With a tool like Redux in your hand, everything can look like a nail.

Redux is Not a Hammer

Don't reinvent the wheel, just stop, look and reuse!

Stop, Look, Reuse

Without too much pain, I am now solely using Node.js to build this blog, and improve it along the way.

Up to 11ty

It's fast, lightweight, widely-adopted and ludicrously-customisable. Better yet, you can easily share extensions and
settings between VS Code projects.


Coding Consistently with VS Code

I've recently discovered how RunKit can help bring your Node.js examples to life - anywhere!

Demonstrating Node.js with RunKit

I recently achieved a personal goal of delivering a rather nerve-wracking but rewarding
talk at another excellent ESRM conference in London. Take a look at the slides!


Talking Software and Security

Code interviews are generally a pain for everyone, but are great when well executed. I've had the
(mis)fortune to experience several different styles, and have some advice on how to improve your
tests and, ultimately, the type of candidate you hope to hire!


Offering Code Interview Advice

Four years ago, I tried to take back our digital content. How did it go, and what are we doing now?

Encrypting All the Things

I've had a personal goal of learning F# for some time, and HackerRank provided the perfect
platform to test the language. Both are highly recommended!


Tackling HackerRank with F#

Finally: a personal blog that I completely love, generated and optimised from OSS to be simple, fast and secure.

Evolving with Jekyll

Last week, I gave a talk at the awesome Greenwood Campbell, entitled Hacking a Career in Technology.
I was excited, nervous, mildly terrified, and hopeful it would be a success. So why do it, and what counts as a success?!


Talking Tech

Last year was the most challenging but rewarding of my life. Here's what happened, and a couple of goals for the new year.

Celebrating 2015, Anticipating 2016

I'm sure every parent is the same, but I am constantly amazed by our little boy.
I wish I had written down more of our conversations, but I had to share this beauty from yesterday evening.


Amazed by Our Two-Year-Old Dude

Here are my ridiculously-late notes from an ever-improving re:develop conference. In short: it was excellent.
It was interesting to see software mimicking real life, such as pipelines and containers.
It was even better to see more women presenting and in attendance, too.


Late Reflecting on re:develop 2015

After nearly five years of running a self-hosted WordPress blog, I recently migrated
it to Squarespace. It took a while to reach the decision, but I'm very happy and am
looking forward to writing more frequently. But why move?


Switching to Squarespace

A quick review of a new, local conference that I hope becomes an annual pilgrimage.

Inspired by re:develop 2014

Charts help us to visualise data, but not only do different types of chart suit different types of data,
the space available for them also affects the choice.


Building Responsive Treemaps

Software and social networking changed our lives a long time ago. Ever felt chained to them, though?
Or, maybe worse, don't know that you are?


Disabling Toast Notifications

Git is great. I've explained why version control is so useful before, and loved how easy it was to get
started with Github.  Now, however, having used Atlassian products as part of my daily workflow, I'm
migrating to Bitbucket, its Git hosting solution. Why?


Moving to Bitbucket from Github

That's it! Fifteen months of planning, a house move and baby later: we're married. And what a day it was!

Married!

Have you looked at a snippet of code, given it a double-take, then thought "Woah, what is that?"

Testing Interesting Language Features

After 5.5 years of working in London, I'm relocating with my family; hopefully for many years,
and probably forever, or until we retire and globe trot.


Leaving London

You might have have noticed that the new home of my blog looks very different, and hopefully agree
it's a big improvement. That's because I made a big mistake last time: I didn't start strong.


Starting Strong

The hickling.is domain was born. Wait: what is that, and why?

Organising a Family Site

Drink proper coffee, you won't regret it.

Brewing Proper Coffee

Why? Why not?! The Ubuntu Edge is a pretty bold project.

Crowdfunding the Ubuntu Edge

A look at a self-hosted ownCloud solution for true ownership of personal digital content.

Taking Back Our Digital Content

Today marks my fifth year in employment post-uni. Five years. I can't believe how much has changed since then!

Celebrating Five Working Years

A Dad? Me? Wow! It really takes getting used to.

Becoming a Dad

Websites are easy to develop, right? Host a bit of HTML and anyone can can access it from
anywhere using practically anything. Not quite.


Starting a Theme

I started the year with the ambition of creating a site to showcase what I can do. As you can see
from the date of my first (and previous) post, that hasn't happened yet!


Trying to Work, Play, and Maybe Blog?!

Here’s to WIHD, then; hope you enjoy the ride.

Welcome

Redux is Not a Hammer

Stop, Look, Reuse

Up to 11ty

Coding Consistently with VS Code

Demonstrating Node.js with RunKit