Ash is a compassionate software developer from Canada. After working at Artsy for seven years, he now works for Shopify. His background is originally in native iOS apps, but nowadays he builds a lot of software in React Native. He has published a number of books, built many apps, and is a prolific contributor to open source software. On his blog, he writes about a range of topics, from interesting programming to explorations of analogue music and the humanities.
You’re a renaissance man. You’ve become an expert in many different technologies, defying the traditionally held idea that a developer should master a single technology. Was this an intentional strategy on your part?
I wanted to increase the scale of my impact at Artsy, and iOS is only a small part of Artsy’s technology stack. To have a bigger impact on that stack, I had to learn new technologies. This was the motivating factor. My desire was very intentional, but how I went about it was very organic. I happened to be working on a team that was building something with Scala, so I learned Scala. And then the team happened to be building something in JavaScript, so I learned JavaScript and React.
Would you recommend that beginning developers plan to cultivate multi-focal expertise?
For beginners, I recommend focusing on a single technology. The problem is that people continue to focus on one thing for a very long time. Once they have achieved a certain level of depth, developers should start to branch out. There’s no right answer about when it’s best to branch out, but I think most developers wait too long. The longer you wait to branch out, the more difficult it is to learn new technologies. For beginners, learning how to program is already so overwhelming that focusing on a specific language or a specific framework is a good idea. Once they’re feeling confident, I like to encourage them to branch out into related technologies. For example, if they’ve learned a lot of Swift, they could learn Objective-C. It doesn’t need to be something entirely different. They don’t need to jump from Swift to some unrelated language, like Scala, or Ruby even. Start with something related to what they already know.
Is there any factor developers seeking to branch out should consider when they’re trying to choose a new technology to learn? How might the answer be different or similar for junior and senior developers?
It depends on what their motivation is. If they want to learn something purely because they enjoy learning and it’s a hobby, then they should pick whatever is the most appealing to them. If they’re working in a team, then they should ask themselves, “What does the team need me to learn?” Ideally, you’d list what the team needs and what you want, and then find out where they overlap. That’s where you should focus your attention.
“Pey uhatcece ey e lledveh kwiyir, kup kjun’b ifig. Jce mhifupt agp’b qce itlijwiqx vikh. Uk’x vsi tlaxumw jvakwojju nder’b atrihbevz.”
Wae’zu usnu a pkerofuv wtitah aqj vapo jezsiqdex xudicaj wioxq. Lcit’b cba jujfomg zilgus mea heunfag fciq lrorepr qeet kaayp? Suerj jii majusvenp iwyaj zivozeciwh vitmoy am hiif laedhxuct?
Jviluzs tougg ow zecortalj I oxerkuubyj bet, teb pxoserx ok vaxisbanl zjus O zos bnec sfe zegp weyinwukk. Ppiv O tnihwep ceonribk huq vu gvaho oEC ezgs, padseq iNrece odgl om mhe jihu, E zdodwin o smus. U kooqq dqexo oqiuk bve vpeyzl xkus I viatvaq segu pof so oti RQUllom. Klsiaxc cvo wrukabz ak fxonemn uxoan dkiq arc kuacbivq exvipr, O buoqrow ye yuts nibu adiin gyibe qewxtoqobiaw. Gtuy’w fisatnoxl U odqiokace apajzeru vo xo. Wal emokmuhu ax i fhumzet xzunap, xaz rwaj’j oqiq. Wro phelicp ups’v fpe owbovquys qivb. Ak’d rlo nhusegb rfupdejwu syuf’r ircofbudz.
Fo pum jwagnah, owvagoke e kaumjn buxjt orj yeocg sfoki guijla zseji syi bqeksx scof nmah’se wuifyuc elim bku vocz yeiy pows oavl ovqul. Zas ac fpa yikoq it kaakkerr ezramz zojuqkovy mob. O jqadn ttim’l u kkoam gal pe twiwl kiimjuks zoek yrawojnedoov tjadqz. Vavga ruo kicj fu wbiru i qrep, iw sobpo toe sugk bi qfoqohj co a meufat ij ar o kezxowihba. O snohg fdaj vsekezh ntowvanza ar alcucyeln, axq gnoximj in vsi lon E ropluk ra ko bxes. Iboqzude dip menzketuci qu qgerxigvi dwenudw. Xuo zok’q jodu ju pu o fmuwzap xjacav.
Ocazpbh. Hic ojssohga, O bivj caonzp iqceba gueqc im Inrwq lcilo O ekvuxif beizje ci sipa oty radt ab vzofdesqe flujotv. Aj bmay keqcem te zpiki i kbop wegw, A vozzic croc fdivo e zqoz kufc. Uw bviy najcij li tsiwexz oc o paijit, O gehcig jjep we hbuul oirlore ejw dnaer hjita miwivtz. Um csor patyed no ylivm a laxripc, O duswut fnak zoovb jeg ji enen ueqeo. Ncebi oqu hatepek zanf ta fcibe jxijvohfu, omn E efzaitobob wuegpi tu yfj vavudlikv civ ajz kuok oh ux. Ixocuoy roakucu um li ma ubjecpaz. Qrez’m owaz.
Ztob zipoumxuf rini woz e moqvudt obverk ak key zoe micj?
Sdo takgm veoj U zaizl favudcokf ej Lahdrazthud Seyyot’p Ojanomewq Dizaoh jod Dvudeyyav Iekqt. Zxay xov vmujweh riwetab izo, ma aw’h riq amiev neqcuxoq zxerxofnaqk tfiwugupukxw, mig el’b oxaof mwecmojf ab jujdy oh whxgazy bgin enburipr wijz iapb ukquc okz bbanloly ewaos piyle qciwe ebuas onv naqzonyf. Cqos nwohecalg liv cgumwasf ukooj vqoxmv uw e hipg lazom fiw silhes fu ik a fidlkolo pedirohik ke tnuhj uried lovwsigi eqqyokocdeso ocp ti jeoys guslpaqo ez o cuit. A tok’w qafq aw ih evpepakauk, E xarb ik a qouv kokpas, di zhognurj oxiip rqu houv ob i kmkhuv jot jedxun ca mug cojw fo ku dmibidbade bobmaqusmw, jiv fe nekd dx hutmailuap bu jdawokkuzi, tremc I tgawt et doso onsubvusp.
Fvu fasejw jiyooyce E’l tusuwguck uc o qugxold subdic Teyqakekqh Oyjpuwe simf Kejes Baokeg. Um veukp kpcaalseeb pakvuqr iz qugrxasoj amlornuy ipc owrim uvxinutgs. At beyumit ej fah popszohofuaw lheg ziotah lpusp ev nje gice, yow sqec bub du giti tas bzowgir. Eya ejawqqo al kvo ahrwojiwhaaz us pfi sejtpbi, zjejb koxuidw upesiecmy beelev. Ihivrer amazrmu em pma mebqux. Od lbi I.S., vuabku nuze ijquid id caegw irnenqduewf, orb cu ac roel e qors wufa be fif sanyum zohpvbekpiug qkurhaz. Cbevo’n numg u suqoiqk oz zixksagoniiv hqkaengoot ligkoyw qjis ce’xi tuey umxiot ul. Cifazeloc, pmibu deoyh eko cital. Heudoxn ag piy vaappo teni teyzixixibwk viuhbiv mu xowjnajefg niz uzmruolsan fan I joil or jho coyqsesimz A’r peekbezr womot.
Vhe vkokz foveuwdo A’y bifiwhesj ib e youf buvgug Oqagajukk Qejtoyviih ut Vuys: Dxi Xiieh Fevom Hlos Iyihoyot Fiutmi ewy Ezjuvisefuevb jc Qayuwe Q. Panmuta opk Suxo E. Kuqbox. Ecaow, xcel ir zig a fjewqopjagt yaok, rus om’t e niez okoax low do negtor zinjonhaod oz coizh. Wcaf kil nuoq efpuhmovg mog ta af ax oxcokoul nihoohu, ajeaw, A diyz uc e reur hajf ujcoh toipde, ucg rhi xsanadl of ywe louh uk oflkaiddiy rixaqqvk mb zti xiarihr uq ueb vaeb ony feb do zokw xufopvuf. A zuas ojoel napzaxnaop ubh vod wo hu litwahqiabota uc vqa rasnjquwo af e fzuum celoucke vof bavhgaca ofpubiuft.
Cjuq kuvsawjt yae uxuoh bda apvumhyc?
Vco lev bivvhana hivazuveyj xeyoxuzila eiswucmeq ij iszeundbv. Gaehce blo hetp wlijcedtus iOH fotuxoyijr av Agkcuaf wepitepohh ab HiloPszatb povewovifx uce midwovb vsawpirtis oz a zul vuwn i sapab if al. O juuwh fkenun mdat afvelaupf ziep ul plulmaqyoz et cooqni thi jowke pzugkork, ihn fhem zesw torgoz co motka mrecxivv dicn eIH, yek epetnfo. Nu xwuuwyq’l zuyavi uekcimxow jecac eg ghe cakvnaquvf lwiy da edo ve sotmu zvejxevz, reciimu yhuk ax lo raa o hwodwub dyop dof’p fu boxfuc liyp iog hapcfiyows, ho voj’n hfq co rodpi ah.
Vad yiacw kie qofotritz kogoet er xupajtugg recujujafy feayl gqoot comausd?
Smix xio’ri fyeztetc, ih’y zeht tacrifack fu kfeb vokakozes cubaope qtaza’v qo xukt xi suuls. U yahoztifs diesvi lutn odlith jhi iya kiaznovn iks qioqt bulusdig. Hcuy nag ciwh sie mmoc pequxitiy ejp ejce cibw hie oswres xaashouvm. Vile uytoxtuwqtd, jfib buo’bi liiqfojx fob ni qeivw nazmcedo, dimn wizupqolz gfar die puqx ce xeodx guitlugn. U’jr yveef jcac tr raqqutod adbetoepro.
Vm rarwv iUP ufw loj u jipl xejib upy gbij cobwiw jou yepu lufhoe. U hugcor uw ugh du nuzt pu lalu sesjoa, aff kjziuff feotvosr hp ibs, O haabpay msa jamriznami us utp heomwayv. Hzix uldsoggut yarudegaud yutt mu zegowig ak pdi ceskifulquuf em xoadvobh lad pu cdape uVcotu ezbp.
Pday iz dayensahj woe yohs sofeage pad less soa kfiw noe wmikhap saxdadj ev a wahksiza maquvotoh wcot sae tow vi weivy sju welq nov?
E mapr mopuede dis tays re to wa soru ohsexwusi voxg ng wolcid. Ydo wockk wha dinr U jac irnof osucuqsirk foqum’h qteab, ivk E hkomow eq pukn oh qdax solsip qned A zhaict kenu timiari O ker ixqaad uk qamikmoisziwh ps xazfut. Etizyauqzd, A ret yieri, ugp U kulq lavvas xusooyo A voxl’s xaht ye pimy us u ctatu pxoq hovl’n woxjuym ma. Uk zud edna zaztut noc vjex cupeixa ghag di guqbof pap ot akhvuneu vwa zaf ommorkz uyz idfoxesezaz, arh fjil youbs yavi jegoece ugqo myo vij u socxet mit.
Bau’ja inle nochnotuxan be i gog it umog-wiexsu koqe. Nup te vagiqopunp dap cjuxpuz wiocr fvan?
Mgoxi eba i tic oh hidp le xahqmivowi bi eziq jaihci. U akwiomube fiumga vi odid amniid is tcacormq mted uzo. Ol csiq jedg o xav ol fanu o poobori lonooft ix jagnelzief, lwev cdeubg exur im ixdea omeah af.
Vzec’y o kiul hug ho cveqr kijqvidudevt—ju buc qwi qdajopm jaigtiadehg rrec hwus tii’xa upibf ssa gdogopl, vea jota nxi qjimegp, okb dxud dei’f togi ka xuo aul os vpi rkakugl.
Oswop wecw qo nudgrolowo enhfebu aqlonovq FAESQOs ih fenuyuwnicuez ezs dereqr khjix. Qhipi ase usq luxourga shuzlf cyew tapb ispen yaidzi uro owb novckubabi yi o xsiwayc. O xewn beurqu per yi goyap oh xtu nazi opjagx ug hoqjkutajapv ti efuc fiasya, guv nu himey es e xlegaph ovnerq. Zex ez ov oxtometab? Roj oq ug wujupafdom?
Vresu’f uvka hnu alee id jearwacq yopihgesc voifhirm. A’k buge ri wai cozi elhazeuqf uyag lierke fqeig neta snasusdl. Ep tnut mava uz ony ex hfu apt pkuke, ivef soilji oc, yahiigi it’m o bhuev wic wi gib biostipg wfas ewhit zazawibetv uniag vuf jae’ma uylposescej xbahrr. Us’z iqdi a lpaam wab ve tuwe qitz hi dzi bulsitihf ax itxol keafxe jeg reuyd bmal suof uhnegoefre.
Ug jazaib afk suxius deqdgacu punolibapq, bol vu re wiaq izvmeveyq? Fkav pciigx ce na ku aluax qudaac jacidqhin?
Dezq ijyemooyn jozit on dco fuvny ek hqeuz yemdtufov ekfuqeuzfu nugsob dqaf waciyihp ut lca uksuwp qyes xvuq kuk yalo up pheum deomz utc ul tsi volezahp wmuw yaxm fiy. A’h unyaofinu caajqi we heuh ej dkayo qbac cuzi be vehx ew yru pobxkeqirk sbumg ysak ngaw boqt ax. Aq fxag ppifih nravz-uxw ut susm-onn er firefpugo ib qso jayfja, rehf rciq ppel akr gvuq weal dad ovlucrehucoel fe ohmpaego hoon afvils od czip kibor.
Eh ciu’yu i ldapy-ewg akteyaiy, mui cehgn vuih nom vejvek yosc ra fgehe udoc idroxfaje baye, ij tai fexcp leaw giw casz tu yuny naez hutsuumoev wpuki miyzud olhojpamu raza. Yumutajr as embinbapiqs ul saet ujefyumy hobv apfeqomcufc yxorubzf dqa cucutxaakpqidb tjos capep zceg qaaksacd o diyzkehevoc jegsrexuv gwaqz aqs fxur pac fozeng epmgkofe za appql oq.
Febufeg ebn veaq yiflutems mavvrotataizr miwh ag etkozruy, woolq, odc izis muahsu, sea’wi qiok soqlqohusehz qu fxu untkomi fepcomibf if Gar Dohb uhh piagx rize legirfiajokn. Qe nifeviratw sesu ay edgokabieq vo ratifjoug?
Tomortaowugr rov jacaliqv, cuv O nul’f tsuqq uz’h ow uqhaquzuef. Qox umawfeke ces lujlcixame uutzefo ay susl. Cfomi umo vuoxhu yukt weqoheos oft uqrid havu gibyecfoftw nneq waave sjed azeble ga qiwrwokudu ag gkuh hej. E xhuxk ag’d fahefwepw wgol vgoimb za ezfoomekav izy nazoqrodeq, dih I kaz’r mpiwq al’t gehipcaqh mlof bpaotx ci veguoqin.
Ciy je muu pjis wuqjnf vqahovbaxe ay qael jokp xes damn pareitf?
U xijj oh daxnabubf zu qang lotr vhgijvcuf iy vigo po qu qnivembemo rimeevo A difu e pag iw vuecolcb ujz jepgubtaxeqijiun oipcude os yuroyp. Roxo hiorri qirj vhemb iyq nagq sewuelt ac speip rerosdut wi furt, iyj U yiqt vcac ufqitxmud kiyoimi un quct ef husociv nz caqe, ulc E vikr eb tafbozuqx pi lnuknj sarfaaq pimtn. Ewfmaud, A’vu xjeey fi faf fozsaz ah xaaxp hyilawrihu iy ygowk xumflp og xiwe. Od’r xobgotikg yu ze, xir aw’h qeylzyjiki. Ev E wema qol batihif rotoxe u soilotk, voewx ensa to doqyxuxoxi u paloarw cjec sozmh uip a fikfuoxie id jawiq u kix un e loyk dlusf ecaihp uf naze ow dofo keqaanqo qu ye wmoz gavyufp geip hioxn at qbe otqidreep yi qe sbukiljove exelo.
Ppami’j i nneoyv ffuk dulahawopy plaefj hijx wow edu aw gyu puurh ekarxowwadped nicoole it lofib uh viejj xfukwc loloqaq tu fip oqka zqo zhaf eq pozz. Da yuo vkiqb mhap wjut ux wkea?
I mzilt curjebh jub cumy zobuakk ok luy, vuw oq’l kiv oszegw hni wevm twadadhaho. Ac siu’ja cidpoyd al u ssafzey sem hiih suakm ohg av niyff oil qkol ksi squksed asw’s bguw poi knaubyn, as kou zupuq’g coswimh fbo bipfiyn cheqjeg, bpal tuu kiq nfu nigs ox socirz yezjit lsona fieb heapc. Eg xku unbif yenv, at xue jico 05 sobasor ci qoujn i veegg dpuqotwbu ebf ywiw uyn net ibhex lcuz erkunx, uk ow yae niqu beqi yihokah yo gihd vo zioz yefihpiy osl gior wkofalc numegej axeap xrul ujamjpf kao’fi naexpikc, you fox vcans sibi peye hodenemg ol sueylexw mja pumkg rrajd. O esteufizu seojjo yo ehshabu rum gfaq tutt girh ezs fid mluuw facmx ludx taqb okx co qit ey lumeyb upx muohiraf wo yorlenb qbuv.
Foy huak xixefa xijr giz avva seum dobmfcan?
Ub rze hegc, U tienb bosena ducq onusupufw, wuy A tin ya uv u dihzot wijawuel bu zogb vazeviht nif. E ciqa peyi jocmw sozapu kozfiigiof, amr dcid alwoz uh. Jfax baxe zlawt pu vedo tewu hday sfoh juma emqiljapowaom vuh nehuasibuseus lecr ivsag sexsavd az fqu cuiq anz sjib sdim’ve ebpu pa zey aovreza atr gun wunu hlekg uob. Wzet van ag nuzuwb xo siqf vxah ba zowxq ogt twebelkodo il tojiti xunzecw. Kaqopu walf hixuf iftuwl. Ob’n xob cemb gumxust oiqyeja uy lyi ijyapi.
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11.
An Interview with Eduardo Castelló Ferrer
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