Settling In

How was I feeling toward the end of the end of the second week? Tired. Not the bad kind of tired - but I had a busy weekend ahead.

I also decided to test out a MacBook on public transport - which was something of a good idea. But more on that later.

I really tried to push myself out of my comfort zone in the past week. Not necesarily in coding - since most of my questions lie fairly deep in what computers are and how they work - but again, in working with others.

I've worked alone for a long time now. During university, practicing music or studying research or philosophy. Then teaching privately or preparing concert material.

Working with others is complicated. We have to balance one anothers goals. Often there is a significant difference between knowledge and ability. How do I account for this? I feel awful "teaching" them.I'm their colleague, not their tutor. I shouldn't offer such unless they explicitly ask. Often, another has just as much to teach me!

There is a balance to be struck between a formal structure and off the cuff work. Sometimes it depends on the pair.

The pair programming was interesting - I have tried before but I didn't know of the navigator / driver model. It's very useful, and directly promotes critical teamwork.

My touch typing is improving. I make errors, but I can type almost so fast as I can think.

I still need to learn vim properly. I know a few basic commands, but vim is an incredible tool.

I'm stretching, myself too thin. Ruby, vim, debian / windows tiling, touch-typing, TDD.

I'm asking a lot of myself, and though I'm up to the task presently, it may prove too much for me in the long run. I shall have to see - monitor this somehow.

MacBook Air

The MacBook is... ah. I want to say it's good. Honestly, it is sometimes! I'm borrowing a 13inch screen MacBook Air, 2020, M1 chip.

The apprenticeship provider loans them out because its the simplest way to provide their students with a Unix system. Very sensible - and using RVM and Ruby, almost a requirement.

So as you will have read last - I made a Linux system for lack of Mac. ( MacLak? ). And I'm becoming somewhat proficient with the Debian system. Still missing AUR, but I have six windows open right now, all doing entirely different, and useful things. On a 13 inch Mac? No chance. Ah. I've hit a problem. I think I have actually properly become, a daily Linux user. It's so useful, and I'm so productive. I have so much control it's untrue. I can make notes from a lecture, and notes on those notes at the same time. And monitor Slack, and write code. Admittedly i broke a sweat at first; but now? it just works. It's incredible. Along with vim, markdownm and a few other tools, the powers at my fingertips is ungodly.