Author Archives: Sheldon "Don" Sandbekkhaug

Seven things I wish I knew my first year as a real world software engineer

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Sheldon "Don" Sandbekkhaug

I’ve been working in the industry for five years now. I’ve written about internships and promotion, but what about the first year on the job? What do I wish I knew in my first year after college? Standard disclaimer: don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Software | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

You are an Engineer at Big Tech Co. (Humor)

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Sheldon "Don" Sandbekkhaug

You are an engineer at Big Tech Co. You send a commit to Humayun for review. He says you need to wait until the IK4 migration is complete. You do not know what IK4 is, or how it relates to … Continue reading →

Posted in Software | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Is Objective-C Still Relevant?

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Sheldon "Don" Sandbekkhaug

In the world of iOS development, Swift is on the rise. But what about Objective-C? Is ObjC still relevant? Are Objective-C fans clinging onto a band that broke up 20 years ago? My take: Objective-C is not going away anytime … Continue reading →

Posted in Software | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Get Promoted as a Software Engineer (Even During Tough Times)

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Sheldon "Don" Sandbekkhaug

“Congratulations,” my manager smiled. “You’ve been promoted.” Despite the toughest job market since the Great Depression, coronavirus, working from home, two reorgs, and two different managers, I finally succeeded at getting a promotion (and a raise). Many people assume, “I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Software | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The One Meeting that Changed Our Relationship

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Sheldon "Don" Sandbekkhaug

Our program manager (PgM) was a stern lady. She kept the project on track, and as a deadline neared, she grew more and more serious. I worked on the iOS client, and I felt like she was ignoring me in … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Tagged , | 1 Comment