From 7ce86856c6670f4db0694f2d4350242a7a4bd86d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Sophia Lafferty-Hess Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 17:05:39 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Created meetups reflection post --- _posts/2014-04-27-sophiameetups.md | 55 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 55 insertions(+) create mode 100644 _posts/2014-04-27-sophiameetups.md diff --git a/_posts/2014-04-27-sophiameetups.md b/_posts/2014-04-27-sophiameetups.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b95826 --- /dev/null +++ b/_posts/2014-04-27-sophiameetups.md @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +--- +layout: post +author: slaffer +title: Sophia's Meetups Reflection +--- + +##Meta Meetup Reflection## + +**Meetup #1:** + +Girl Develop It! Coffee and Code: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117237851264261881546/posts/EcvqEyKtzKQ + +**Meetup #2-3:** + +Triangle Open Data Day: https://plus.google.com/u/0/114432798864961395991/posts/7pXB4VzEU5G + +My experiences going to programming meet-ups have left me with a couple key observations. Before starting this +class, some of the programmers I had met often seemed like a relatively solitary lot. Therefore, I have been interested +and impressed by the number of groups that meet on a semi-regular basis in the programming community. In many +ways, this community spirit is not too surprising after learning the focus on collaboration in programming. +Learning the Github workflow in class exemplifies the programming mentality that collaboration is an ideal +method for writing robust code. + +At the Triangle Open Data Day session on Node.js, I reflected upon the culture in the room where programmers +were openly discussing and sharing ideas. I believe this atmosphere is something unique in the programming +community and is an admirable aspect of programming culture. There seems to be a prevalent vibe that knowledge +shared in a collaborative fashion is the best way to learn and create. This also connects with the open-source +idea of meritocracy, which was discussed at the Triangle Open Data Day by Jason Baker. Open-source and +collaborative workflows harness the power of the crowd and facilitate the creation of the "best" code. +The Girl Develop It! Coffee and Code meetup also had the vibe that just creating a space to openly discuss code is an intrinsic aspect +of the programming community. + +One other key take-away I gained from these meet-ups is the programming ideology that coding is often done +with an eye on serving the greater good. I mention this in my write-up when discussing the idea of “Coding +for America.” There seems to be an underlying belief in the value of serving some larger community need. My +view could be partially skewed, since one of the key events I attended was specifically focused on open data +and brought together people with a similar worldview that open access is in many ways a social good. However, +I think this is also apparent through the open-source focus of many programming projects. While the importance +of open-source is also tied to the culture of collaboration, I think it expands beyond the functional aspect of +reusing code and incorporates an over-all perspective that code should be a community resource and not a +proprietary product. This to me speaks of the social value created by seeing code as something to share, +not something to own. + +My last key observation relates to the role of gender in the programming community. I think in some ways the +programming community is reinventing itself to break down some preconceived notions that programming is a +male-dominated field. Groups like Girl Develop It! and events like Pearl Hacks show a focus on gender-specific +events that communicate the growing number of females involved in the programming community. I think creating +these kinds of support networks is important because it allows females a space to not only discuss code but +potentially to discuss any specific challenges they may face being a female working in a technology-focused +field. I liked the atmosphere at the Girl Develop It! meetup and am interested in taking some Girl Develop +It! courses to continue learning more programming languages. In the end, I think programming culture is +epitomized by its focus on collaboration and aiding the larger community, which in my opinion is worthwhile +and inspiring. + +