Pinned — 28 Oct 2025 #codingStreet-Smart Coding: 30 Ways to Get Better at Coding Without Losing Your Mind
I spent five years in college learning to code.
A stupid dissertation delayed my graduation. But that’s another story.
Most of my five-year program didn’t prepare me for real-world coding. My real coding journey began at my first job, with one Google search: “how to get good at coding.”
I found a lot of conflicting advice:
“Use comments”
“Don’t use comments”
“Do this”
“Don’t do that”
Arrggg!
It took years of trial and error to learn what worked.
I had to survive on-call shifts, talk to stakeholders, and say “no” politely. More importantly, I had to learn that coding takes more than just syntax.
That’s why I wrote Street-Smart Coding— a roadmap of 30 lessons I wish I had when I started. For every dev who’s ever typed “how to get better at coding” into Google or ChatGPT. (Back in my days, I didn’t have ChatGPT… Wait, I sound like a nostalgic grandpa…)
Preview of the first ~12 pages
Inside “Street-Smart Coding”
This isn’t a textbook. It’s a battle-tested guide for your journey from junior/mid-level to senior.
Some lessons are conventional.
Others were learned the hard way.
And a few are weird.
One lesson comes from a TV show. Nope, not Mr. Robot or Silicon Valley. That’s on Chapter #29. It will teach you about problem-solving.
You’ll learn how to:
Google like a pro
Debug without banging your head against a wall
Communicate clearly with non-tech folks
…and 27 more lessons I learned over ten years of mistakes.
(Bzzz…Radio voice) This email was brought to you by… Street-Smart Coding, 30 lessons to help you code like a pro. From Googling to clear communication, it shares the lessons to help you stand out in the age of AI.
In early 2023, a coworker tried that new thing called ChatGPT.
He shared his excitement.
I wasn’t that impressed.
Months later, after all the buzz, I searched that Chat thing.
Every time I tried, I couldn’t access it.
It was a public beta or something.
Too many people.
Then, I learned from Brent Ozar to keep a browser tab with ChatGPT open as a junior assistant.
Mmm, there’s something there…
In early 2024, Devin was released.
“The sky is falling” all over the headlines.
I didn’t buy it.
OMG! This is dangerous!
Early 2025, I decided to try AI with a fresh mind.
After using Copilot for weeks, “OMG! This thing is dangerous.”
One day I realized I couldn’t finish a simple task alone.
The tool worked, but I was becoming so dependent.
An AI detox season followed.
No more AI until you eat your vegetables and do your homework.
Then I made somerules to use AI without losing my skills.
Like any other tool, AI is a game changer with the right skills.
Otherwise, it’s like a fancy calculator in a math exam you didn’t study for.
My sister’s doctor walks without assistance, works from 8:00 to 7:00, has 2 specialties, performs surgeries, and if you see him around, you’d think he’s in his early 60s.
I saw him in the waiting room taking a coffee to his assistant.
He has seen countless patients and cases.
My sister says he’s the best dermatologist she’s ever had.
Often you don’t need newer, brighter, and faster, but more trustworthy.
a helpful blog, clarifying what to put into a main or permanent note.
Here’s what I learned to revive my Zettelkasten with pen and paper:
#1. The goal isn’t to take notes, but to write.
Read while keeping your existing notes and projects in mind.
#2. Read with pen and paper, and keep a bibliographical note.
Write page numbers, timestamps, and keywords.
Make it a personal index for a book or resource.
When reading a book, Luhmann wrote its bibliographical information on one side of a card and on the other side, page numbers and keywords.
He kept one or two cards per book.
#3. Don’t write excerpts or quotes in main notes.
Add your interpretations of what you consume.
If it triggers a thought or an aha moment, make it a main note.
Optionally, reference the bibliographical note that sparked it.
In my perverted version, I kept bibliographical and main notes in one file.
I put my interpretations in the top half, instead of using a main note.
Strictly speaking, I was only taking bibliographical notes.
I was keeping a commonplace book, not a Zettelkasten.
#4. Link between a new note and existing notes.
Think of hyperlinks between notes.
#5. Create an index card for keywords and subjects.
Even without following the method to the letter, using separate pieces of paper is simple but effective to organize and connect ideas. Useful when outlining presentations or books.
What started as a hobby became a millionaire business.
To sell his own music, Derek created a website and called it CD Baby. His friends asked him to include their CDs too. Years later, he sold it for millions.
#5. You don’t have to grow big, big. It isn’t about growth, but being happy.
#6. Have a simple business model. CD Baby charged an onboarding fee and another one per CD sold. Derek stole his business model from another publisher.
#7. Get to know everyone who contacts you. Your best clients are your current clients.
#9. Every confusing word makes you lose money. That applies for your website, emails, and every piece of copy. Rejecting sales calls makes you clarify your message.
