We all lead such busy lives, yet the rollercoaster of technological change is a crazy ride to keep up with. In this talk we explore how the concept of 'mini hacks' - small, contained experiments, explorations and side projects - can help to keep our skills up to date and help us play with code that we may not otherwise get an opportunity to develop during our day jobs. We discuss why such undertakings can be worthwhile, how you can fit them into your life, and go through some ideas for concepts and ways to get involved.

1. mini hacks
BIG DIFFERENCE
@sjenkinson
sallyjenkinson.co.uk
LWC London – October 2013

2. hello!

3. sallyjenkinson.co.uk

6. CRM integration
Fields = X, Y, Z
Live video feed
using X platform
CMS
controlled
using
Module X
Real-time data
via API
Fields = X, Y, Z

8. FUN FACT!
At 2034ft (620m) Colchester has the
longest platform in the UK
(Platform 3 joins end-to-end
to Platform 4)

12. :(

13. When we’re younG

16. http://www.flickr.com/photos/spodzone/1733673674/

17. GROWING UP

19. :s

20. Is the ROI for
undertaking
this activity
sufficient?
Y
Learn!
N
Play
computer
games!

21. langpop.corger.nl

22. :s :s :s :s
:s :s :s :D
:s :s :s :s

23. Mini hacks

24. 


27. small
Self-contained
time-boxed
coding sessions

28. 1.
Try out new technology
without commitment

29. 2.
Minimise the feeling of
investment

30. 3.
Break concepts into
components

31. 4.
Get better at estimating

32. 5.
Protect yourself!

33. http://www.sallyjenkinson.co.uk/labs/weather/

34. http://www.sallyjenkinson.co.uk/labs/trainbingo/

36. see
CONSTRAINTS
as
ENABLERS

37. THIS IS NOT A NEW
IDEA!

38. “...I was learning to let go; let go of
outcomes, let go of failures, let go
of imperfections. In return I found a
process of creating art that was
perpetual, and unencumbered by
creating results.”
Phil Hansen
http://tv.adobe.com/watch/max-2013/community-inspires-creativity-phil-hansen/

39. “Constraints is a card deck for web designers and
developers to improve practice, structure hack
days, and help you level up.”
“For practice to work it needs to be challenging.
Not so challenging that you freak out and hate
your brain, but not so easy that you coast,
allowing your brain to fall asleep. You need to be
in control but pushed a little, ideally in a new
direction for your brain to pay attention and
grow.”
Steve milne
constraints.co

40. “One of the most important mantras for me has
been “Start Small. Keep Building.” When I set out
on this project, I knew I wanted to learn to code
dynamic interactive websites, but I also knew next
to nothing about coding. Rather than try to tackle
the enormous task of building a complex, fully
functional social network, I took a small first step.”
JENNIFER DeWALT
jenniferdewalt.com

41. “Tackling small goals gave me small, solvable
problems which led to new small goals and more
small, solvable problems. Eventually, after I solved
enough small problems my conception of a small
problem changed.”
JENNIFER DeWALT
jenniferdewalt.com

42. GET STARTED!

43. ?
What is your area of
focus?

44. ?
Define the boundaries

45. ?
What are you trying to
achieve, and why?

46. !
Don’t be afraid of what
people think

47. Ideas

48. brackets.io

49. hackspace.org.uk

50. http://bradfrost.github.io/this-is-responsive/patterns.html

51. pragprog.com

53. pixelpyros.org

54. In conclusion

55. Thank you
@sjenkinson
sallyjenkinson.co.uk