I'm Launching Street-Smart Coding: 30 Lessons to Help You Code Like a Pro (the Roadmap I Wish I Had Starting Out)

Pinned — 28 Oct 2025 #coding

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…)

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.

Now they’re yours.

Get your copy of Street-Smart Coding here and skip the years of trial and error. For launch week only: Pay what you want—even $1 or $2.

Friday Links: Not doing OK, vibecoding, and bar codes

09 Oct 2026 #mondaylinks

Hey there.

Here are 4 links I thought were worth sharing this week:

#1. AI, burnout, lack of incentives…Developers are not okay (10min). And that seems to be a trend in the whole sector.

#2. Here’s a good reason why vibecoding isn’t as fun as writing code by hand (7min). That’s if you code for fun. Do you?

#3. Based on how much AI you use, here are 4 levels of programming (4min). Mine is mostly A1.

#4. Bar codes are about to go extinct (8min).

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And in case you missed it, I wrote on my blog about the C.R.O.D. framework for AI-assisted coding (2min) and compiled all my posts about rest and sleep (2min) into a single one.

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(Bzzz…Radio voice) This email was brought to you by… Street-Smart Coding Manifesto. A case against syntax obsession. Because real impact comes from skills outside your IDE.

Keep coding smart.

See you next Friday,

Cesar

Don’t Try to Recreate Your Past Hits (It Seldom Works)

08 Oct 2026 #misc

You can’t predict if a post, book, or any sort of creation will be a hit.

Once you have one, the temptation is trying to replicate it. Same post format. Same book outline. Same type of visuals. That seldom works.

Some of my social media posts have gone viral, bringing book sales. But when I’ve tried to write anything viral by copying a hit, the copies pass unnoticed. No shame or glory.

All art is theft. But as Picasso said copying oneself is pathetic—and doesn’t work.

Introducing the C.R.O.D. Framework: Four Rules for AI-Assisted Coding Without Losing Your Skills

07 Oct 2026 #coding

As I adapt and adopt AI, I’ve come up with four rules to leverage AI while keeping my coding skills in shape. I’ve compiled them into the C.R.O.D. framework. Here it is:

C) - Calculator: Use AI as a calculator: only useful if you know what you’re doing. Don’t use AI to generate code you wouldn’t be able to write yourself. Build skills first, then leverage AI.

R) - Read-Only: Don’t give AI full control. You’re the surgeon and AI is your operating room staff. AI can suggest actions and hand you tools, but you’re always in charge. Never use code you don’t understand.

O) - Oversight: Use AI as an extra layer of verification, just like a copilot in a cockpit. If you write code, AI reviews it. If AI generates code, you review it.

D) - Do It Yourself: Write the code yourself if it would take you longer to instruct AI than to write it. Even with autopilot, pilots still train and practice manual flying to maintain their skills. Keep your coding skills sharp.

Use AI like a calculator, keep it read-only, apply oversight, and never stop doing the work yourself. AI only amplifies the skills you already have.

To help you build skills that last a career, I wrote Street-Smart Coding. The roadmap I wish I had on my journey from junior to senior coder.

Resurfacing My Posts About Rest and Sleep

06 Oct 2026 #wellness #productivity

Recently I’ve been struggling with my sleep. Two nights without sleep took a toll on my sleeping habits and mental health. That’s why I’m resurfacing some of my posts on the subject. As a reminder for my future self.

#1. Without rest, all Notion dashboards are pointless. Resting is the only productivity tip that works.

#2. I bet you wouldn’t like to miss an important meeting or appointment. Well, you already have one—with yourself. Schedule rest just like you schedule any other meeting. Even if that means stopping to do nothing.

#3. A healthy life starts with your sleep. The man trying to live forever suggests becoming a professional sleeper as the #1 health hack. No sleep = no energy = no drive to keep a balance life.

#4. A better sleep hygiene doesn’t need complicated, here are some tips my doctor gave me. Pair them with these these habits to stay away from the doctor’s office.

7 Lessons To Detox Your Mind And Live Healthy From Brain Wash

06 Oct 2026 #wellness #books

My goal of creating a healthy and purposeful lifestyle took me to reread Brain Wash by David Perlmutter and Austin Perlmutter.

Brain Wash is a science-based guide to reconnect with our brains.
Each chapter shows the science behind healthy habits and how they affect the brain.

Being a fan of 10-idea lists, here are 7 ideas I learned from it:

#1. Disconnection syndrome.
Big corporations and our bad daily habits have hijacked our brains.
We live disconnected from ourselves, from people around us, and from nature.

#2. Your brain can heal and change. Between your ears, you have the most powerful device in the world.
It’s resilient and adaptable.
You can take back the control.

#3. What you eat affect directly your brain.
You’re eating not for yourself, but for billions—your microbiome. It has a directly line to your brain.
What you eat affects how you feel.

#4. Nature heals you and reconnects you.
Aim to spend at least 30 minutes in a park, at the beach, or outdoors.

#5. Move!
Combine strength, cardio, and stretching.
Exercising reduces inflammation, lowers cortisol levels, and delays Alzeihmer’s.
Inflammation is directly linked with more diseases.

#6. What you see on a screen is designed to take you something:
Your data, attention, or money.
Social media is designed to hijack your reward mechanism to keep you hooked.
We’re being robbed.

#7. Sit in silence with your thoughts for 12 minutes every day.
Meditation and mindfulness literally reshapes your brain.
Breathing deeply trains you to live calmer.