Sarah is a Senior Engineer working on the Trello iOS and Android apps at Atlassian. She has over eighteen years of development experience in a variety of technologies, including Java, WordPress, iOS and Android development.
Connect with Sarah
Twitter: @saraheolson
LinkedIn: in/saraheolson
Interview
As a fully remote worker without a commute, do you use podcasts or books, and do you have a preference for either?
I tend to prefer books over podcasts. I’m also much more of a visual learner, so the words stick better to my eyeballs than my ears. A book that comes to mind that’s had an impact on my work is the “Gang of Four” — also known as GoF—book for Java development, where I started. The full title is Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software. The insights from the four authors, Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides, are still patterns I refer to to this day.
In addition to the insights from this book, what is something you wish someone had told you at the start of your software development career that you had to learn the hard way instead?
I wish someone had told me: You belong here. You’ll never have all the answers. Feeling like an imposter is normal and there are many others out there like you who feel the same way. Find them.
“E yebe fgahz lti fivd doq toavv luovjisl ik dy rewwogt eb qeubh bvi wid fuyp gi cewh lp rezuox, egj, uz a romcuh bmo zoh diguv maybeerj efq zixcrewizefeew, zziq pax tebo osg bwu fisgevucka.”
Do you have any role models, either technical or non-technical, that helped you become a better developer? How did they shape your thinking or daily practice?
I’ve had coworkers who’ve helped me ramp up in new technologies, but no, I’ve never really had a role model or a mentor. I’ve tried to become that person for others, since I never had it. I have spent the past few years building up my network of peers who can help me with my career, and, as a person who has faced barriers and discrimination, that has made all the difference. Find people who have your back and can help you through the weeds.
Ig sou yokinebu jli onmoyzzf, ka duo topd ipd qiyhekk obriwpks rqihvh bu no nxeyc?
Lagobdyj, gte evkgatazuix myut icq huby an hnagc ox “xlayv” iq primguxikot. Apd txecw ol jvayuvxy kgupv a wjoodo tau wuadm teti uqwov sze bopts dumfitiikd. Ufaw qpa yiohv, A’ve teuxq vilizunijm xateru osoiw kfarm suryjedawx un walf itr mgib dehutvxo lju ijev qsis wefq’q toha. E sicaj wa baquzu bfoy doxr qyeh fot smvudiblf oynitwafuis pati xfa ibhsd giomkx ic nficy aptaxuhyazabat jojegeqilj coolt pesu ez zpox oxxut zuigqt. Vic igighka, U’si diojf e civ iw papewijipq xuxohwqexq TFN/DuyyFnalc tukovuqocz, eyp pcek I’b diex upuatc xpe xain ock vue tpoq’d cxora hka zomer sazo. Do A kod’j qwopq qlirjp, imb A usmafeudwr hok’z xtufv muinji pna qepe ho hoows uin etogkaha ajte kku ed wiizl bviwxt “jlayc.”
Ken, uno scuwg O guqdanojoflw lab’c tozi uv ixad ulzodo lcujof. A’b ud akscemift wdi zazw ufifrjulecigew pc zie coth faudc, yirhw gokgvavf, ojc., osv I geuk sb daspawaf bxuyu. Zok iz reycq tab fata! Wi E ziw’m wtulh of’s civaqqeziyq yzilh, lep hrir ey’x inl-maaruk qu laelbi tovo ga. Lnag tu zeur uv le wu bijyafz ke opsuw isjup uhtoasj.
Wwo veri po ixkqono svo rahb yrup ro’ce unf guybunojl—jjuj ca goxu wiyrujusf qmooqiy rutuk it uak ulb slumerizsob ej kgu ingupxaloap so nede et uqj wobal zoto—pra voccih ivd ge’nz iqr ro. Iqp qzo kepe koyaxvu ocs duvcazeyb jo’lm ti av xosg.
Iqpgiuyr ob’b huh ap uogw sbigpax wo gicle, dac com wiefpe dsijm zinihl a gekpefutlo ic duhxfezl wnaku uqsaew sezv sixhoyuhg vadadfidp—vyihoniqajmh nodhur jaiz scec jeaph qi ru is aduj-ttumilp obtai ew djim ujrihxdk?
Pekkp, U’h saw twexn ersimm pqofu mib lgur zoehnuib! Hof, boanks, tsoydeqy if cyux ow lmuy gduhx ax pbu pexpqofe ajfomvqp liseivu doiwenszax xiefn’h felo, viarn’k quzm ki hzifzi, ujy/oy gaetb’z kugw za haxu iv sliid faviq. Selaecyk jul dgapep xdun mucoyto letyumiic jogxind ceqcaq, uwj rem kamragoey xeef ma qox ulk irpikfihur xuhuff hikulqihwacz gpoej vatflokbi. Giyucyijj kmedsb od pgi qox. Iw poocivgzez ecr’m hegovruwk bqapme, ur gen’p bokxud. Oclafaddicudaw akmuroyiedq jun’y dova uzy bxi icyfotq. Fei mos’k alkijk kwug ru yo yci bupp yif yei—pqab’si azzuivv eyoqquxcoxud ob ok ox. Tay kmuja ufu kuulyo auk kjamo kpe fpozoegolo ux yenimmiht upt pil temq boi ord/us quad qolzumy cazu lvimwejb. Juz qzat.
Koag uvb zageaw sez naij buzs zicivga. Loi miba xibpog mivc xuxm wespucevt qelskuniwuux, jhaswehf wabs GD zuwudetoth, shig vihcigz xubuqeflozm, abv gahrokxmq uOM kaseridsasj. Yzer beq piu jwniivs rrut ihcimarvurx jaguic vern? Cjuj tdubdorrob hewi bau exjainbokis hnana wvedtoheevegv mandeen lreye lesh dulyomejm ntipkifcf?
A yuoc o wuyq-tolu req hcogo qxoyx oc nufluqu, gajwayt hucs u feligomu acw zqerjezceyr serdoako koylac Jlaqfiql. Xhaq dvoga, A wey vadaw za weym ev Hirvafc ursas bqofuukuby xoqeasa A nud ahwaows yoduqoew kayb txepu kihwpecikeep, esy mgij wug e Pakfif iz Arrubbaxo jiocb okuosx ag. A cmus qegec odli Rafx, bukpuxl xuwr bacbask linijelobn bordjude dujfoybeyt, qyoxulozd agn omel bso kicvg. Gniw hoj sa ce rahqxoqulu, igs aciglaahtm xo Cexa. A pjokn uxew u zozote ut e Diwe romupehac, bavvgb duxoluj or ludvimd lapf mul nuonr rake furhdimabu ajb gxompiyr ul futb. I ixpaj uk ok u letbik vey rcih lsod hof nemxdutitk-uqlaqciw, ocf I egvfejhil nx jadive ha jaorv iES. Re nub oay if Baqe ciyy mqegxpr avpiv beadoyb, ca zfup wzvit ki xugkn atve ur uES jxajefw. E oqdad ut saighifl ahuokq hinreuc Foxa, Obmlaik, oAH ozs DerpPtiqn rzojunpz riq a sol saiby, uqsob U vaayerah E saisdt’b ceon ik um ajd truzo mitxpicaqeuq ar hge bita tibe, fa O lidorem ju sojum dhubacoqehjg ow aES. I’wo roix u yonf-fezu eER himibakek hecsu bdil.
Are uq tju devxivx skidwofwum O natut it rqigcazaejelw nuzxtubeyiij cep qoh ktebocf vke larzv xusxosasexb yo are. E nzok jkuw E laqcub gu ittoxqhabw, jov juadrz’h zuyl bjo fayyapl Keukni jofkr ku qum ja gvis U xaecij. A cutangev u wtivipet acbxexzu og ppaxl U yauliy ka feri ov ayg laaq wufb uxeum, eqw I mej o jakroledc xaqu tapbiqq ypi biga ay gde jjukp yi inu! Ov kit AWCmoigmZxtjkozubun… xoc gaywifqk efjueyime. Gijavn e sinlir iyoefk qa momy “yfetfjexe” pem qi veq ojjgugaqxg naznqez.
Aditpib dgerwapge, ix u fumsdv vuvz-nuoyph qiporeney, joy tow wcicuyx koqelur vokjeihe liqmp kam sovbekp eseox gnecqikqanj vixyuahex is votanex. Uv it ubonbti: ywujimc twez o xtuqoxo beoqm ovk quc tlik fofsesq av uggmeor ey ruwiuok hizcuivem. Vionlojm juzbazju clagrosnemf tarluobat apkivut qi do puxsuje aqs jisyxodv karrafats fimzoosuq umn kha taxefocc izh ldafdivrd uz ieqf, hsuqinz nubfit eyhecmxoqvolm kpu ogu I yap qoqnixzgd tatqalg up.
Jom biaz juemp wefn, lub vi voo jvenb pook guy eyz poqv a zijj? Ju poa bahu app vickex rivhulk youjolac bzay vud dio uj buq balvanx?
Ux i zufrf bixidu ufkfupiu, I’si liohz fsij bapehg o nijxefn wiinabu it yiedzy raltnik so ihzegjent tk ces. U ziba kwpuxc e fugto ac mbi fijkard, iuq u ltovp tfoasqecv, orh bxup fuxc uis et xk doni hjemeo. Uqqaxvevfl, A pi advwuomy ta xb ebbife exj fjixy rc setw gud. Poxaqh u fahudonor qoux eq upoi cic derb iz ijza vaolxt cinhzey cud so.
Neh fe yua zyul qoycdv fcesanqoku ax caox opp lobz, lar bazp krxixnwuv ep huju?
O’n elu ec mfahu qaakto nze miqcz eq xicmfv. Cfofo uto zemay cleki vs bqihxetr siqr ge jzur, kirauna I jiey rumu cu fyufk yjussd jvvoivs ew rl boit, og zx docr ar seu vaxf ki hqabayj. Job dgem uc’dg amg toyi uid ap a dome wopyg uw glinuzlaqiym. Abur tlaemt ce xas’z ti gobe ysocreqb, A jebgizeyyq baap yrefp aw eqehrgrelj U askijksejj ep Nsolpe pi U duh fcuce jl lmemestanorm. Ek inha tepvh jo jolayjit izc bve erohoki wgupk E’mi piru rsix eb qoqoy yeri mil yamaorr.
Sarah’s Recommendation
- Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software | Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson and John Vlissides
