Makai's Blog
Month
Oh Python, you make a developer’s life so easy.
I executed a “python manage.py datadump > db.json” which sent the contents of my Django-created database out to a file. However, I realized that the results were all on one line and I wanted to go through the output to create some test data. A quick “more db.json | python -mjson.tool > db-pretty.json” command transformed the whole thing into a more readable format.
This is just one of many examples of why I love Python programming.
The reviews are starting to come in for JQuery Mobile: First Look, which I technical reviewed before publication. Looks like people like it so far.
Cornell University presents some findings that dispute the supposed health benefits from standing desks, including height-adjustable desks that go from sitting to standing position.
In short, the researchers suggest sitting to do computer work but getting up every 20-30 minutes and moving around. The moving around part is critical: a short walk to get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, or head to a meeting is the best way to prevent the negative side effects on your body from sitting all day.
Having a bunch of little successes over time is a lot more fun than a big stinking failure after working hard on a project for years.
Well, of course, right? Isn’t it obvious that success is better than failure?
Yet why do most organizations, especially big companies, continue to produce big failure after big failure?
Look at what the federal government spends on failed IT projects each year. This happens across many agencies: FBI, DoD, DoL, DoJ, USPTO, etc etc. The private sector doesn’t do much better either. Look at the cluster that is HP’s TouchPad. Or what’s happening with Yahoo!.
There’s a solution for most of these failures: building from small successes instead of some pie in the sky idea that may not correspond to reality. This approach is essentially what the Lean Startup methodology teaches and a big part of what Agile software development is about.
Build from actual strengths that are grounded in reality, not from how you envision yourself or your organization in your head. Keep the fun little successes coming and in time you’ll create a big success without the risk of the big failure.
I love my home made standing desk at my apartment. I also occasionally convert my desk at work to standing position with some boxes so I can be more productive. Apparently it’s catching on. Here’s a WSJ article on standing desks.
Link: Standing Desks Are on the Rise (WSJ)