Author Archives: aculp

Episode 012 – Conference talk and tutorial tips

Posted on by

Adam Culp shares his latest schedule for speaking and a recent experience where he found he was not able to prepare a workshop fully prior to an event. Then highlights some tips and hints on how to prepare ahead of time for a conference talk to ensure everything goes smoothly. Including posting code, slides, and a place attendees can provide feedback.

Related Links:

The post Episode 012 – Conference talk and tutorial tips appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 011 – Refactor saves time and debugging

Posted on by

This episode shares thoughts about how developers can often find themselves wasting time while tracking down an issue even though a quick refactor might fix or highlight the issue, saving themselves and their company time and money.

We also talk briefly about debugging and the time spent setting up an IDE to allow easier debugging of an application. However, IDEs are not making this as easy as we’d hoped. Adam will be posting to his blog, GeekyBoy.com, when he completes some step-by-step scripts on how-to.

Adam Culp also updates on his running and activity status, and the progress of his physical therapy for the shoulder injury.

Related Links:

The post Episode 011 – Refactor saves time and debugging appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 010 – Anxiety And How To Deal With It

Posted on by

In this episode Adam Culp shares what kept him from creating new posts these past couple of months. It also contains updates about his running and activity status, and also shares plans for the coming months.

This episode also shares thoughts and stories related to anxiety, panic attacks, and other associated things to dealing with anxiety. And closes with a call to those who do not deal with anxiety issues…yet.

Disclaimer: This episode is not intended to diagnose or recommend treatment, or a lack of treatment. If you feel you have some mental or physical problems, please seek help from a professional. This recording is intended to share experiences only.

Related Links:

The post Episode 010 – Anxiety And How To Deal With It appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 009 – Crawling Before We Can Walk

Posted on by

So many startups attempt to skip the crawling stages and the MPV (minimum viable product) as they push to become successful. Just as many developers attempt to skip the vital stages of learning and forge ahead to create bugs, security holes, and poor code. Adam Culp, the host of Run Geek Radio, talks about how important it is to crawl before we can walk.

Also covered is the ZendCon and SunshinePHP preparations and status of Adam speaking at some other upcoming conferences. Plus a brief update on the running front and training.

Related Links:

The post Episode 009 – Crawling Before We Can Walk appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 008 – Escaping PHP Variables Forgotten

Posted on by

Escaping variables in PHP is as important as ever, and developers can sometimes forget about it when using a modern framework. Adam Culp, the host of Run Geek Radio, talks a little about common pitfalls and how to handle them.

Also covered is the ZendCon and SunshinePHP preparations and status of Adam speaking at some other upcoming conferences. Plus a brief update on the running front and training.

Related Links:

The post Episode 008 – Escaping PHP Variables Forgotten appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 007 – Don’t be a jerk

Posted on by

Adam Culp, the host of Run Geek Radio, relays his conference speaking plans for the next couple months. Following that he announces his plans to start training for the Keys100 in May. It has been more than 3 years since he has registered for a race, so really looking forward to this one. As long as he is able to continue training effectively through January he will register for it.

The topic for this episode is how developers treat other developers and consultants, and how we should strive to stick to the facts, stay professional, and not get personal. He shares a story of a friend and the trials they went through because another developer, in their haste to convince the client of their value, went on the attack of the consultant.

Related Links:

The post Episode 007 – Don’t be a jerk appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 006 – Importance Of Vacations And Being Replaceable

Posted on by

Adam Culp, the host of Run Geek Radio, shares a little about his vacation to South America where he went to Quito in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, as well as Lima and Cusco in Peru. During his vacation with his family they hiked, climbed a volcano, went scuba diving with sharks and turtles, and toured much of the cities they travelled to.

He then highlights how vacations are so vital and important to the productivity and stress levels of employees, and shares how long weekends are great times for getaways but also how important it is to get away for one longer vacation each year.

Employers are also encouraged to help employees take this much needed time off to boost their productivity in order to take advantage of the time employees are actually working.

Adam also speaks a bit about how employees should make themselves replaceable to ensure they are promotable, and so they can truly get away when they are on vacation.

The post Episode 006 – Importance Of Vacations And Being Replaceable appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 005 – Time Estimation, Conference Talk Rating, Contest Winner

Posted on by

This episode Adam Culp announces the winner, David Stockton (Colorado), of the contest launched in Run Geek Radio episode 004. HUGE congrats to David who will be receiving a VariDesk Full Standing Desk. I look forward to hearing how he likes it.

Adam also talks briefly to clarify his views on “soft talks” versus “soft skills talks”, and how he was misrepresented as disliking soft skills talks though the opposite is true. However, as discussed, he highlights why he is against soft talks and what that really means. Hint: A soft talk is actually a tech talk given poorly, where a soft skills talk carries value in non-technical (or people skills) areas of development.

Then this episode is rounded out with a detailed coverage of time estimation in relation to projects, and why it is so vitally important to be accurate. Adam also speaks about how important proper requirements gathering is to the process.

Related Links:

The post Episode 005 – Time Estimation, Conference Talk Rating, Contest Winner appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 004 – Standing desk, headphones, and firing bad customers

Posted on by

Adam Culp speaks about his new Varidesk standing desk and launches a giveaway of a Varidesk. Also covers some of the reasons a developer may want to stand while working, and the benefits of standing while working. He also gives some hints and tips related to introducing the use of a standing desk into your daily habits.

He also mentions a new set of headphones he purchased to replace a broken set, and the various reasons why Plantronics Backbeat Pro was his choice.

The main topic of firing a bad customer is then discussed by sharing possible reasons why a customer may be considered bad, how to communicate your intent, and some possible pitfalls that result from this potentially emotional event.

Then the podcast is closed by launching a giveaway of a Varidesk Full Desk Pro.

Related Links:

The post Episode 004 – Standing desk, headphones, and firing bad customers appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.

Episode 003 – OpenWest Namebadges, Overtraining, Developer Salary and Freelance Rates, Saving Money

Posted on by

Adam Culp talks about the awesome namebadges at the OpenWest conference, and how assembly was required using a soldering iron. Then shares symptoms, causes, and treatment for over-training while running. (mentions Tension Tamer tea, but intended to speak about Sleepy Time tea instead) Following this the subject of developers and money was covered. What should developers charge per hour, what should a freelance developer pay themselves, and what should developers do to save money for a rainy day.

The post Episode 003 – OpenWest Namebadges, Overtraining, Developer Salary and Freelance Rates, Saving Money appeared first on Run Geek Radio with Adam Culp.