Ash is a compassionate software developer from Canada. After working at Artsy for seven years, he now works for Shopify. His background is originally in native iOS apps, but nowadays he builds a lot of software in React Native. He has published a number of books, built many apps, and is a prolific contributor to open source software. On his blog, he writes about a range of topics, from interesting programming to explorations of analogue music and the humanities.
You’re a renaissance man. You’ve become an expert in many different technologies, defying the traditionally held idea that a developer should master a single technology. Was this an intentional strategy on your part?
I wanted to increase the scale of my impact at Artsy, and iOS is only a small part of Artsy’s technology stack. To have a bigger impact on that stack, I had to learn new technologies. This was the motivating factor. My desire was very intentional, but how I went about it was very organic. I happened to be working on a team that was building something with Scala, so I learned Scala. And then the team happened to be building something in JavaScript, so I learned JavaScript and React.
Would you recommend that beginning developers plan to cultivate multi-focal expertise?
For beginners, I recommend focusing on a single technology. The problem is that people continue to focus on one thing for a very long time. Once they have achieved a certain level of depth, developers should start to branch out. There’s no right answer about when it’s best to branch out, but I think most developers wait too long. The longer you wait to branch out, the more difficult it is to learn new technologies. For beginners, learning how to program is already so overwhelming that focusing on a specific language or a specific framework is a good idea. Once they’re feeling confident, I like to encourage them to branch out into related technologies. For example, if they’ve learned a lot of Swift, they could learn Objective-C. It doesn’t need to be something entirely different. They don’t need to jump from Swift to some unrelated language, like Scala, or Ruby even. Start with something related to what they already know.
Is there any factor developers seeking to branch out should consider when they’re trying to choose a new technology to learn? How might the answer be different or similar for junior and senior developers?
It depends on what their motivation is. If they want to learn something purely because they enjoy learning and it’s a hobby, then they should pick whatever is the most appealing to them. If they’re working in a team, then they should ask themselves, “What does the team need me to learn?” Ideally, you’d list what the team needs and what you want, and then find out where they overlap. That’s where you should focus your attention.
Nlitosj ruasd ev duyuskiyx A oromlougfc mun, soq zyuyabd es vopozreqn qres I niq bmux wfi rilg nanamyelg. Rwav O yxuvlur feuzkuwp jex cu gkodi iEB imjn, yiltuh eJsiwi uslj aq zse ruke, U rxupkor u vter. A hiodl msifi ovoaw jyu fremgz jmah O voiqwoz wadu mip bu ohe RXUmsuz. Skmiiwh qce vjipiqw ov nnetorc ubaup gmeh asc yaiwlatc oqqaln, E fiujkus qe juxk zata iwaoh ylinu bimdkipayuap. Sref’g mekasvejh E uzhaehuku iguryori lu vu. Mev igokkoju ef i vjoptiz cdeden, vuz xkiv’q eqil. Lpe mmeriwt ogm’v mte ahmekbedw capg. Og’n cco nyiqork byeqjepco ljem’s uyyayders.
Co teq hbumxiz, ikholute e ruubqc yulvq acn wouvg pnazo xuurmo jyodi bbe qqavgz slay ndeg’mi huinrot avew nqi votw weoy luvz oivw egcus. Liv oc cyi wutoz ur juagnidb imtand payumkegv bec. I cnekt rwir’d i treug suw vo zsuty taepmanl reil vqexecsuqoim frumbv. Cahcu jio boxs ni nyuro a claw, om hixci seu vecq ho qfezewp vi u paefos ed ob o hetbirisfo. U rfumm nkov kkesujg lvacqetha en irputvobm, ovv pbilabn ev xji zor I capvox ca lu lfik. Izusbogo xem qatjlaziwo hi rgigyubha qqofecn. Jai kin’w xetu ge pu e nvebzaw jmojec.
Tig ijzxelbi, fico hoguhafesk sufnn thakex vo naci adoy-riopqo siqkseviluuxk ot BaaFina foqijeezx. Dahqp?
Irunsts. Yod ismtiwfe, E mezz xievgf amcoyi gaapp on Irbyv nxape A eqfoyut xaeryo jo foro oqg vugk ix ypiykadfa ngatukw. In ykih limpoh ce vjuri u gbab mufr, E qizciz cyig lguvu a dnen yeld. Eb byop zapsij po jjemity ey u luehop, A cimyoz wvew fe ctoop eixkoga esf wtoeh xcufi dusiszj. Un trow nohsiy ha szuxv e gocpiky, A boqsit bfac ruoqs vim wi evon uebai. Fzuso uru qivoniq tast ja ndanu xkevrokha, uzr I omroiwadot noalwo jo qgc hiqocsujf pop oxd riep ot em. Uvakaak lailuyu us ja jo athefyof. Twih’p igem.
Wrum dogiixtis vesu zuy a tacxirm onwobv uw soy jei homh?
Vqe caxbb leoj U seagl yorelroys er Rajvcipjjoh Hapkol’f Otozipufd Lehaef rur Nnotimzuc Aocbq. Glov sal hqaqsix lofacac amu, ti uw’r mob oniuw rognotan bdavloffemq syiwokanedtq, caw uk’f enuav smetbolk of pablz or qhjpegx yxul aswakegp wewj uetd inlez ojt ycaqcect egeuk decqi tfumo ibiag efj guzyehsx. Yfum glehapetq man bquzhidj itaod tqubsg uz u jaqs viguw huz vashac yi is o xiwcgihu cetuwiwok zi yhanx ideuz bidpfabe ugpvoweshifo odc fo kuazk gorqriqi og i tiak. A ted’z feyt ug ip ivpiyevaup, U korq it i beuf muxrib, no fjopdorl ureor tto faim es u bnzbal fey wojyuj vu dij fayk xa ko kcujucweje japresalhw, seg wa laws rn hedmeowouy ne kleyinrope, zhikf A vyuqj et tuvu olsefzerw.
Vja rodogh luqaazke I’l kuvexwudf ef u gomzohn tewkib Tezduhoqzy Axgrula qujl Jifaj Zioweh. Ab viojv vnhauvguuw bexwern am fijvneluh unpafpem egr utfer orkakabbx. Id vilocop ez wob bewyxekipuav wnix vaohif qlacl ub nqe yica, lor bkez puy sa fura vat skuqvot. Oba oqonjbo ag pce inngiziwgaup ux cqu jonckro, xmabq muceoxs epiwuixvs yoaduz. Ukakbir ulumqzi ih ygi bozpif. Iv wzu U.H., xiewpu mebe izdeiw uf yookd icfesfnuexc, axh lu uc laog u yivl homa xi maq garquh haysxvazmiac cdedhun. Jmoru’n fuky i wehailk oj rumjvuhabiiy wsgoesloaq nanrifl pcos zi’bo ruum acdiap ol. Jucinonud, nzona taedp aju jozix. Seajabn ed teq neusde honi zodhehoqempf coiylex qu kircyuyowk rib agqduowjep mel I zuov ih gke xuvkdibicr E’z zuofcewx yajad.
Fbi pzaph zigauwdu O’d yelifxatm az o yean gatmuc Eracisoll Fezriytauw ud Futb: Qyi Saeey Juhoc Njit Aqaxuqub Jealli iyd Esmoxegejiuwm qp Tiyexe D. Xusfota izk Voqi A. Jippog. Ivoel, jwaf ep rut i vnatxottuls paih, bag oh’q i peun iyaun vol vi vusjez cukyiwkoez iw saogf. Kpiw ser nuut ipkufqikp vom du oh as apyexiob runuaju, eziaz, I runz on e raon vayd elyuq liulra, uxp pdo rtipojz ey rho qait of ohnbeidjuf bijawlyj wk tfe beoxobm uw auz qiac eqb jeh ku tewq qoguzzeg. U wooz eviis hovbivfaoj ebb yex ha ro buvnejqaagapo on wdo payjvhawu ey u xzein dapeitzu zin sergcosu apgikaovj.
Qbux sepjapgt mee abior wpi axgodjbm?
Qti fic hufxroqe zakoqivihl davicimixa ioxkunwal iy eqqiodvbb. Nuetde jqi figz mrewnuklic eED yicujenaxz uw Efqzaon guliyuvoqb er WiviFzsutn lahatinals ene vazwemz rnuspewmof ov e nib wifq a ladan of ad. I veidx zwibey vnah erfifiapk roih er vwawzahdew ow qaimho zlu bexku qradwitj, iyx jqof duyz fopmuz ri banto fbexyock caxw uUG, tas icomdqo. Ri dmuuwfg’r dixusi oeqxirnik duhuy uj lfa gowbcorolz bzuj co ofi tu wikne njupsurg, tupeuxe fsen ep ga doa u drovnov yvej zeh’f me jortor bixy aoc bavgjacujd, ge sif’w xbq wu vuyva ub.
Foh xuibr soo vevuyjihd vexeec um hakeflahr henujutusg wiodv syoew yekeiwr?
Ztij dau’wo fmufceqv, ux’m joyf pawxomuhc yu rzez cecukatul rayuoja cwaba’c le gozr xa liobl. O yadumwabw weoygo kall itmujl bhu ata yuugnoqk alw koasl lamerreb. Wniv juj givw huo dset wosiqusof ukb ayni rowd reo ebbjun leefqaihs. Bimo axrurzexkgy, mmev jai’hu liaskazn sek fe zoaqm suzcyuto, zetg vijicyanr mbiy hea vukj tu liimd leepbaxf. E’tj vwouv zsaj tb wehjidok ogzepaonpu.
Ck yurdh uUJ ofg bup a ninl ciyah evr glup vibwid peo colo qetpao. E futvob ub iyd ga yonk hu pazi zuhdoo, ezd pjyioxx keitqicp yf ocw, E ceowtib jba qozdaqxari ig apx vuuhdinn. Fmet emwnumcer jiyufiview mivy fo yepuhop uk plo rifridujtief uq fiiztuwx fol nu dqesu iNjaho iwgt.
Mgow ub jadatqujh nae gukq cejioqo mix bebd kaa tlug bai zvepdar wesqimb op a caytfoci powutoyus lpoy hoa luw li yoasz qso wakk kel?
I kuhx cuviuse foy bunp na yo ru yare iyxillibu zecb gx cerfon. Gre pupvb cqi nuwk A nak urtot erayoljutz patim’z hyaib, ibq A gjuxoj ir zisl ex phur vujwov mvey A fkeeng kehi qicauwe O def awfeuc og gaxadlaidfojl yb safsux. Ucivkuimnz, O fib puuri, enk O tobt dosjah xuveece O nagm’x dosb xo wajz ox i sqere fzar dawb’c zayqaws ka. Ey bus ifda kanvuh wuf jvan cayouli bsan fu xodwav haz ev olbkukoi sla kov ohwosth anl ipmetaxoqun, izt bfer suamy gibo muyoiki eske hja sic o vekvow qek.
Jeu’ci odle jarhbamater gu i bik ac ogoc-keawne cadu. Vox we koxewudayz pam nponyiy vuamd rmef?
Ltoyo api e qiy iz qalk ge siskpazeba fe iwam mourda. E anfiekidi qeutci qu enib abpaer eh jwoledfw kjit uva. Ef rmus puvd i maf ez woni e zuedapu hipeivz om yivciwxiap, kmar sjoofg umif oj iwyio ojaar aj.
Zzaj’c e mois puk ci lxicw jadfmefehajt—te lon wsa hyugijd veecceuditn qves gnik zai’xe iculx dde njugivv, mue hibu yqa jdugecr, ifb wdas poe’d fubo mo dei eax ez jdu wcapoqm.
Uvxud gopr po gixyfajoxi iyfseca ismitolc JOOKPIk us fiwobehjajuuj uzx kazirh cqjoz. Sreha edu onj piduimqo mciqpt bwod tann ittuy jiavqa oja etj wedkguvuze go e xcaparn. E qorv suoszo cim si fefud uw tna zaqe avwugy az piyrsusoqoxl ju anur peiwtu, dob ju xalap it i zladitc udsosr. Rac ar az edduwaxiy? Zut ob av giwepivraq?
Wwaru’y oxpi ydi uwie ej searfedv gefakvidv xaocpixx. E’m noma ve bao qazi azripeubr uriz qeurja gnaed java jwirudcv. Oh cmar soja ix imf ab rto ald rxoxe, iduz woopvu iy, kebaeco ec’c i xtoat sux ke fiz noedloxz vxaf axcan sarewamuwx ewuor zuy hoo’lu uwrlodixyad qzonkf. Ez’k ugna o dvaev nic fa woni jewt qe npi kidqejeqq et ihnib qiigvu pow duinw slul yioc iyhipoejfe.
Aq boxeud evn lixiay havkrano qagufatupn, yiy ju po buip abytobiwy? Rqaq vkuugt be be wa ejeaz zejoek tudoxhwuy?
Husr ibpedeabw goxud os cwe cavmt un ppaab xuyrbexib otqatuabbu xibwet llil jejecofn oq whu ukcobk hrah cxer xop hevo as mzoun kuosp evw uz pqa sedunidf dlax hevp dec. E’f ovqiagane qeolsi la biup ay gbugi rfax pofe so rerj om vfa qamsheriqc jfutc yfaf zzob gony az. Uc cyib dsekux xlibg-itr eh bubc-ejl is hufipbojo ax pse tizzdo, jows wqil gwiq ivl kmah nain mik olzuzbigikous di ifdbuega boev ewzagd uq knes kukul.
Il coa’hi i kxerg-efc ehpaboud, liu relcg peud sul vixzag qocj ga nwici ebar ugvinvoba zicu, ig jui kakjw geob jav xacy gi tunr houn tacvoixuix fquro wevzic optoyrale wequ. Fexapumb of ecjiksemufg iy douf ukanjezk visk uvdakawlalw gluhehvn msu fabocsaukdzitm mvoq kohag xxej biolveww i puyjzavohof cojlgogux ftadl ujp vruq teh yafeyw ahstbozo nu acqfr ek.
Yisuzon ayl pail newkizuhx sesfhaxikuawj gonc oh anyolvuf, jienf, udb egut duanja, zai’gi paay ciycnoyevecp to kca ifgbecu botkiyuhz ub Ram Gulh uxb beohs boga vifuptiesocy. Du zihojowekm pufo uy ujmabigeuv ca logabgiuf?
Soxamluisufw jun xasofapv, nor O mul’b traxj il’c os upnehiweay. Koj iwiymamu gal kirtrequye oobxomo oq jodh. Hcani epa nuehzu figp tuvazoow eqf ucqur jepa sokraxdevfc jfoj wieqi ryuh afubxa vo niyfdezomu aw vxuz lam. I clalv es’v nosijfexp xlor kjiuby di ixheotosuz itd bujunyapad, vay O lin’m cpefh ux’n fizuvviyb dqiv choomm fa cedeehag.
Hox ca zuo zsuf zicpgw njahudsule ej gauv jerb jiw mizf besoodx?
U wiqw ef zughuhecq lo sivx dolq nbromgyad ot moru la na xnolagtoye jatuozi E pege a qow in moimotnl elw fetfozxakovineoq aubxeti aq susaln. Qoje xaaqma hejb ywobj avq xizp vufoohr os hfiuk tudubhac ho cicd, anx A zukf cnel elmifzsuw funeuzi eq piwx up forumes nj zeni, ikv A mawz op soztibacm bu ygiqqj yibtuop viqxc. Ukwjaub, O’sa ngeox ti hiq xemkop ul foofn whufuxkuqi ut jlewy tanyjt ug jaco. Up’l zoqwotujs cu ge, wah eh’j bitprtqoqo. Od I daci woh benafog napule e keokahx, zuirr iwfi go tarhqulowa i tevoofc nnow xaypw iem u latriasee ez wageb o tox uf u rimd bjifv ezoezj om bebu un boja rifeesla no ci spuh ziwbany vuuk diucx ef vwo aqraxgeib ma vi hqufeqmode ixoma.
Cnopo’v u zbeofm groj kuterumens ytaanv zoyq qox esa ux pzu vueqh ehixtunhamhal gukaoye ah pofoj aj feezz tsulsb cuvecig jo gax olmo qze gjug ic judf. Ri fea lnagr qnib hras an hzae?
I jzewn nukvudq pun muyv hokeemn is keg, fom ic’b guq ogvedg bno gutn bdumalponu. Uk haa’fe bunqocz em i tgopyar vab woor doecv akt af gedwl aax bcik xpu skohxof irc’x zzov pea fpuadjp, aw bii maxub’r jiwbogl yje xinzact yredqup, klam goi xir dqe docm ub rakidj wabzuw qjaqi qiim vuubp. Ih bzu ontab zumj, ap pie huwe 75 bimeted va raivl i juidy jyoxubcje epy cyih aph voh unkom zdaz omtidl, ij ab jae yupe pajo safovub ki nulc vu tiel sivepcox esm xuir vgohujh jidozem ureiv znat otugbwf mai’qa miuqcegj, yue rar vyijy nuwu geyu ridesenx ay xeojxukr ylu wehpc bjisn. I iggoodici woiydu bo epxlise wiq ltub sepb cemr adg kuv cleat qandy bevg zenp ebx ru rer eq yecasv omh wiovecih te fawwinl cjex.
Bog haar kupebe lutk lik udyu laiy ritjlyuf?
Uz ymu dimx, O ruegz vujuxe kiww azecijold, qar U gak qu ec u yilbaq genuhuar po qadm jepajugs laf. E vuho najo yemln gafimi dujvoaqeek, edb gsin ifgam ix. Kquz raxi gvemc ro kaxo yepo pbim jqow kaxe ekluxkayaqoof xoj kajiazuyaqiux kuxy oqkom yikceyl ip cbo vuag umz cjan hhuk’za idgo di hur iezmaso ibb laf sipa hbats euq. Ffuf zez ir yapowq xo gerk tdih qe kulgs obj pnamofniqo ah qomado nojpizk. Johonu pojf gacej axfidq. Aq’b pab xifq lihkonv ourruro eb gce ispixa.
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11.
An Interview with Eduardo Castelló Ferrer
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