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Top 10 Developer Hobbies

Top 10 Developer Hobbies

Introduction

Developers enjoy their jobs because they are both enjoyable and challenging. There are rare situations where it can be boring. Every developer is involved in the IT world and all that it entails. Developers, like everyone else, are people. They enjoy socializing, going out, traveling, and exploring the world. It is difficult for developers to strike a work-life balance due to the nature of their work. Because programming requires dedication and focus, there is often a need to compensate for the energy expended on work.

In this post, we’ll show you how to achieve this as a developer. The solution to this problem can be found in the everyday hobbies that developers pursue outside of work hours. We will discuss the advantages of each hobby from the standpoint of a developer. If you want to improve your work-life balance and increase your productivity as a developer, you should read this post.

1. Physical activity

Developers spend a significant amount of time sitting in front of a computer, writing code. It is not a problem to sit at the computer in this manner for several days. The issue arises when this is done for an extended period of time. A pain in the lower back is one of the most common problems. Using ergonomic equipment can help to prevent or alleviate this type of problem. However, because man was not created to sit, physical activity is the best solution to such problems.

Physical activities strengthen the muscles, reducing the pain and stress that developers experience in situations like the one described above. They also aid in weight management.

Participating in physical activities outside of work is critical for developers who spend several hours per day at the computer. As a result, you may notice that a large number of developers enjoy some form of physical activity as a hobby.

Physical activities that are more popular with developers are:

  • Swimming
  • Yoga
  • Running
  • Gym
  • Dancing
  • Fitness
  • Basketball
  • Football

This hobby provides several advantages to developers. These activities not only make developers healthier, but they also reduce stress, increase focus, and develop discipline, all of which help when it comes to writing code.

2. Writing

A developer’s job appears to be simply writing code, but a good developer understands that many other skills are required to do this job successfully. Communication is one of those extra skills.

Writing is one of the hobbies that can provide numerous benefits. Writing improves communication skills and encourages the use of imagination in developers. The type of writing is unimportant when it comes to writing. Almost any type of writing provides the same benefits because it requires thought and encourages new ideas.

Writing is also an effective problem-solving tool. Writing documentation for a project can reveal a variety of new problems or provide insight into how to solve some existing ones. Furthermore, attempting to explain a complex topic orally or in writing increases the likelihood that some new idea or point of view on that topic that did not exist previously will emerge.

3. Board games

Every developer should be capable of problem solving, logical thinking, and teamwork. Board games encompass all of these elements. Developers adore social games because they incorporate everything that they use on a daily basis at work.

This hobby strengthens problem-solving abilities, communication, and creativity while also developing skills for making connections. To be a winner in a social game, one must navigate a series of complex situations and make the correct decisions. To accomplish this, the player must thoroughly analyze the game and attempt to predict what other players will do, formulate his strategy, collaborate with the team, and adhere to the game’s rules.

Board games are an excellent way to encourage some skill development through play.

4. Art

Another popular hobby among developers is art. Art is valuable to developers because it provides relaxation and inspiration. Oversaturation of information and roadblocks when solving problems are common occurrences among developers. By diverting attention away from problems, art helps to free the mind and direct it to more relaxing activities. As a result, the brain will be relieved and will have more space to make new connections and solve problems.

Today, art is a broad term with numerous definitions. Some of the commonly accepted things that are considered art are painting, music, sculptures, theater, cinema, architecture, literature, and many other things like dance, fashion, design, etc.

The benefit of art is that it is very simple to begin. It is sufficient for the developer to have the desire and imagination.

5. Cooking

Cooking is a hobby that developers have mixed feelings about. Developers either enjoy cooking or dislike it; there is no in-between. Cooking is not a hobby that provides as many benefits as the others mentioned, but it is a hobby that can be directly compared to programming.

Cooking entails combining various ingredients or following a recipe to achieve the desired outcome. Cooking, like programming, is a step-by-step process in which the steps must be completed in a specific order.

There is a constant need to experiment with and test ingredients to see what works. We must follow a number of rules when programming. The more we stick to the rules, the better our results will be. The same is true when it comes to cooking; the better we follow the recipe, the better the end result will be.

6. Reading

Reading is a unique and powerful hobby because it can be used in two ways depending on the situation in which the developer finds himself. If the developer wants to spend his spare time improving himself, he can read research-related content on a topic that interests him, from which he can learn something new or confirm what he already knows. If, on the other hand, the developer is stressed and his goal is to relax and relieve that stress, he can read content that is not related to his profession but is more fiction.

Reading is a hobby that has many advantages, the most important of which is that it encourages a different way of looking at things, i.e., a change of perspective. A developer can develop a completely different way of thinking and apply a different approach to solving certain problems by reading content related to the profession. Furthermore, this hobby helps to develop imagination, analytical, and writing skills, all of which are important in programming.

7. Video games

Gaming is a popular hobby among developers because it promotes both competition and relaxation. This hobby has the advantage of allowing the player to enter a virtual world and relax while playing with his friends. Almost every multiplayer game encourages teamwork in order to win.

Video games demand a lot of thinking and quick decision-making, demonstrating that they can be excellent learning tools. Their current popularity is not by chance. Because there are different types of games, there are a large number of video games designed for different types of players. Everyone will find something to their liking.

It is also necessary to understand how to play certain video games. However, all of these games have been designed in such a way that some basic steps can be learned quickly.

Because a large number of video games today are eSports, it is critical to play them in moderation if we want to consider video games as a hobby.

8. Music

Listening to music is one of the most popular hobbies, if not the most popular. Many developers use headphones and music to block out office noise and increase focus on their work. Unlike other hobbies, this one requires no prior knowledge except that you want to play a musical instrument.

Developers who listen to music frequently usually have playlists. A playlist is an excellent way to select music for various purposes. Listening to music during training and programming is not the same thing. You need motivational music while training. You need music that is less distracting and helps you relax and focus while programming.

Another benefit of music listening is that it can be combined with other hobbies. You can listen to music while working out, cycling, cooking, or playing video games, for example.

If you haven’t created your playlist yet, now is the time.

9. Learning

Learning new technologies gives the developer an advantage in the job market because it allows him to add another skill to his CV, demonstrating that he has more experience.

Learning new skills is essential for developers. The nature of the job necessitates continuous learning and advancement, and there is always something new to learn. Developers who view learning as a hobby have an advantage.

Because programming is demanding and exhausting, many developers prefer to pursue one of the above-mentioned relaxing hobbies. The good news is that something new can always be learned during a developer’s working day.

10. Meditation

If your primary goal is mental focus, meditation is an excellent hobby. Life today is fast-paced not only in big cities, but also in small towns. Because of the rapid development of technology, a vast amount of information is now available in everyone’s lives on a daily basis. This is significantly more than a person can handle, resulting in the problem of information oversaturation, which is exacerbated for developers due to the specialized nature of their work.

After a long day of work, meditation is an excellent way to relieve overburdened thoughts caused by stress and excess information. Programming in certain situations can cause stress, which, if accumulated, leads to frustration. Meditation as a hobby can be enough to help relax and calm negative thoughts.

This hobby improves both focus and mental health.

Conclusion

We rarely consider hobbies to be important, but they are crucial in the world of every professional. They assist us in discovering hidden passions, relieving stress, distancing ourselves from the daily routine that threatens us, and regaining lost energy. We can derive many benefits from our hobbies and achieve a perfect work-life balance if we pay just a little attention to them.

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How to Deal with Stress as a Developer?

How to Deal with Stress as a Developer?

Introduction

When people think of programming, they often think of good working conditions, high pay, a variety of work, and the opportunity to train and work in large corporations. All of the above is correct, but there are some aspects of programming that are rarely discussed. As a result, people frequently have the wrong idea about developers, believing that their work is a simple way to make a lot of money, which is not the case.

Because IT companies compete fiercely, each one strives to provide the best possible working conditions, the possibility of high earnings, a diverse range of job opportunities, and the opportunity for training for its employees.

All of the conditions mentioned are due to the job’s complexity as well as its attractiveness to workers. Before all of these benefits become apparent, programming necessitates a significant amount of effort, sacrifice, and patience.

If you want to learn how to program, check out our post on the subject: How to Learn Programming?

In the following sections, we will explain some of the issues that developers face almost every day, but few people are aware of them except the developers themselves. Our goal is to provide some helpful hints for resolving these issues, thereby assisting anyone who is experiencing or will experience similar problems.

Absorbing too much information

A developer’s job is difficult because it requires regular code writing, meetings, testing of one’s code, and, most importantly, constant learning. All of these things can be exhausting on their own, let alone all at once.

Because technological advancements occur at breakneck speed, many new frameworks, libraries, and even programming languages appear in a short period, as do new versions of them. Gone are the days when knowing one programming language and perhaps a few additional libraries were sufficient for a successful career.

As a result, junior developers frequently face the problem of absorbing too much information. Other developers face the same issue, albeit to a lesser extent due to their greater work experience. As an example, consider a library on which a portion of a project relied; in the next month, that library may release a new version or be decommissioned, necessitating additional work for the developer on that project. Of course, a more experienced developer will fare better in this situation.

A solid foundation of fundamental knowledge is essential for resolving such issues. It is critical to understand the fundamental concepts of any library or programming language.

High presence of stress

Almost every programming problem can be solved in multiple ways, but the developer must know which solution is best for the current situation, which comes with experience. Sometimes it takes longer to find the best solution to an existing problem, so depending on the person, certain developers may experience stress if the problem remains unsolved.

Every problem has a solution; however, a significant amount of stress arises when the deadline approaches and the solution to the problem have not yet been found. Deadlines are set by the developer in collaboration with project management. Things like this happen all the time in the developer business, and anyone interested in getting into it should be aware of it.

Constant exposure to high stress causes oversaturation at work, which can lead to a variety of issues, including reduced work quality, dissatisfaction, and a loss of motivation for future work and improvement. Developers refer to this as burnout.

The solution to this gap is successful time management, maximum productivity during working hours, and more frequent breaks.

The developer must be able to balance the amount of time he has available for work with the number of tasks he must complete. Each developer is unique; someone can work effectively for 6 hours, someone for 3 hours, and someone can only work for 1 hour. As a result, every developer must understand himself and his capabilities. Maintaining focus in programming is especially difficult today, especially when the problem solution is extremely complex. This is where taking breaks comes in, allowing developers to relieve any excess stress they may be feeling at the time.

Maximum productivity is only possible if the developer is stress-free.

The discipline of writing code

Beginners in programming lack experience, so they lack a developed awareness of how important code discipline is. A developer who is not a beginner and has not developed an awareness of the discipline of writing code over time is in an even worse situation. Such a developer becomes a problem for both himself and the team with whom he works.

As a result, frameworks were developed to ensure that all developers wrote code in the same manner. The framework compels the developer to write clean code that every developer on the team can use indefinitely. If there is no code discipline, whether a framework is used or not, team members are forced to waste a lot of time understanding the code if they are to continue, and in such cases, code refactoring is frequently used as a solution to this problem. It is sometimes better, faster, and simpler to write clear code from the start rather than continue writing already complicated code.

Another option is to write tests to ensure that the code is correct. Developers who write tests for their code have a keen understanding of the discipline of writing code and ensuring its correctness. Of course, extra effort is required, but it is not something that cannot be learned and will not pay off in the long run.

Isolation and loneliness

This problem does not affect all developers, but a large number of developers must have encountered or are still experiencing it. Sitting at a computer and programming for at least 8 hours a day sounds fun in theory, but it is not easy in practice and frequently leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation. A developer’s job entails working with people, such as working in a team with other developers, attending meetings, and communicating with clients, but this is in comparison to some other jobs.

The solution to this problem is to increase the number of social activities. When we say an increased number of social activities, we do not mean that the developer must force himself into social activities that he dislikes, but rather that he must pay attention to and maximize the social activities in which he already participates. A simple example is improved communication with coworkers and team members on the current project. Participating in team-building activities that are appropriate for the developer. Increased participation in daily meetings. If the developer has no social activities, he should start working on them as soon as possible; communication is always a good place to start.

Programming is a complete world in and of itself, and as a result, developers can easily isolate themselves unconsciously, leading to self-doubt. It is now clear to us why the previously mentioned balance is so critical.

Conclusion

The items we listed can exist separately but also concurrently, posing a significant problem for the developer. The point is that the more stressed you are, the less productive you are, and this creates a cycle of negative thinking. As a result, such things are worth mentioning and very important, and they must be addressed.

As previously stated, every developer is different; some struggle well with these problems and solve them on their own, others have large problems and require assistance, and some do not have these problems at all or experience them with ease.

Because each developer is unique, it is their responsibility to assess their situation and, if necessary, apply some of the above guidelines. Furthermore, all of the guidelines apply to both freelance developers who work from home and self-taught beginners who are preparing for careers as developers.

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ELEPHANT SOLUTIONS širi granice poslovanja po uzoru na SVJETSKE TRENDOVE

ELEPHANT SOLUTIONS širi granice poslovanja po uzoru na SVJETSKE TRENDOVE

ELEPHANT SOLUTIONS, kao najpoznatija bijeljinska IT kompanija, je u četvrtak otvorio vrata novog poslovnog prostora.

IT poslovni svijet je odavno upoznat sa našom Elephant Solutions kompanijom i vrhunskim timom koji svakodnevno napreduje u svim sferama softverskog inženjeringa. Osim rješavanja izazova za klijente širom svijeta, kompanija je poznata i u segmentu društvene odgovornosti, ali i kao jedan od najpoželjnijih poslodavaca za sve mlade IT stručnjake iz Bijeljine.

“U periodu od 2013. godine konstantno stremimo unaprijeđenju poslovnih ciljeva i kvaliteta rješenja iz oblasti informacionih tehnologija što je zahtijevalo proširenje radnog prostora u 2022. Otvaranjem još jedne kancelarije klijenti i naš tim dobijaju potpuno novu dimenziju komfora”, istakao je Miloš Novaković, suosnivač i izvršni direktor kompanije.

U četvrtak, 6. oktobra, nova Elephant Solutions kancelarija u Bijeljini je i svečano otvorena, na adresi Atinska broj 15.

Ovim povodom organizovana je i koktel zabava za brojne zvanice sa IT scene, prijatelje i zaposlene u kompaniji. Velibor Maksimović, suosnivač i operativni direktor, je posebnu zahvalnost iskazao timu sa više od 30 zaposlenih istakavši da je njihovo povjerenje i lojalnost najvažnija karika za dosadašnji uspjeh, ali i osnovna pretpostavka za dalje napredovanje.

Više od 50 poslovnih partnera i saradnika iz Bosne i Hercegovine i Srbije je svojim prisustvom potvrdilo značaj Elephant Solutions na regionalnom IT nebu. Neki od njih su PulSec iz Beograda, Comtrade, Company Wall, Asseco See, Holistic Digital i drugi.

Galerija događaja:

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ServiceNow – ITSM & ITIL

ServiceNow – ITSM & ITIL

Introduction

The ServiceNow platform provides a variety of products, one of which is Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), which is part of IT Workflows. In addition to ITSM, the term Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is frequently used. Understanding these terms enables the user to use this product successfully with all of the additional benefits provided by the ServiceNow platform.

If you are unfamiliar with the ServiceNow platform, we have written a separate blog post about it What is ServiceNow?

In this post, we will define ITSM and ITIL and discuss the differences between them.

Information Technology Service Management (ITSM)

ITSM is made up of three major components. We can deduce the following from the name:

  • Information Technology
  • Service
  • Management

The components mentioned above can work independently, but also in tandem. ITSM is defined by the combination of these components and their interaction.

The first component, Information Technology (IT), is simply hardware, software, and all IT resources.

The second component, service, is typically defined as the transformation of a business problem or opportunity into an IT solution. The most common example is a software application developed as a solution to a real-world business problem. Services are everything that IT does to add value and make a difference.

The third component, management, is an activity that ensures that IT services provide maximum value.

People in today’s world have become increasingly reliant on various IT services, particularly when it comes to business.

ITSM can be defined as an activity that combines the three previously mentioned elements: information technology, services, and management in order for the organization’s IT department to deliver services or solutions that provide the most value.

ITSM is more concerned with users than with IT systems.

The goal of ITSM is to ensure that the organization is constantly improving its ability to produce IT services that are valuable to the company.

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)

ITIL comes after ITSM. ITIL was developed as a set of best practices for improving ITSM, resulting in higher quality in the development of new IT services.

ITIL’s mission is to maximize the value of information technologies.

ITIL encompasses several concepts:

Value

Value is a critical factor that is carefully considered. The goal is to balance the value exchange so that both parties (service provider and service customer) benefit. When it comes to value, there are a few instances where one-sided value has proven to be beneficial.

Output vs Outcome

Output is the result of an activity or IT service, whereas outcome indicates how useful the outputs are. Always aim for the best results. However, if the outcome is not satisfactory, then the output must be different.

Utilities & Warranty

A utility can be defined as what something does and what its purpose is, whereas a warranty can be defined as how it works, whether it is safe, available, of good quality, and so on. The rule is that both must be present in service.

Service

What exactly is a service? Service is defined as adding value by facilitating the outcomes that clients desire while avoiding certain costs and risks.

Service Offering

This concept is based on the provision of one or more services to a specific group of clients and includes the exchange of goods, services, or access to resources.

Service Management

A set of specific organizational capabilities for providing value to clients through a variety of services.

Service Relationship

Service is the result of collaboration between the service provider and the service customer.

Organization

An organization can be represented by a single person or by a group of people, each with its own set of functions and responsibilities. Organizations are both service providers and consumers of services.

Service Consumer Roles

  • Client
    • Determines service needs and comprehends the big picture.
  • User
    • A user is someone who uses the services.
  • Sponsor
    • The sponsor approves the service relationship.

There are several versions of ITIL. ITIL 4, which was released in 2019, is the most recent version. ITIL 4 is regarded as the most adaptable and agile version to date. This version introduces the Service Value System (SVS), which is based on the idea that demand and opportunities are input values from which IT products are generated as output.

Conclusion

ITSM and ITIL are not common terms, but they do have meanings. They provide a different approach to problem-solving in the IT department because they encourage questions about what we are doing, how we are doing it, and whether we are doing it in the best way possible. Because ITSM is such a broad term, it has its certifications that include ITIL.

If you are interested in ITSM or ITIL, you can find more details on the official website What is ITSM? or What is ITIL?.

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What is ServiceNow?

What is ServiceNow?

Introduction

Glassdoor named ServiceNow the best place to work in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022. The company employs over 17,000 people worldwide.

This platform is made up of both employees and customers. Customers are mostly medium and large enterprise businesses from all over the world.

ServiceNow

Every large company, even if it is not an IT company, has an IT department. However, in such companies, the IT department’s goal is not to directly contribute to the company’s earnings but rather to assist the company’s business department and, together with them, increase the possibility of earning. For such businesses, the IT department alone is an expense.

To achieve the goal, the business and IT departments must work in tandem to ensure that business operations are understood by both parties. This collaboration boils down to exchanging business problems in exchange for an IT solution or service.

In theory, this sounds simple, but in practice, miscommunication is common because the business department understands business operations much better than the IT department. Because of this issue, some business operations are frequently repeated and take much longer than they should.

ServiceNow was created to address this issue. It is a platform that enables the business department to solve business problems without involving IT. ServiceNow Now is a cloud-based Application Platform as a Service platform (aPaaS).

The Now platform consists of:

  • Infrastructure
  • Platform
  • Applications
  • Workflows

The Now platform uses these elements to support all of a company’s IT needs, acting as a replacement for the entire IT department and performing cloud-based functions.

How does ServiceNow work?

The business department can tailor the platform to their specific requirements. The platform is accessible via computer or phone.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure includes several elements:

  • Hardware
  • Security
  • Service level agreements
  • Backups

Hardware refers to the data centers that house all of the platform’s computing power.

Several certified technologies protect the platform.

Data centers are linked together to provide redundancy and failover. Each layer has built-in redundancy, such as devices, power, and network resources, and non-stop operation is enabled.

Every day, a large number of backups are created to ensure that a client’s data is not lost.

Platform

The platform employs a single data model and database. It allows for the creation of custom applications and workflows that can be easily integrated into the platform.

Applications and Workflows

The platform includes a large number of configured and ready-to-use applications and workflows.

ServiceNow divides applications into four workflow types based on functionality. Workflows are classified into the following categories:

  • IT Workflows
  • Employee Workflows
  • Customer Workflows
  • Creator Workflows

Each of the listed categories has subcategories that address the company’s specific needs.

IT Workflows

  • IT Service Management
  • IT Operations Management
  • Strategic Portfolio Management
  • IT Asset Management
  • DevOps
  • Security Operations
  • Governance, Risk, and Compliance
  • Telecommunications Service Operations Management
  • Operational Technology Management

Employee Workflows

  • HR Service Delivery
  • Workplace Service Delivery
  • Safe Workplace Suite
  • Legal Service Delivery

Customer Workflows

  • Customer Service Management
  • Field Service Management
  • Financial Services Operations
  • Telecommunications Service Management
  • Connected Operations
  • Order Management for Telecommunications
  • Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management

Creator Workflows

  • App Engine
  • IntegrationHub
  • Manufacturing Connected Workforce

In addition to all of these subcategories, if the client is unable to find a suitable application that meets all of his business requirements, he can always create his own.

Conclusion

As previously stated, the ServiceNow platform operates in the cloud, so no local installation of these applications is required. Because ServiceNow has built-in tools for creating applications, the process is significantly sped up, as creating those same applications separately from the platform would take significantly more time and effort.

The main advantage of the ServiceNow platform is that it provides ready-made applications, and if an application is missing, it is not necessary to create it from scratch. Each prebuilt application is constantly improved, and the ServiceNow platform offers clients out-of-the-box solutions.

Finally, we can describe the ServiceNow platform as an application that lives or breathes because of how it works, rather than a single application that only represents a product for sale and purchase.

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