There's a lot more to being a successful software developer than writing great code alone.
You have to understand how to approach problems with the right mindset. How to determine when an idea is worth pursuing. How to work effectively as part of a team. How to add value in line with the bigger picture. How to ask the right questions now that can save so much time and energy later. How to continually find joy and satisfaction in your projects instead of burning out. And so much more.
You can learn these lessons the hard way, or you can read this book.
We know unequivocally that our growth is often tied to how we approach our work, especially in an industry as ever-evolving as software. If you're a developer or engineer, that evolution is both part of what makes it exciting and part of what makes the "how" and "why" (not just the "what") so important. In Keep Calm and Code On, Alex Lau draws on more than two decades of experience in the software industry to pinpoint and explain common pitfalls, how to avoid them, and what to do instead.
Whether you're a seasoned industry veteran wondering how to optimize your processes and address any blind spots, a newer developer trying to see around potential corners in your career, or somewhere in between, this is a book you'll find yourself coming back to again and again.
In over 15 years of writing software for a variety of organizations, Alex has learned a lot about not only this industry, but about what it takes to succeed within it. Whether it be at a large enterprise or one of the startups he's worked at (two of which were part of successful acquisitions), he has first-hand experience with how to build applications and just as importantly, how not to.
One thing that hasn't changed over the years is that Alex is quick to empathize with those starting their journeys in software. In fact, this affinity for mentorship and knowledge sharing is a big motivation for this book. Alex is quick to point out that his success as a software developer is rooted not in a natural coding ability but rather in his thoughtful and strategic approach-one he's excited to share with his readers.
In the big picture, Alex is a passionate proponent of work/life balance as a tactical advantage, a believer that soft skills in software are just as important as the hard skills, and a champion of the idea that software can be mastered by anyone with the right mindset.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys finding the right meme for every situation, having a dad joke at the ready at all times, and telling anyone who will listen about the time he was awarded "Evaluator of the Year" in his local Toastmasters group. When he's not thinking about code, chances are he's planning his next run in Slay the Spire.
Alex continues to work in the software industry and lives in Texas with his family.
