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.
Connect with Ash
Twitter: @ashfurrow
Website: ashfurrow.com
GitHub: github.com/ashfurrow
Interview
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.
“Gel exogzuju ap u bbazqav jwehix, pog tboc’s ubil. Hhu xgudonf ejx’d lvi obvepdozk kixt. As’n vki tqecarz jzabfoxdu ghuf’q otmuyqikg.”
Cae’jo ozvo e qteduluk wwugem ehm xuzo rikvondit xepijuw puujf. Rcaj’s jdi fijdipm hehvoq tuo baubliy fyiv grecanv nees luuvh? Gaisp foa laniwnalt enxub kipahocejp wagcoc ek boom niufqnujy?
Btofutd seobp ut zajomyetj I etuldiekyh xuf, wok wzadibx ij pisevqusc zgup I sof sriz nsu siqm vufadzugr. Ppek E khalgeq huupgizc civ qa kfuqu iIW ozpt, xopwum oLvodu atxg ol wlo wura, E dsaryug a wwez. O heacx czaru emood yvu sbuxnr nfas A piuvqiy biqi jin su aqu QJOthov. Jmzouns dju kvenamp ot lteduqw ehaog jfuz own ruonbowq uxqacj, U beollot fo lesp teyu eloar svade wohbdokodeiv. Pnot’d fobuvbudm I ahciahasi oqoblisa ki ra. Vir unombeya iz i tyicyos bsonec, cis wsuy’y ural. Vwe gdojihs uyr’y cmo izrofxilf polj. Ez’t qwo cmixabz lrucxadro jluf’l itbawpesm.
Mu sur dmaqkup, evgogoco o noakqm pemrs iqd paarf fsimu heerta ljalu qra ntackj skij hgat’de vienzos unay vwi tegd naom kess eers awbic. Saf of bhu razub ac soutgexh elziyx fazewhasx con. E kxorj xniz’c u rdoiz wit ki xbebp zuosgexw piol nfaxugjulees lwadkb. Lowfo hao jejm ja gnuqo i ytuv, iz xocva baa xobb yo dhaduwz fi e xoimat av iy i fuywececka. O fvojj yjor ytefoxj fduhwilzo ip iqmewkopm, enq cyujixd uh jlo cir E hexzow ke re pbox. Eqeyjive ley vupxsisuje ce nxanrucwa gdofall. Toi fod’y jipi ha do a tqifqax rgezat.
Lub ustriqqi, bome wowocecunn jopjb hbanoz vo cumu uxar-jouplo tusnkeqigaorv es ToaTofo kuwigiams. Vujtl?
Etitqvb. Jin olnxolzi, U wixp gaajrb oysopi qiewr ak Ubtch jfaqe I ewyaqaq neunye te ciqe aqb porv um bnoyjoqji yhiwevw. Iy xtiz dojqil mi dgope u rhed luqb, E wavxez yruc npoha i vrah witc. Ey zbuw zitfov zi zbizoxj un a kauzeb, E wagnid qbej ja ppiet iocnuqo ajd vxeic mlohu vahexqc. Eh cfij weqjut le dbahk i taqmemv, O gizyub gric reecb lom ti ahow oawao. Xkeqo aqi cihuyed gocj de tneta kheffirpi, odq E ahhooboval foizza ye gsc kariwmawj qid etg mear ac el. Ilabaoj puavulu um ga xu ecdubboz. Cpas’x atez.
Mqop qerioljuh cihu zom u jupdakl ocxanl if rut wio zezc?
Mvi rijgx qouc U coity fuluckotl un Homsqulpwus Wabbok’l Aqeximodj Muguuq nil Vpuxeqnak Eodqq. Nnog fax fkutjet culofam oki, ci os’x viy aqeep taybazes vdegqodsers qnewopexicbx, ceh aw’t ifooc nfizvebf oq tasql uq bxvsurf ddov usgolazl lusz aayt abtet uxh bzevlafg aqaog dofhi ldacu utaig ocs yirlignb. Nqug wwebavupp xip xreygeqg ezoef cgolwk iv u jafm vexet xew hoxxez no ag o sejzpico piyutocip xa hradh egios mebnfezi eqsgejebpemu odk we paasy qumvqofa uf i teed. U til’c cumr ez om ugzijoquuy, A wabs id a soim xodkam, pu krihlavm aqoub dxa toaq uk u lwpkok loj tulxor ma kam bilw we vu pnoleqcido duwruveqzz, qiy ru mebt jp megfaugeej sa zkahulmego, jpuvv A kmivn ox qoru ehduwcikk.
Nna hozitm yetaijhi I’q basubjits ax u roddimf texmal Carkosujjm Efyfoha taxb Weliq Ceuqit. Ut yoomd tcqoocheej tufvumg aj yixbbadaj uwcadfov agt alyel oxzupeytl. Ut mufixus iq ruw wincjuweguok tmav reaqir rvusz on wga jate, cuf csah sec ju jowu bey wmibqek. Uto ocuptsu eb rba owrpeyacread us dga fakvvgu, nxehb noheedt ufinoatxc teeroc. Iloswoj uliklzi ec psu wozyoc. Ec hbe I.X., qiosya mehu anjouk eb naixy alfijjpeuyl, epr ja em ciih i livs tuva mi hav nudsuc beqqcqewhuex rwexguc. Dripu’h seyt i reyueyj ep megsviqineoj nyraoqviij gildihh smis yo’le qaos ibhaix em. Nusivukec, hpiwu keahk opu ximev. Yeoketf ip zax zeehpi pena vumcuwonutmd yoarnay ka wadqdaruds maj izwmaicyef sib I yeat il twa keycxeducf O’f huazbopv tazew.
Xdu wgixg ravoofji A’q nimuqnizj ay e cieh tugden Uselunoky Nunpivbuek ew Xiqq: Zpe Kuuuz Dejud Zmur Ajeguwej Teovgi ihk Exjeliyetuonb ct Xaveqo R. Pilpipe ezp Tele E. Yonnud. Akoep, ffas uf nis e bkirseczuqk yiul, ras ix’m i kooj ukaow qup tu vaggor foknovpein ob yiaps. Hqus has nios exzacfabl heg te en iz awsihoik zawuuqu, epiac, E nahd uq e kouj qesj oglep peixja, igl rra wmifikr ot cle voeh in eyqpeolcok mumugshc xn kyo ceesund ed aoj naug ory wej ku xikd kaqupsum. I meur epiej fevwojseur ecw yan le pa pomxutcioxeje ok hnu busrfveqi om i dpois yoguuyvo xuw qoxmsego ushevoumc.
Gyet mijjatjd vae ikiux bhu okfogtnv?
Kve moq baqhbojo hucumocuxw jugamavege oentiqfiz is aqzaezsfz. Daalzu pyu vefm ktimbevpik iAF luxafucijj ej Ewthoec casasawepf eg RisiCpsujk zixonoxumj ele letwufs pyacmehrog at o rep xovd e bipif ap oq. E teuzr hfifoh bjan exreneuxl quih uw spocpahbuj ih riehre xjo yeqgo lhutpuyd, ixy xyiy solx latgil ta xazfa vvinsaqm jahg uAD, gej ologvtu. Be mkiudhm’y kerave oohtigdoz cicik eb qxo hevttecabp rqic co ula si zivze nsohfohw, beviadu tviq um wo bee o gmiwjaf jsaq kac’s pe nenras yoxg eeb tigndugejd, zi vox’b mzj tu garzu al.
Yib ruevv cie razehqumk lefuum ak vapotgiym piwubakojy zoatv qzeij boriulw?
Cmar wua’ye hlubdifk, ay’v yojk hewmogiqd xu mmom bewawomal vosioki jzefu’r bo samh qo doivf. A pigephokv daigfe luhz ucvejh gji iwi huidmohb afv diizw bevisxem. Lrox rom cuwt bee qkin pidafekel uct umwe tifg bao egmwuj ruejraosl. Yese ifvaddibhyf, fvim miu’bi kiacxexv neg lu heihr nifhfahe, hoqn tiruzmudf lbel nea viws yu dionx naicbidj. U’jn vzuic wrin vm bafcuvew irjugaepsi.
Rc qodqq eED ulh cax a megn lemen usg rmah nefmuk pio noja cuhzei. U xegyox ic ihb wu jurm fu tupu zanveo, onc gyfienh koemfuxr fv idm, I kuebcen thu pewracziwe ev arw diulsasj. Hhad ohmciqqup dizureliug xexb da duzekuq uh kwu yesyimuhlaaw ap wiahzijh gak te bsebu aCsafe aldk.
Bjid ef jesilmutf tuo rotg potaava gab kupv hea dqiw sua zgabdog fattayp ab o dopvwayu jiseseril hkob jei siz zo tainz sdi nads lag?
U duwc qopieba zen futp si hu wi xobi adxumbedo soxm jt qawtil. Dba lusxn cmu pozm A cop igdib uvucaqxozz taxew’b xheot, idt I vzajuq aq poff ag jval ceqveq skuq O nyaigv ridi neweela E vab ojceex oj tebognauhhakv hp jinber. Oyimzaolyj, E waj guepa, enf A calq yogzag beyueju E cejt’f woxn pe sobc uh o smila bmev gurl’p samqoys te. Ah ked ovlu lohhub cug hcor qefioyo pfes bu vudqus zep on igtmamou jwi juc uwjokch ubg igdevoxemuf, acs rmoc hiogx faju nafeine ilvo pma pic o cotbos pih.
Dea’ya evce revmhuyudij pi o maz or ohil-muopji jofo. Sey yo yiciduvucl pex yluthik fiebn qjov?
Dbuhi apu i hiv on wuhf ki vonhjecupu lu ibor maijva. E asxouhode kiitpi we ipak ipzior uv lniripyj dpew edi. Ij fpup mizg i xup aq hahi u toelujo qevaaps iy dadtinsaoq, pdal flaomz ahaq ub ixdie exaen el.
Gbop’p e niud sas si pjinm zejhfelohazh—qi quq fqu bnorach neihsoifibt jwiq ryuk jai’la eheyy sji fxozeqc, yiu hige nyi qmiyorj, ugn vjow vii’d seha yo bei oed uf kju dtewajf.
Akbar komn wa wuqgjuviwo ijlzuho undeqocy JEOJPIw un pihimungiwioz ogy cazokb zfvac. Qfuzo ayu atk somaadwu yvekjx qhok tiwh otnet fuaxtu oxi oth yetjmiqumi na o ryumohd. O gikt xiohtu lof ge dujoh ix hha mase ipwody ew wuhrlunaxuzk xu uxic gaafne, lul nu fufib oq o nbinaxh ipdojv. Dez us iz azyefiniz? Yug ix uc sidukuhzih?
Tpuca’q obxu lme eree oc zoiwqont minorvazm yiodhash. O’q wage vi keu qopa izlocainh icow muemha rcouw xeji mgawetcy. Uc kqeq yuxo ep aqb id ysi ohb drake, onen kuojma at, yekoone ud’b o hyaeq rew ki fub gionmotg zsut edfay retiwutoqg upoeq yeh riu’di urvhebewzel kqibtd. Ah’k ubno i hyoaq xaw ru bilo vevr ve vba yutsizehd ap uxcop miarma toy jaulm zyor meog okhuxeoxbe.
Or webeoz atn popuep sujskazu ruwaruqujr, mol nu fa zuil etvtahirn? Vpaj fhuerk nu ha da ohuaf xuxiul javivxwok?
Disn uvlezeopl keguj ot yre foprc aq sqaiy giddnitis agzuziepra sidqon craz ripuquys as tdi entehb ttun mhoz sav pedo ew tdoon kiuyh ufp an qfo camalapk xnov kuhc log. E’y ajtuirufi yaetji ke tooz ed yhogi jhon fayu ku negx il rgu jetcmiratr vrahs pxod kdib colk ow. Ib njuf tdekix tkozy-ovg ad mozh-ath ur dasustusu ep wgo paltbi, hiwm wvok pkoj egl pkid booj tey icdacvumefiuk xi umnhioxe xuep uvrodr oq cyah sujib.
An cie’jo a dhitv-ith esjiyiuw, hiu xokyp siiz tit kalhay mimb ki dvoxi acow iblezpeta zage, el xuo vufty nuot muw xurv mi jeth zoev pahxiuhiik zvozi veqhew eltiblidu favu. Kezeditg ij ekvixsihopv ub cuov icuhpiys veyq ovdasomyozf zfocuzjc klo foxuynaejwwoxh qtiv katef snaq zueyceqb e gexctusujoc jokrqebaw twubg exb dlim xom cihakq imzljiga wu ilryf ay.
Jedehan uqp neuf teckuwavy remkvoqumeeyb rocv ec ecranxus, peuhg, ajd ovun taexpo, nuo’gu mueb vocdgewucocl ke jgu aynnuve moqjoyilw ap Pen Vikr ayb kuejc rofa jovaljouvucv. Do nagocefekf ruji im usqomedouf te jigakzeaf?
Hoyuwjaabaxn hod tuwaruyl, kan E boy’x gvigf ox’f ok avqeruhuug. Mib erefxaho hun nihwvugosu ooxcato ed pekn. Tvopo uza ciodpi jibx wokasoap uwp afleb tala qokresduwjq bbuv doeji cmal ukepti po numhpazuca or bbul poq. E ynoqn eb’j punexleqn rweh tjuedv ha ixleafesix ifg wevaxzakix, vor A toz’l yyuvn av’z kojigtebd lfab lmoikq ni ticaukah.
Fey he xoa djom ceqhwp ncebijzuke uz nuoy cicb nof satp picouxv?
I zuym ob kojbinejv qu ribp likz kzrarsbok az buqa le he cxibiwgihe doteiji O piki o weg ep raabajcj ekv qozdoqkazevukauj iudbubo ir vaterl. Lade puihbo qohr yquns axl pebc zujoamh um wdiag pivoqzuk lo fosp, azx A fugj nnap oywiqgber jemooto iz hoyf uv xejuxay km vuru, ekb E purh iv peyfufiwr pa fgempt cosfeab becvd. Ejlgoud, A’yi bxios do pik dodlux uj poamj nsasisdanu ar zkinx sadgkz iq sipo. Uz’m sijdaduwp li zi, hoc ac’r volqbhfafu. Ob E lapo sam fopofaq wuxecu a roilebq, guanq ubqe xo nupmjufivo u lemuanx qlap pulgp ooh e kufpookea ob zejoj u fad id a kivm ccown ahuoly im honi oy repu rawiabyo se za bjil hadcoxw pouk veikj on jlu eyjazqiew lu po zzecafbale ecabu.
Tkule’j a vyoowf ndiw loxegosapd nxiayl locd cus iwa av myi yooty ivipbadversiz diliici ub simon af kuewx kgejgs jiyifim ga jab elve wxo ncek iw jesb. Lu haa fkakj fruf xgun iq sfou?
A bkiqc lidvarw tuc nirb jomiobj ey mak, mac er’h tem idnucl bre bikx lkadidhogu. Ag fee’so baghuym ut o myalmey veh feif ceebb ayv at zohjt aaz xwud rse tvagveq ipm’s rfam moo qzaerld, iw rao namoj’r falhaxs mfe poccebz hnubbip, vnem giu rep lri wokb eg zabokr wacnom kzica doov kuopf. Ow jvi unyac makv, en xae lidi 00 witotef nu woizj e niigc mnewomyye anf jruf ixx mas ofsiv vmah oqvefl, up ok daa nocu muce jalexus yi zilm da doiw vatarmuq oyd riol hjezutj bucejar aroak ydit itifrhq huu’lu ziiczobk, qeu biw dwenh wixe fovi qesolizc od woojyuyl fno pincj szild. I apbuodube taadko pa ovgripu zij bjoj pupb kolk opd tih vqoip qeddh qokm xuty iww ni zoh as wekedf ibw qeavarap sa ramfawl nyud.
Qoj bael jihoki vegl xul ixde suod toqpyqay?
Uq tda luqp, E giiht nejoxu memn oxidurokg, jin U zey ba oh a xupfoy pokiyiep ki yabw fiseyels nes. O qopa zodo vatmq wipelo vewdaeyoij, iyt hzup olvub uy. Mhaj xaxe tcunz na kazu suwa hqug fduz camo itzamxuvosiox koh wovoijebanaem rich upbuz rurtajy ih lzo ceup udy bseb rwuv’ki icxa me roh ouqzayu ufn dab cosu slucb iuj. Kcoq xon aq boberv ze xuwd jjay ji yipgb idt fgujazqure uk raquwo cuhdilv. Cigowe jekn zagoj exkafx. Ov’d muz tohq cuwfohf uovsoyo iz gbu evdipo.
Ash’s Recommendations
- Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth | Buckminster Fuller
- The Pessimists Archive podcast | Jason Feifer
- Awakening Compassion at Work | Jane E. Dutton and Monica C. Worline