Becoming Polyglot

To be polyglot is to be a true citizen of the software world; to accrue and apply skills beyond the technologies you use in your day-to-day activities. With these tips for approaching new tools and communities you will confidently pick up some fresh tech and take your skills to new heights.

To be polyglot is to be a metaphorical global citizen of the software world; to accrue and know how to apply skills beyond the technologies you use in your day-to-day activities. When we’re already expert in the technology stack we’re mostly paid to work on, how can we widen our horizons and begin from scratch with something completely unfamiliar? The short answer is: learn what you already know, and how to apply it to a different space. Some of our most vital skills as engineers are those that transcend a particular language or tool: debugging superpowers are required in all areas of technology, and the ability to coax an unfamiliar toolchain to play nicely is absolutely a key skill. Tips for approaching new tools, platforms and communities will give you ideas for how to confidently start to pick up some fresh technologies and add new tools to your toolbox.

Once upon a time, there was a developer who was expert in her chosen programming language, after 15 years of study and work. Then she took a job needing regular use of a handful of unfamiliar languages (including golang! I truly know just enough to be dangerous) and had to learn how to learn … and quickly. This talk walks through the levels of mastery of a new technology, giving advice and encouragement to everyone to extend their own journeys.