiction, particularly in the domains of philosophy and technology with some others surrounding relationships, art and general self-help.

Over the last few months however I’ve enjoyed reading some Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels and would particularly recommend William Gibson’s Neuromancer and Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy. I’m also looking forward to my first foray into classical literature: Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey followed by Virgil’s Aeneid.

In the Background

I’m Figuring Out What It Means To Be Autistic

I don’t know what led me to read Annie Kotowicz’s What I Mean When I Say I’m Autistic and Devon Price’s Unmasking Autism, but I found myself relating to the autistic experience as described by them. Does that mean I’m autistic? I don’t know.

I’m less bothered about formal diagnosis or confirmation. I don’t care about whether or not the label autistic accurately describes me. I’m more interested in gaining a better understanding of how I experience the world and why. Viewing things through the lens of autism seems to help that, and that’s good enough for me.