The document discusses the importance of creativity, discipline, astuteness, empathy, and control in software development, emphasizing a craftsmanship mentality. It argues that creativity extends beyond comfort zones and requires problem-solving abilities, while discipline involves adhering to values that guide actions. The text highlights that empathy and understanding user experiences are crucial in software design, and maintaining control over software development is essential to avoid pitfalls like bugs and unmaintainable code.

1. Software Alchemy w/
Enterprise Class
Craftsmanship
Matt Schiffman
Lead Engineer (say what?) Front End
Technology

2. Craftsmanship

3. Creativity
Discipline
Astuteness
Empathy
Control

4. Creativity
Creativity is just a smug way of
describing problem solving ability.

5. Creativity
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by
forming new neural connections throughout life.
Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain
to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their
activities in response to new situations or to changes in
their environment.

6. Creativity
Operate outside your comfort zone
Do it alone (solo missions)
Confront your fear
Push yourself – you’re more resilient than you think
Ask questions, Don’t’ be afraid

7. Creativity
One of the hardest things to say is…
“I don’t know”

8. Creativity
Regarding the lack of evidence linking the government
of Iraq with the supply of weapons of mass destruction.
Creative way of saying “I don’t know”

9. Discipline
Discipline is a set of adhered to
values that guide you in achieving
your goals.

10. Discipline
Communication
Respect
Integrity
Excellence

11. Discipline
Those are some great values.
Those are some great words.

12. Discipline
Those were the values of…
They did not adhere to their values. Their values were
just words.

13. Discipline
Values require more than words, Values need to be
lived and adhered to.
Our values are based on behaviors not just words.
The following are our values and what we expect of
each other.

14. Discipline
be output driven
specialize
be honest with yourself
don't back down
be reliable
be humble
mentor your colleagues
the show MUST go on

15. Astuteness
The ability to perceive nuance and
understand things clearly.

16. Astuteness
• Pay Attention to details.
• Know the context of what you’re doing. Your task is more
important than you think.
• Ask Questions!

17. Empathy
The psychological identification with
the experiences or feelings,
thoughts, or attitudes of another –
whether it be man or machine.

18. Empathy
Consider the following archetypes when writing software
• The MACHINE
• The PERSON consuming the content (”user” is
dehumanizing)
• The DEVELOPER who will maintain or review your code

19. Control
Keeping control of software
development with a craftsmanship
mentality will ALWAYS serve the
initiative in a positive fashion.
The #1 way to lose control is
Expediency at the cost of control.

20. Control
Expediency of the cost of control…
• …is a breeding ground for bugs.
• …allows non technical team members to push engineers
around and blame them when something goes wrong.
• …ALWAYS results in unmaintainable software.
• …primarily serves the temporal constraints of the initiative NOT
the quality of the software and the needs of the person using
the software.
• …causes the execution to spiral out of control.

21. Creativity
Discipline
Astuteness
Empathy
Control

22. Craftsmanship