An inspirational idea can change the trajectory of your life forever. Give your brain the correct inputs and there are no limits in what you can come up with. As a software developer, to increase the chances of finding something that inspires you, you need to feed your brain with the correct mental diet. The aim of this article is to try to give you a boost of coding inspiration. Below you will find 10 great videos that will make you think about software development differently. The topics these videos cover should relate to all software developers, no matter where you are in your career. Topics range from career tips, personal development, Javascript, C#, architecture, and security. Our brains are designed to make connections and to see patterns. I hope these talks provide you with some of that inspiration.
Steve Jobs - Stanford Commencement Address
This video is the most watched video on the list with over 35 million views. This is a video that everyone should watch about doing what they love. This is a thought-provoking speech that will make you examine your core defining traits and principle. Packed with inspirational quotes like "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life”. This video gives a lot of energy to help you pursue your dreams and goals.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc
Scott Hanselman - Scaling Yourself
Inspirational, developmental, and practical! The principles covered in this video are of great worth to anyone seeking a successful career within software development. Mr. Hanselman discusses the actions we must take and some habits you can adopt that will increase your chances of having a successful programming career. These tips include being proactive and being intentional with your time.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4NJo2Mfvrc
Jim Rohn - How to have Your Best Year Ever
The video is under 4 minutes but contains a powerful idea. Short, simple, truthful. Want to get paid more in your job? Do you want to get that promotion? This video will explain what you will need to do to make it happen. You are paid by how many people can do what you can... the fewer people that can do what you can... the more you will be paid.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfA-qNWLBHo
Cassidy Williams - How to Build a Career in Tech
This is a very informative and eye-opening interview. No matter your level of experience, I think you will get something out of this video. Cassidy shares some great stories and practical tips on how to thrive as a software developer. Cassidy has had an amazing career with some amazing experiences that are fun to listen to. She embodies the ethos of being everywhere. A concept that I first heard from Pat Flynn. Podcasts, newsletters, YouTube, Tik Tok, Twitter, conferences and interviews. Her hustle-based attitude is something we can all take inspiration from.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsBfyUzZhTc
How I Got My 1st Javascript Job - Eleftheria Batsou
In this video, Eleftheria tells her story of how she landed her first programming job. The thing I really like about Eleftheria and this video is her attitude. Eleftheria did not sit back and wait for fate to give her a lucky break. Instead, she created a plan and then she went out and invested consistent effort to turn her goal into reality. All good videos finish with a happy ending and obviously, our tale ends with Eleftheria getting the job she deserved. No matter your level of coding experience, there are some great lessons on having the correct mindset that can be taken away from this video.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4NWILQDmY
Dylan Beattie - The Art of Code
Interesting talk about code and art with over 2 million views. What is art? Can art be created by code? Is it well craft-coded artful? Can software be built to help create art? Learn more on topics like Conway's Game of Life, Quince, the Mandelbrot set. Dillian is a great storyteller, combining math, code, and art. This video may blow your mind!
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6avJHaC3C2U
Sonya Moisset - Keep Calm and Fasten Your Seatbelts
Before the pandemic occurred this is one of the last meet-up talks I heard and it stuck with me. Modern web development has many challenges and of those, security is both very important and often under-emphasized. Many of today’s data security professionals are beginning to recognize that unprotected web applications have become attractive targets for cybercriminals looking for easy entry points into their networks. In this video learn a little more about cybersecurity when it comes to building Javascript a website,
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxMTVHdk6gk
Matt Biilmann - State of the Jamstack 2020
When I first heard about JAMStack, I didn't get why it was cool. This is the video that made the concepts really click with me. In this talk learn about what JAMStack is and why it got invented, how far the technology has advanced, and where it is going with features like edge handlers.
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1uVLa2lmZY
Kent Beck - Continued Learning: The Beauty of Maintenance
Awesome talk from a software legend! We have all heard of coupling and cohesion, however, what does it actually mean? Kent explains these two concepts in an easy to understand manner. The talk was made during Domain-Driven Design Europe 2020. Watching this video may help you to improve how you fundamentally design software. Why would you not watch?
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gib0hKYjB0&t=594s
The Tetris Effect - Dave Geddes
Entertaining 10 minutes talk on grids. After watching this you may never look at CSS grids in the same way ever again!
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXQEJNWO5w
Happy Coding 🤘
