I went through a tech goal-setting process last year, and found it pretty help, so I’m lining up for another Tech Goals plan in 2012. I commend the process to you!
First let’s review last year’s list:
- JavaScript - Yup! I can certainly tick this one off. Did several pieces of hardcore JavaScript work for clients (some without framework support), learned enough QUnit to be dangerous, and even did a bit of Backbone.js.
- Android/HTML5/CSS3 - Check. I’m bundling these together since I ended up doing a major PhoneGap project for a client this year. Had a chance to building a HTML5/CSS3 app for them on iPhone/iPad/Android/Blackberry/WinPhone7. If nothing else, I’m now pretty solid on CSS3 media queries and device toolkits!
- Grails Testing - Check (but lots more work to do). Spent a lot more time writing Spock tests this year and I’m definitely further along the road towards productivity here. Actually, the most useful TDD resource I came across this year was the PragProg screencasts of Kent Beck doing TDD. So practical and non-preachy. Really great. Went ahead and read the original TDD book and found that helpful too!
- Graphic Design. Well. I’ve discovered that I’m fighting city hall on this one. I’ve put too much energy into this for very little result. What I did discover this year was that I can happily customise templates to my cause (Twitter Bootstrap, anyone?) and it’s more productive to outsource the rest!
Also had chance to do several Grails talks this year including a Grails Code Camp in New Zealand, SpringOne2GX in Chicago, and GR8Conf/OSDC in Canberra.
So what’s on the agenda for 2012? That’s the topic for the next post…