Hey Devs! Have you read something nice today? If yes, you deserve one more. If no, here you go. This article is going to be about improving your Knowledge base as a Devloper. Don't leave.. Do you know anyone who writes code, Designs things, solves problem with tech, focuses on a specific program or app is a developer. So this is for you, you're free to grab a drink and most importantly a notepad and a pen.... Enjoy 🚀🚀
•The word knowledge base is a technical word used in tech... Here's a brief meaning:
⚙️ A knowledge base (KB) is a technology used to store complex structured and unstructured information used by a computer system. The initial use of the term was in connection with expert systems; which were the first knowledge-based.- Wikipedia
For more information check 👇 systems.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uns..
Here is another definition
A knowledge base is a published collection of documentation that typically includes answers to frequently asked questions, how-to guides, and troubleshooting instructions. Its purpose is to make it easy for people to find solutions to their problems without having to ask for help.
Full info👇👇 google.com/amp/s/www.helpscout.com/playlist...
• A common and simplest example of knowledge base is the internet ( because it contains a lot of information).
• Another example are the FAQs we see on various platforms ( it answers same questions from different users).
• For more clarity hashnode is a knowledge base because developers publish informations, their opinions about a technology and also use it as a medium to teach other developers what dey know best or well.
• A more technical example is in machine learning ( knowledge base is used to teach Computers and machines what to do).
🧿 I used the word knowledge base as the subject of this article because it's synonymous to our brains... We store large amounts of information on our brains, we teach other people things and do a lot...
Do you Know? Your brain can store approximately 30GB of information on any given day... What a great and natural knowledge base.
You're an expert in data science.
🤔 What made you an expert? How do you qualify as that?
🤔 Why are you different from a newbie in the same field?
🧐 It's as a result of your knowledge base, You've learnt a lot of things you've stored a lot of information over the years or period time... So this article will be focused on how we can improve build and improve :
✅ Our knowledge.
✅ Our expertise.
✅ Our experience.
✅ Our skills.
✅ Our Technical know-how.
As a tech person, as a developer... Talk of any field in tech. Here are some of those ways to improve your knowledge base....
1️⃣
Reading
How well do you read? Developers ought to read also, the definition to of a developer is not someone who sits behind the computer all day... NO!! A d ought to solve problems, apply his technical knowledge to situations around him. How can you do that? Reading Reading technical books and books outside Tech like :
✍️ Business and entrepreneurship.
✍️Self-improvement and self-help.
✍️ Career development.
✍️ Lifestyle.
✍️ Sci-fi, memoirs and other genres.
Here's a link to list technical books that can help
For software Devlopers
For designers
Early this year a friend shared a list of books I could read and I'll like to share them... They are not technical books, they've been very helpful so you can add them to your reading list..
.
One if the major ways we can build this knowledge base is through reading. Reading is a major part of human wellness, it has a lot of psychological benefits. You can find out.
•Apart from books you can also subscribe to newsletters ( weekly or bi-monthly) and also read blogs a good example is where you're currently. Hashnode. One of the newsletter and blog I enjoy most is Quincy Larson's newsletter from freecodecamp. You can check Freecodecamp for nice articles too.
2️⃣
Problem-solving
Challenges, hackathons and practicing are good ways to improve our problem solving skills. Why is problem solving a good way to build and improve our knowledge base? It's is... Let me show you something
🤔 You identified a problem.
🤔 It needs to be solved and you decided to solve it.
🤔 You need an amount of information about the problem.
🤔 You need skills to solve the problem.
🤔You need to outline possible solutions
🤔You also need to Know how to merge the information you have and skills to solving that problem.
🤔 After sometimes you got the problem solved.
⚙️ By the end of this process, your knowledge base compared to the beginning can't be same. Why? Because you have gathered a lot of information, you have put your brain to work. You can try it.
•As a Devloper, you should always make effort to get better everyday. You can check for platforms where you can stretch your skills online.. A lot of them out them.
"A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” – Duke Ellington
3️⃣
The open source art
Yes I call it an art 😁... Over years open-source as developed into a culture. Fr the word open source software. For sake of we newbies 👇👇
• Open-source software (OSS) is a type of computer software in which source code is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. Open-source software may be developed in a collaborative public manner.-Wikipedia
How does the open-source art improve our knowledge base? Because open-source allows for anybody reviewing, using and Changing the source code of a software. It includes:
🤖 You reviewing the code.
🤖 Your own work or code( that is changes you made) been reviewed.
🤖 Getting suggestions and comments from the community.
•All these gives you understanding of where you need to improve your skills and where you're good.
If you want to know more about open-source and how to get started you can read the following articles 👇
I often compare open source to science. To where science took this whole notion of developing ideas in the open and improving on other peoples' ideas and making it into what science is today and the incredible advances that we have had. And I compare that to witchcraft and alchemy, where openness was something you didn't do. Linus Torvalds
4️⃣
Listen to others/ Learn from people.
As a tech person and developer communication skills are very vital; communication is not all about talking but most importantly listening.
💠 Do you:
✅ Watch conferences and Ask me anything sessions ( AMA's)
✅ Attend Meet-ups and conferences.
✅ listen to podcasts
✅ Have a mentor or mentor other people
You can also engage in worthwhile and educative conversation on social media( I love Twitter for this... A lot of engaging tweets and conversation go on. I've learnt a lot of things ).
• So be inquisitive and always ready to learn.
You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." - Charlie "Tremendous" Jones .
5️⃣
Build something (s)/ Work on something new.
Building stuffs is one of the best way to learn because you probably wanna add new features... You want to make it unique, then you ask yourself how will I do this... You've started building your knowledge base... Working on new things also put our skills to test and measure our abilities and probably show us ways we need to improve. I am currently learning front end devlopment, so I took the freecodecamp responsive design certification course. I've completed all modules, but before I can claim a certification I have to build five projects( I am on the second project now). I've learnt a lot of things within few days of building, it also showed me areas I needed to revisit. Think of what you can build today and get started.
Software is easy to make, except when you want it to do something new. And then, of course, there is a corollary: The only software that's worth making is software that does something new. -Scott Rosenberg
Takeaway tips
✅ Keep a journal.
✅ Learn something new everyday.
✅ Teach other people.
✅ Writing: write articles on something you just learnt or know very well.
✍️How many points did you note? Did you enjoy it ?
😁 Did you finish your drink? Don't wait to start implementing these things like a popular saying goes
Don't wait to buy a real estate, buy a real estate and wait.
So I'll put my own like this
Don't wait to build your knowledge base, build your knowledge base and keep building (Don't wait 😄) - Michael Adebambo
Thanks for reading.. you've a come long way. I Will appreciate your comments, suggestions and reactions. You can also share with your friends. Thanks for reading. BYE.