diversity
When a flower doesn't bloom...
💡Nota bene: This post is non-technical. It features pictures of flowers, not code. If you're only here for
Alan Ridlehoover
Passionate Rubyist.
Empathetic leader.
Fallible human.
Storyteller. International speaker.
Environmentalist. Feminist. Ally.
Swell photographer. Rusty drummer.
Loving twins dad & husband.
complexity
The Coffee Machine Series: As a patron, I might want condiments
Welcome to the fourth in a series of posts in which we will answer the questions:
* How does complexity sneak
humor
A Holiday Poem
This is my gift to the Ruby community this holiday season...
complexity
The Coffee Machine Series: As a patron, I want tea
Welcome to the third in a series of posts in which we will answer the questions:
* How does complexity sneak
complexity
The Coffee Machine Series: As a patron, I want coffee
Welcome to the second in a series of posts in which we will answer the questions:
* How does complexity sneak
complexity
The Coffee Machine Series: What Is Complexity?
Welcome to the first in a series of posts in which we will answer the questions:
* How does complexity sneak
rubyconf
Speaking at RubyConf Mini
RubyConf Mini 2022 was fantastic! Lots of great speakers. Over 150 attendees. And, I got to check something off my
ruby
RubyConf Mini
Ok. So, I kind of left you hanging there with The Coffee Machine Series. But, there was a good reason.
code-quality
The Coffee Machine: A Series
Why do so many applications become so hard to maintain over time? What causes software to go wrong? How can we recognize when it turns on us? What can we do to bring it back? And, how can Ruby help?
oop
Abstraction + Encapsulation: What's the difference?
Abstraction and encapsulation are terms you often hear when learning object-oriented programming. Both are about hiding details. But, what's the difference? What do they really mean?
rspec
Do not allow_any_instance_of (unless you must)
The RSpec team says not to use `allow_any_instance_of`. So, why did they include it in RSpec in the first place?
agile
A Lesson in Courage
We will be successful when we have a style that celebrates a consistent set of values that serve both human
code-quality
Stuck on Where to Begin Refactoring? Start with the 3 Cs of Code Quality
When jewelers talk about the quality of a gemstone, they talk about the three Cs: color, cut, and clarity. Programmers have their own three Cs for measuring software quality: complexity, churn, and coverage.
programming
Is DRY the Worst Programming Advice Ever?
DRY (or Don’t Repeat Yourself) was probably the first pearl of programming wisdom you learned when you began to explore software development. But, was it sage advice?
Entomology: The Art of Classifying Bugs
Classifying defects correctly helps customers, engineers, and everyone in between.
news
Coming Soon
Hello! And, welcome to The Code Gardener — an occasional newsletter about writing software well. Things will be up and running
agile
Critical Path
A colleague of mine recently asked what I meant by "critical path." I gave her the following example,
A Garden's for Life
Portia Tung:
And no matter how much we try to hurry the seed along, Nature will run its course. Assigning