Just RTFM

I still remember the first time I heard someone say RTFM. It was in the mini-computer lab back in college during 1984 while I was working on the standard write your own shell in “C” assignment for the new operating system, UNIX. There weren’t a lot of experts around so I was told I could learn everything I needed if I RTFM - HA! Its twenty-nine years later and I’m still trying to decipher the Freaking Manual.

Programming is a real craft and while my programming life has been consumed, to some degree, by righting the wrongs of the poorly or hastily developed code of others; it pales, in comparison, to the time spent trying to figure out how to use the libraries and frameworks needed to get something done.

I can’t count the number of Ah-ha! moments I’ve had once I’ve figured out what they really meant in the documentation, or finally finding the correct functions/methods to call after grep’ing and googling all over the place. I’ve got to say I’m truly thankful for Internet search, sites like StackOverflow, Github and folks how actually go to the trouble to use the documentation tools available to help others use the great stuff they’ve built.

This blog is my attempt to make things easier for others, my team, and myself (I tend to forget things after I put them down for a few weeks) who need to do all manner of developer related activity. I tend to do a bit of everything; I lead technology as a CTO, design, code, deal with sys-ops etc; so there’ll be a real variety of subjects covered.

ENJOY!