2025-09-05
πͺ
Faster doesn't mean safer. That's why as a programmer, I started learning cybersecurity. And now I'm sharing my knowledge in various ways π
Some of you know that I'm a psychologist by training. I've come a long way - from psychology to programming, then to cybersecurity. And I've discovered something fascinating: often, it's not the quality of the code that determines a project's security.
πΈ The human psyche is the weakest link in the security chain.
That's exactly what I'm writing about in Robert Kruczek's book. About why our minds are so susceptible to social engineering and how that affects IT security.
What can appear in a programmer's work that is also a mechanism used in social engineering? πͺ Time pressure - it doesn't favor focusing on security within the SDLC or making well-thought-out decisions when a social engineer is exerting pressure. πͺ Lack of understanding of the value of security - without this, people are reluctant to follow security procedures, which are one of the methods of protection. πͺ Simple fatigue - that's when we act "on autopilot," which makes errors easier and reduces vigilance - both when writing code and when a social engineer casts their bait.
More in the book - I highly recommend reading it!
And how do you deal with time pressure in the context of project security?
2025-09-03
πͺ
If you think only programmers use AI to make their work easier... you're wrong π
In an article for the BBC, Imran Rahman-Jones describes how Anthropic (an AI company) noticed that hackers are using their tool for "vibe hacking." The code created with the help of AI was likely used in attacks on at least 17 organizations (link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr24eqnnq9o).
And what did the AI do for hackers, besides helping with writing code?
π£ It helped them construct psychologically convincing ransomware messages. π£ It suggested a ransom value tailored to the victim.
Tomek Turba has been talking for a while now in his training sessions about how easily AI can create ransomware. Not to mention generating content for phishing or spreading disinformation.
π± Hackers, just like programmers, are also keeping up with the times.
What does this mean for security?
β Hacking is becoming cheaper β less time is needed to create malicious code or a message that looks like a real phishing attempt.
β It's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is true and what is false β therefore, fact-checking skills are becoming more and more important.
2025-09-03
π»
Dependabot offers several notification channelsβemails, GitHub Mobile notifications, or command-line alerts when you push code. And you might think that it's best to enable everything in every repository so you don't miss anything...
If you do that for your personal GitHub, I guarantee itβyour security journey will end up like the screenshot: dozens of unread alerts π§.
But is that bad? Not necessarily! In large organizations, entire teams handle security. As a solo dev, you have to be smarter.
πΈ When does monitoring make sense? Ask yourselfβis this repository home to a spaceship ready for launch, or a dusty prototype?
It's not worth monitoring projects that are: π records of learning from courses/books, π code from years ago that you're no longer developing, π code that is not used in production.
πΈ It's not about monitoring thousands of notifications. The real skill is using well-configured notifications to create better code!
What's worth doing? Think about your notification strategy: πͺ Which repositories actually need monitoring? πͺ Which notification channel will you actually follow? πͺ Do you need real-time alerts, or is a weekly review enough for your repository?
cyberbezpieczeΕstwo bezpieczenstwoaplikacji appsec applicationsecurity bezpiecznydev fullstackdeveloper github dependabot securedev cybersecurityawareness
2025-09-01
Why Monitoring package.json Isn't Paranoia, It's a Necessity πͺ And it's not just package.json, but every file or solution that contains information about library versions.
We developers love libraries. They genuinely make things a lot easierβyou don't have to write functionality from scratch. Recently, while creating a landing page, I used React GitHub Calendar. Why? Because it was faster. A similar solution for GitLab took me several hours and would still require a lot of work.
Sometimes developers enjoy practicing their skills or creating their own solution, but more often than not, there's no point in reinventing the wheel. After all, package managers provide access to solutions for even the most demanding dev π
So what's the catch?
The catch is supply chain attacks, which can start simply:
*οΈβ£ A dev might abandon a project, and an attacker takes it over (package hijacking);
*οΈβ£ An attacker becomes an "innocent" contributor and adds malicious code to the library;
*οΈβ£ The attacker themselves creates a malicious library that initially raises no red flags (not to mention typosquatting in library names);
*οΈβ£ A library has a dependency that contains a vulnerability (transitive dependency).
πΈ If we compare our repositories to a spaceship, a vulnerability in a package is like a malfunction we want to know about. Without monitoring, we can't assess how serious it is, whether we need to act immediately, or if we can make it to base and implement fixes there.
#cybersecurity #bezpiecznydev #securedev
2025-08-30
Yesterday, I wrote about how vibe coding isn't always effective. That was also touched on a bit during Friday's "AI Leaks in Companies" training from sekurak & Tomek Turba. While the main topic was how using AI can contribute to a decline in a company's cybersecurity, they also had a word for those who do vibe coding π .
π€ TL;DR: On one hand, generating large amounts of code with AI is greatβit lets you quickly create a solution from scratch. On the other hand, though, that code isn't always secure.
π€ It seems to me that the very idea of vibe coding is based more on creating new solutions by leveraging the fact that code can be generated quickly and without extensive programming knowledge. So, this type of coding probably isn't focused on security π .
This makes me even more eager to learn cybersecurity π. I want to use AI, but at the same time, I want to know how to write secure code.
2025-08-29
Yes, I have this hasztag#opentowork... but many things are not ready.
This is a collective reflection after Tech Leaders, coaching sessions with Magdalena Sass, a course by Adam Gola, in which like a skilled magician he reveals the secret arcanes of finding your way in the current job market... (spoiler alert - only for the motivated, otherwise there's no point in bothering with this course just to silence your conscience with "doing something" π€ͺ ), a conversation with Pawel Grzegorczyk, and several other discussions.
I have a lot of experience. But... π I couldn't see my own professional resources; π then I lacked the space to stop for a while and notice what I had accomplished; π and then the thought came that it's worth putting this experience somewhere - so it doesn't get lost, as it has until now.
And where is the best place? On my own website, of course π»
And this is the moment when that little .doc file would come in handy, where I would have all of this written down. The file doesn't exist. Or actually it does, but I only have a part of my achievements there, so basically it doesn't exist. So I'm digging through the internet in a recovery mission.
Don't be like me. Write down your .docx files so you don't forget what you're doing. And so you can use this knowledge later.
Anna Koskowska, I think you mentioned this in your speech at the TL closing Gala π
2025-08-25
Recently I've had several tasks on my plate where Cursor could be a helpful tool. So, I decided to get familiar with it and completed a course by Εukasz Kallas. I've learned solid basics of Cursor, although then I got frustrated when I hit a wall while trying to configure it for a project's requirements. π€ͺ Luckily, thanks to Daniel Roziecki, I now know how to tackle the issue.
As for the vibe coding itself... it's just a tool, like any other.
πΏοΈ It definitely has some potential. I'm currently writing a Python game starring a squirrel that collects nuts, using a bit of vibe coding. Sometimes it solves a problem instantly, other times I wonder how else to phrase a prompt so the AI does what I ask for π€¦ββοΈ
πΏοΈ Does this mean I only use vibe coding? No. For one, I believe that to be a good programmer, you need to deeply understand the code. I learn best by writing code "from scratch" and fixing errors myself. However, once I master certain concepts, I let the AI help me, so I have time to learn other important programming skills π
There are also other reasons why vibe coding isn't always effective, but I'll write about that tomorrow π€ͺ
For today, I recommend this Udemy courses creator π
2025-07-12
AI is evil and ruins your brain!
I haven't yet read the study recently so famous on LinkedIn that some describe this way, while others share different conclusions. I myself see that every tool can affect the brain positively or negatively, and how it affects it depends on how it's used.
My English is decent enough to communicate freely. So the idea of creating bilingual content popped into my head some time ago. And if there were 48 hours in a day, I'd probably have been more eager to translate my posts earlier. Unfortunately, most of the time I do my social media posts against the clock π€.
Ever since AI came into common use, I've regularly used it to translate posts. Each time, however, I read the translation. Sometimes I correct it, and sometimes I check the meaning of words to refresh my memory and make sure they're used in the right context.
I'm not a full-time translator, so if I had to do this work manually, I'd be doing it at the expense of learning or working.
At the same time, with each post, I recall or reinforce what I learned while studying for FCE, CAE, and then during my psychology studies which were held in English.
I don't know if I'd currently find extra time to study. I watch movies and series, read documentation, listen to webinars, and sometimes read books in English. AI is an additional tool that helps me maintain my skills at an appropriate level π
2025-07-10
"And stop snarling at yourself π¦Ύ " β Daniel Roziecki posted that yesterday in response to my post about overthinking. So now I'll share a recent discovery on the topic of snarling itself.
I read various books. Heck! I read several interchangeably, putting one down, catching up on another β that's just how I am. And one of those books is about calming the vagus nerve.
And in that book, it's explained why, in stressful situations, we can snarl at ourselves. Or at others. It's simple β when arousal appears, an emotional overload, we need to explain it to ourselves somehow. To find a culprit. Outside or inside β others or ourselves.
If we don't catch ourselves doing this and don't help calm our nervous system, the reaction can permanently enter our repertoire.
Sometimes it's worth knowing why we snarl at ourselves, because sometimes that helps in choosing the right remedies. For example β relaxation instead of reading another self-help book and wondering what's wrong with us π
After all, how can you be calm when your system is... nervous? π€ͺ
2025-07-09
I think, therefore I am. I think too much, therefore I am not...
Yesterday, Daniel Roziecki and I were talking about thinking. And "overthinking." That is - excessive pondering.
This can really stop you in your tracks at work. Not that I've suddenly become a supporter of not thinking or the YOLO philosophy β no, not at all. I just see that too often I cross the thin line between "I've thought the topic through" and "I'll keep thinking about this topic indefinitely."
I've observed that the latter usually appears when: π€ I have a lot of uncertainty and fears within me (I don't know how to start something, or I'm afraid of stumbling), π€ I have no influence on the situation's development, and through this thinking, I give myself a substitute for influence, π€ I'm tired and try to justify delaying action through overthinking.
None of this is conducive to programming. Because programming requires: π encountering uncertainty and disarming it by breaking problems down into smaller ones, π determining what I have influence over and coming up with solutions for situations I don't have influence over, but which need to be handled somehow (like lack of access to a service from an external provider), π realistic planning and rest π
I'll just leave that here and get back to the topic of sockets, which I'm currently working on in "Za RΔ czkΔ" π€―
2025-07-08
Another Monday where you're waiting for "that" call or "that" email?
I totally get it. It doesn't matter if I'm waiting for a screening, already had a technical interview, or maybe even waiting for feedback (because sometimes that comes right away π).
If you've been job searching for a while, it's possible your mind has gotten stuck in a loop where it's hard to focus on anything else. The anticipation has repeated so many times that your brain has learned: first thing in the morning, check your phone and email. Then, you do it frequently so you don't miss any information β and can respond as quickly as possible. This strengthens neural connections, which then become so strong that this behavior turns into a habit.
And when you're job searching, emotions get involved too.
If the situation goes on for a long time, your nervous system learns to "activate" that pathway faster. And with that come emotions, not always friendly ones. Plus, how long "a long time" means depends, among other things, on the characteristics of your nervous system.
What can you do about it? π Step one: Observe yourself and start noticing when you're going down that well-worn path. π Step two: Do one of these three exercises: body scan (looking for places where you feel "okay"), breathing exercises, or looking around your environment and focusing your gaze on things that bring you positive associations.
Have a good Monday β despite everything! π€
2025-07-01
I'm starting to get into planning and... maybe even liking coaching! π Yesterday, I posted photos of my home rearrangements and tidying up. This is part of a plan that Magdalena Sass and I are creating, which came about during our meetings. π
Some time ago, for "Za rΔ czkΔ" with Daniel Roziecki, I had to prepare a development plan. A weekly plan was no problem. A quarterly one was a huge struggle. When I sat down to plan for a longer period... fear paralyzed me.
Some time later, I got into the Tech Leaders mentoring program. At the opening gala, as a prize in a competition, I could choose a book or... a voucher for a few coaching sessions with Magdalena Sass.
After my first good experiences with such sessions with Jerzy CieΕliΕski, I decided to give it a try. I chose the voucher. And on the way back, having nothing to read, I was kicking myself that I would have preferred to take the book instead π€£
However, it quickly turned out that by following my intuition and taking the voucher, I made one of the best decisions this year. These few meetings made me look at my development, career path, and past decisions in a completely different light.
And lately, what spoke to me most were our conversations about planning, which - as I mentioned - was not my strong suit. I was afraid of planning. Of making decisions.
Yet talking with Magdalena helped me better understand my fear, see my resources in a different light, and... I started thinking not only about what's in the coming weeks, but what's in the coming year, and even in the coming years! π
I'm going back to cleaning. And if you have any questions, there's a link to Magdalena's page in the comments β you can ask her yourself! π
2025-06-30
This is the way...
You don't assemble IKEA furniture with a power drill. You do it by hand. This is the way!*
It's been a busy day. The amount of studying in recent months has turned my office into a cave, even naming it "basement" would be not far from truth... It's time to air out and reorganize this space a bit.
So, I spent the day actively. I think I'll dedicate another one or two weekends to tidying up, so I can study, work, and after hours, allow myself luxury of expressing myself through art ποΈ
Rest isn't always about a trip, and self-care isn't always about psychotherapy, reading a book, or a host of other activities. It's also about taking care of the space around you. π€
2025-06-15
I finally want to stop comparing myself to others! π«£ This is one of the thoughts that stuck with me after the gala closing the 10th edition of the Tech Leaders mentoring program.
The thought about not comparing myself to others came up during an interesting panel with Sylwia Klusek, Alina Malinowska, Jacek Milewski, and Natalia Obal. From that conversation, I'm "stealing" these reflections:
π if I'm in the same place next year as I am now, that's okay too; π I am good enough (I want to repeat this to myself every day); π I don't need to add extra pressure on myself, I'm already doing a lot for change; π just because I'm changing careers doesn't mean I have to focus on catching up to others β because I won't; however, I have a unique set of skills related to my previous professional path, and that's my asset; π gaining knowledge is important, but an equally important skill is the ability to unlearn various things to make space for what's new; π engineering studies (computer science) aren't a bad idea after all π€«
From Monika Skoczylas's success story, I'm taking the thought that to achieve goals, you need to plan them. And well in advance. One supposedly knows this, but then still needs to see proof in the form of a concrete inspiring story π
As for Anna Koskowska's presentation, I listened thinking how often I beat myself up and how I deepen my own imposter syndrome. It's good to know that something can be done about it β congratulations on the journey you've overcome and thank you for the inspiration! π
The gala was wonderfully hosted by Agata Kozicka and Magdalena Gondek, for which I extend a huge thank you, and thanks for the entire program go to Anna Szwiec and the team. It was π₯
My heartfelt thanks go to the person without whom these four intense months wouldn't have happened β Filip Szarek! Learning under your watchful eye helped me organize a lot of knowledge, repeatedly opened my mind to things I wouldn't have suspected existed, and gave me a completely new perspective on programming π
Thank you so much for your kind words about my presentation on how to tame the Terminator with the help of a mentor π
You can expect a blog post on this topic this week, so if anyone didn't participate β you'll have a chance to catch up π
Since it was intense, I'm sharing a photo from Mateusz OΕΌΓ³g β and waiting for the official photos π
2025-06-07
A Catchy Topic - Micro-habits! π No, I haven't read "Atomic Habits" yet; it's on my shame list. For now, after the big drama in the USA between Trump and Musk, Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk won out π«£.
However, that doesn't mean I won't be implementing new habits after the intensive Tech Leaders mentoring program. Quite the opposite, in fact.
And I want to start with one that was already helpful during the program, and which Daniel Roziecki talks about in "Za RΔ czkΔ" - the habit of daily work with code.
For almost two weeks now, I've been sitting down every day to either write code or do a kata. I'd love for this to become ingrained in me and to write application code and do katas daily. Even if I only spent five minutes a day on a kata and another five minutes on creating a meaningful commit.
Ultimately, I'd like to be able to dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to katas and at least 30 minutes to committing (outside of work), but you have to start somewhere, right? π€ π
2025-06-06
Today, I want to talk a bit about prejudices, not just in the workplace.
I've noticed prejudices many times. Some are spoken about loudly, others quietly, and still others not at all. There are "trendy" prejudices, those constantly on everyone's lips, and those that aren't discussed, even though they exist and have just as much impact. I, too, sometimes, more or less consciously, let prejudices guide my thoughts or decisions, and there's nothing strange about that π€.
As a psychologist, I'm aware that prejudices have been, are, and will be present. They're a byproduct of how our brain works. In the background, our brains try to conserve energy and react quickly in dangerous situations, which leads to using shortcuts π«£.
You can't cheat biology, but you can manage it wisely.
So, how can we counteract both the more and less visible prejudices?
Through conversation. Curiosity about ourselves. Curiosity about the world. Asking open-ended questions to get to know "the Other." By building a space where there's no feeling of threat, no fatigue, and where people have the strength and resources to be open to one another π.
For me, the Tech Leaders mentoring program was just such a space for getting to know many people who are different from me π.
2025-06-05
Here's another small summary of the Tech Leaders mentoring program.
The meeting with my mentor was a meeting with someone Different. Different in the sense of someone who, to some extent, holds different values, pursues them in a different way, and looks at things from a different perspective.
It's one thing to meet someone, even talk for a few hours, and never see them again; it's another to collaborate.
Nevertheless, establishing a collaborative relationship with my mentor was a challenge we overcame, and in which these things proved useful:
π curiosity about the other person, π openness, π setting boundaries, π occasional talks about nothing (read: not about programming π€£) π asking questions and paraphrasing (to better understand what the other person meant).
At first, I wondered how this mentoring would go and was a little worried. π€ Over time, as we talked, we got to know each other better and found common ground. π§Ά
Now I'm sad that we're already finishing π π
2025-06-04
The Impact of AI on the Natural Environment π³ π² Some talk about its carbon footprint, while others highlight its invaluable support in creating new solutions that can help the environment. For instance, optimizing production and distribution based on demand (the less food wasted, the better!).
To me, AI is a tool thatβlike any otherβcan be used positively or negatively in this and other contexts. For example, when writing an application as part of the Tech Leaders mentorship program, I used AI, though not always.
It seems to me that what's more important in this discussion is how we use AI (and the AI hype means it has to be everywhere). π€
It's a bit like waste segregation. Generally, it would be good to segregate waste. But on the other hand, there are situations where it's difficult, for example, medical waste should be disposed of properly. ποΈ
I dream of a world where we use AI thoughtfully in our daily lives, and only in extreme cases do we not consider the cost. But what does "thoughtfully" mean? What is an "extreme case"? Even the oldest highlanders don't know that! π€ͺ
2025-06-03
The topic of Polish presidential elections is slowly fading from memory, and it makes me think that technology in democratic processes shouldn't be reduced solely to online voting, transmitting election protocols, or more broadly, things like fact-checking, which is crucial in the context of disinformation.
For me, democracy also means empowering the voices of those who, for some reason, feel unheard. This isn't just through general elections but also through initiatives that build, for example, a sense of competence and agency in various areas of life. π¦Ύ
In this regard, technology allows people to meet and collaborate who might not otherwise have the chance, such as through the Tech Leaders mentoring program, where I collaborate with a mentor from a different city. It would be difficult to even meet without technology, let alone talk about several months of collaboration.
Yes, there will be patostreamers, scammers, and disinformation. However, the same tools they use can be leveraged to build oneself, one's agency, and to connect with people in a way that allows you to carve out your place in the world.
2025-06-02
In my daily activities, I try to combine technology with "analog" actions. This is no different when it comes to effective time management. β²οΈ
π At one point, a Chrome plugin called StayFocusd was a great help to me, allowing me to block websites I visited too often. π Currently, I track the time I spend on various tasks using Toggl Track, which is also a pretty good tool for monitoring time spent on different activities.
In the "analog" world, I use: π note-taking on paper - unfortunately, ClickUp and creating sprints for myself don't really work well for managing my tasks at the moment; π the Pomodoro Technique - and here, I don't even set a timer; I just write down the start time and work for at least 25 minutes (unless I get really into something, like coding an app that's a result of mentoring within TechLeaders, and then I allow myself to work a bit longer π).
Combining these two worlds allows me to better navigate a changing reality where not everything can be put on a list π
2025-06-01
No longer a waste of time! β²οΈ Too slow? Too "impractical"? Too time-consuming? Too this, that, or the other...
I used to think that about things like: π Watching sports broadcasts π Taking notes π Bullet journaling π Slowly sipping coffee π Getting hooked on a series π Lounging in bed π Writing social media posts π Taking regular walks π Resting π Crocheting
Fun fact: I was only able to warm up to creating posts thanks to Tech Leaders mentoring β before that, it felt "too time-consuming" and "too weird."
Today, every item on this list has a place in my life. These things help me breathe, create space for myself, and make me different from others who like or create different things.
After all, I don't have to be a copy of anyone else β I get to be me π₯°
2025-05-30
TGV in conversations π When I talk to someone, my thoughts rush ahead like a TGV β and in many cases, I accurately guess what the other person is about to say. That's when I start getting impatient, because I already have a response readyβ¦ but I know I should wait π
What's behind this? Divergent thinking β during conversations, it picks up speed and generates a bunch of possible replies, then works hard to narrow them down to the most likely one. After that, I often feel the urge to shine as someone who's intuitive and proactive π β which isn't always a great idea, because it can come across as impatience π€£
That's why I'm now working on slowing down my mental TGV, giving others space to finish what they're saying before jumping in with my answer. Crocheting actually helps me balance my attention between the speaker and the craft β keeping me focused on what they're saying, rather than on my reply. A few people I've met through the Tech Leaders mentoring program have already noticed the difference π
Now I'm looking for other strategies that offer a similar effect β preferably ones that don't involve bringing yarn everywhere π€£ Currently testing: breathing exercises and mindfulness π€©
2025-05-29
I have to do this, I have to do that, I'm so busy...
The world of "musts" is a nightmarish place β one where there's no choice, only the burden of doing things because you're supposed to, because you have to, because that's just how it is...
Ever since I started replacing "I have to" with "I want to" or alternatively "I choose to," I've experienced reality in a completely different way: π Frustration turns into motivation π My sense of agency grows π I feel like I'm taking responsibility for myself and my life π I have more resources to invest in learning, e.g. in mentoring programs like one from Tech Leaders π€ͺ
Have you ever tried making that switch? π
2025-05-28
Is "this" still me? π The end of the Tech Leaders mentoring program is approaching. It's been (and still is) an intense time β one that's allowed me to see myself in a new light and rethink how I view myself.
For a long time, I held a strong belief that I wasn't capable of delivering and finishing things. I was afraid I might resemble those people who project an image of professionalism⦠but don't follow through on what they've committed to.
When I started looking at myself more closely, I realized: sure, I've got a few unfinished courses, a couple of lingering to-dos β but these aren't huge, critical things. And yet, I would often beat myself up over them, completely overlooking the things I have delivered β and ignoring the fact that when I do slip up, I say "I'm sorry" and genuinely think about how to make it right.
These past months have shown me that I can say: I know how to start and finish things. I deliver in enough situations to confidently say β I'm reliable in what I do π₯°
2025-05-27
Recently, my Mom told me a story about how, in the past, she lost something important to her because she was too afraid to act π€.
She also said: "Since then, I don't give up too soon β I try, I take action. Because if I had just taken one small step back then, I wouldn't have lost something I truly cared about. So don't give up either β you never know what you might gain just by trying."
That advice really struck me. On the one hand, I'm also someone who doesn't like to give up. On the other hand, I never quite understood where that came from β and sometimes I even saw it as a flaw π.
Realizing that it's part of an intergenerational message helps me make better decisions β to know when it's worth not giving up, and when it's better not to burn out and instead choose a different strategy (like waiting it out, sometimes).
P.S.: And it's thanks to that stubbornness that I got into Tech Leaders mentoring π
2025-05-26
Did you know that May 23rd was World Turtle Day? π’
During the Tech Leaders mentoring program, it's hard to slow down to a turtle's pace β but even in that fast pace, I allow myself to catch some "slower" moments: putting down my phone, going for a walk, sipping coffee in peace.
What does that give me? π A break from current challenges β which means rest for the mind π The realization that this temporary rush isn't everything, and I don't have to burn out emotionally in it β life, when seen as something longer than just these intense days or weeks, puts things into perspective π
2025-05-25
On Wednesday, I joined a fantastic webinar titled 'zaKODuj rΓ³wnowagΔ - zarzΔ dzanie stresem i kreatywnoΕΔ w Εwiecie IT' (Code Your Balance - Stress Management and Creativity in the IT World) by Paulina Chrobak-Rus under the wing of Tech Leaders π
For those interested, here are a few takeaways from the webinar: π It's worthwhile to reframe a stressful situation as an interesting challenge rather than something terrifying and beyond our control π Defining your sphere of influence helps in stress reduction π Creativity supports finding solutions (even in IT π) π Inspiration, incubation, illumination, verification - these are the components of creativity, and each needs some action from us to create something truly innovative π
PS: As part of psychoeducation, I'll share information from the presentation about eustress and distress - that stress isn't always bad π
2025-05-23
Does a programmer have to be creative? π In my opinion, sometimes yes, although not always.
π Sometimes you need to stand firmly on binary ground and connect logical blocks together. π And sometimes you need to free your mind, give yourself space to allow new concepts to appear in your head.
And sometimes music helps with this, as it can be a catalyst for creativity.
While writing applications as part of the mentoring from Tech Leaders, my speakers often feature: π€ Wardruna, e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHAWJKmMTRQ π€ Ludovico Einaudi, e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN_q-_nGv4U π€ Two Steps From Hell, e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKRUPYrAQoE π€ Iron Maiden, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bePCRKGUwAY
And what's playing in your speakers? π§
techleaders10 music
2025-05-22
Today, I listened to the Cyberstarter Programmer track, and later I'll catch up on the rest - after all, I can't split myself in two, let alone six! π€ͺ
Maciej P's presentation showed secrets of secure-by-design implementation. I knew before that it's good to think about security at the software design stage because the later it is, the more it will cost to implement changes. However, from the lecture, I learned how to do it π
There were also interesting tidbits from Robert Kruczek today, which can be summarized in one sentence - years go by, and vulnerabilities in operating systems remain π€
PaweΕ BanaΕ presented an interesting example of using scraping and a script created with the help of AI. However, I will emphasize what the speaker emphasized: not every website can be scraped, you need to respect the law (both copyright and take GDPR into account), and also remember not to overload the server with your actions (like in technical SEO scans π).
More summaries with some key thoughts to come, stay tuned π«‘
2025-05-20
Recently, I've been spending a bit more time familiarizing myself with tools for broad testing β both manual and automated. No, I'm not planning to go into QA, not yet π€ͺ but I want to expand my knowledge to be able to determine which tools are useful where, and that's always valuable knowledge.
Postman, Bruno, Playwright, ChromeDevTools, Swagger β these tools in the context of REST API testing were the focus of the first of two webinars from jaktestowac.pl that I've managed to catch up on. It was my first time seeing Playwright in action β I really liked it. Its structure reminds me of Jest, which I'm implementing in my side project.
Extra points to the presenters for showing Copilot in the context of writing tests for Playwright π I'm eagerly waiting for the next part π
2025-05-19
What has inspired you recently? Any book? Podcast? Course?
I was inspired by the recordings that Daniel Roziecki serves up lesson by lesson in the first stage of learning. He talks a lot about motivation, task planning, setting goals, and how to build the right mindset that is helpful in being a programmer. Daniel speaks simply, engagingly, to the point, offering many suggestions if someone wants to deepen their knowledge, and at the same time, his recordings are enough to get started.
And while (so far) learning Python is quite monotonous for me (although after the first stage I already feel that it will be a wild ride and I will miss writing Hangman or Snake), what Daniel recorded allowed me to get organized in learning programming. Thanks to this, it's easier for me to deliver code for the project I'm writing as part of the Tech Leaders mentoring - the mindset no longer fails as it did before when I tried to write more complex applications.
And the second inspiration is a podcast that I myself am making for Not The Hidden Wiki, and whose subsequent episodes in creation make me check my habits and thoughts on the topic of digital hygiene and other building blocks that help in its construction. Before I inspire (I hope) others, I inspire myself by asking myself uncomfortable questions and looking for answers to them π
2025-05-18
How do others see me? π± Recently, inspired by conversations and reflections related to my involvement in TechLeaders mentoring, I asked three people what they thought I was great at.
The answers surprised me, and some even blew my mind π€― π§ in a positive way, of course! π
It turned out that in the opinion of others: π§ I can communicate in various contexts and situations (small talk, public speaking, resolving conflicts), π§ my involvement in handicrafts π§Ά is noticed and admired, π§ although I see myself as disorganized, others... admire how I organize my work and how I achieve my set goals π€―
I love surprises like that π π₯°
2025-05-17
A few words about hope and persistence π
Recently, in one of my conversations, I mentioned my low level of hope lately. I would like to have hope and for it to become my driving force in action, but I feel that at the moment, the only thing propelling me is stubbornness of the "oh for π€¬ sake" variety.
From my perspective, the lack of this feeling of hope is a certain defect that I don't really know what to do with. Stubbornness, on the other hand, I perceived as something negative; after all, people say: "as stubborn as a mule"...
The response surprised me and allowed me to realize that I don't necessarily need hope to move forward. If it's currently beyond my reach, that's okay. It's good that there's this stubbornness. It's not so bad after all π¦
Besides, maybe instead of saying I'm stubborn, I can say I'm... persistent? π± That's a really interesting thought! π
It's worth talking to people - you can see yourself from a completely different perspective!
PS: interestingly, this conversation wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gotten into the mentoring program at TechLeaders π
2025-05-16
My heart is beating faster π and it's not from coffee β!
Recently, I did something that had scared me for a long time. However, taking advantage of the unexpectedly good results from treatment after treatment, I seized the opportunity and will be going to work one afternoon a week on average. This work may not be complicated, but:
π it allows me to be with people (colleagues), π it allows me to face communication with clients, π it helps me build a habit of leaving the house for work, which is relatively new for me given my previous remote work, although I worked as a psychotherapist in person before and during the pandemic.
The first question I was asked, "How can I help you?" was terrifying π and my colleagues told me I didn't have to be so stressed π and I was as tense as a πͺ's backend (I found that metaphor recently π€£).
This doesn't change the fact that afterwards: π I was happy to have left the house, π I noticed that a sense of humor really helps in communication, π I rested from intensive coding as part of the mentoring from Tech Leaders, π I confronted my perception of interpersonal skills - it's better than I thought!
2025-05-15
NOPE.
For some time now, I've even been saying "no" relatively often. However, in the last year, I said "no" twice to projects that were wonderful, and sometimes I still wonder, "what if...".
I said "no" because when it came to the stage of establishing the legal framework, the documents put me in a very disadvantaged position. And if nothing had happened, I could have just added the project to my CV and that would be it. But these kinds of documents are signed for when something does happen. And then what? "But I signed..."
With that in the back of my mind... I didn't sign.
At first, it was hard. I felt a lot of emotions, a lot of sadness, a sense of a lost opportunity.
However, I am proud that I did it. Thanks to this: π I can sleep a little more peacefully π I could focus on other activities π I had the space to apply for the TechLeaders mentoring program, and you already know how that turned out π
And finally, with wisdom recently reminded to me by Daniel Roziecki - "when you say no to something, you are saying yes to other things." And I like to say "yes" to things and matters that are important to me.
techleaders10 nope yesformyself
2025-05-14
Although I've had quite a few backlog recordings to listen to lately and my shame list is growing, today I dropped by a fascinating meeting under the auspices of Nerds Coding Gang: "Za kulisami UX researchu" (Behind the scenes of UX research).
Knowledge gained, and one piece of wisdom from Krysia Radzewicz goes straight into my notebook:
'God, grant me the wisdom to know when to be silent, to know when to speak, and to distinguish the situations in which silence or speaking is needed.'
Something along those lines... whoever was there knows! π
PS: I plan to listen sometime one of the podcasts proposed by Krysia: https://www.userinterviews.com/podcast. If you want to dive deeper into UX this might be useful.
2025-05-13
Superpowers. Resources. Advantages. Different names, but underneath them lies one thing - what we value in ourselves, what we do well, what we cope with.
Recently, I've noticed that my superpowers at the moment are: π perseverance, π setting boundaries, π taking care of myself, π public speaking (I'm waiting until the end of the intensive learning within the Tech Leaders mentoring program to have the space to create more presentations π ), π rising from the ashes.
Like everyone (I think π€ π ), I also have some weaknesses, for example: π I rarely focus on my strengths, π I create a lot of negative scenarios.
However, this makes it so that: π I can also see those things in which I fall short - and simply accept them, π I can think through a situation and prepare for the fact that not everything will go smoothly - that is, have a backup plan.
What superpowers have you recently discovered in yourself? What weaknesses can you turn into a resource?
superpowers backupplanning resources techleaders10
2025-05-12
Well, we're leveling up in programming. π No more FE and Visual Studio Code, we're seriously launching PyCharm Community Edition and going with snakes. I mean Python. And the Snake game. π
PyCharm seems to have so many functions that I think it will take me half a year to learn what does what and why, although I'm comforted by the fact that my existing programming knowledge saved me many hours of configuring keys to be able to send commits using SSH, and this part works well enough that new repositories have appeared on both Github and Gitlab.
π On the plus side, VSC doesn't get bloated with fancy plugins for me. And I no longer have to wrestle with IDLE, although adding the interpreter from the correct folder and with the correct Python version was also an interesting challenge.
π On the minus side - even ChatGPT doesn't know how to create a good .gitignore for Python and PyCharm, so somewhere between commits, I have files hanging around that I don't really know what to do with.
2025-05-07
Is it worth creating a 6-month plan? π΅βπ« I started with 3-month plans, and that was a bit too much for the moment. I noticed I have difficulty sticking to the plan. I think too wishfully, and then life with its complexities and chaos kicks in, and poof! The plan vanishes like a soap bubble. I achieve 50%, 70%, and then... a wall.
On the other hand, heading in a certain direction but without specifics makes it feel like I'm doing something and ticking items off a list, but I can't clearly define how what I did in a given month brings me closer to the goal. And which goal?
So, if I were to create a 6-month plan, this is on the list: π finishing the mentoring within Tech Leaders with a written, working version of the application (June) π the exam at "Za RΔ czkΔ" from Daniel Roziecki (and that's in May) to finish the first stage of learning, π further week-to-week planning - to learn a more realistic, not wishful, approach to the daily plan (till July) π developing a way to look for a job - one that won't mean wanting to throw the keyboard out the window after yet another recruitment nightmare (August).
And further? That depends on how my planning goes until July. At this stage, I prefer to plan for shorter periods and make corrections faster so that I don't have to adjust plans so much after 2-3 months. No, there's nothing wrong with that. And at the same time, it can lower morale a bit too much.
2025-05-05
My ideas to feel better when speaking in public π
π breathing exercises that help me calm down and focus π§ββοΈ π a day or two before the presentation - practicing it. This makes me feel more confident πΌ
Besides that, I learned a lot while working as a lecturer at a post-secondary school some time ago. It was there, sharing knowledge during lectures and exercises, that I saw that people usually don't bite! π Sometimes they are interested, sometimes - eager to discuss, sometimes - tired, and even the best lecture won't change that. π΅βπ«
This taught me that it's worth focusing on the message, not worrying about what might have gone wrong. π¬ Be sure - if something goes very wrong, someone will tell you π π€£
The same applies to conversations with people in general, even if we're seeing them for the first time - focus on the message, not on what you think you're doing wrong (this helped me survive an incredible number of conversations with new people at the opening gala of the mentoring program from TechLeaders).
And besides that, you need to - practice, practice, practice! π€
publicspeaking techleaders10
2025-05-04
Successes π₯³ and failures π΅βπ«
How do I deal with failures? π΅βπ« π sometimes I mutter π€¬ under my breath π usually, however, the next day I just get up and do my thing.
I'm still working on not letting them get to my head too much, or on stopping seeing many things as failures, but rather as something that is part of the learning process.
How do I celebrate successes? π₯³ And here's my dilemma. I don't think I'm very good at celebrating successes. Even when I got into the Tech Leaders mentoring program, I focused more on working on imposter syndrome and postponed the celebration until I deliver the project I'm working on with my mentor.
Instead of focusing on celebrating (although sometimes I order π£ as a celebration) π I focus on resting (usually when there's a success, there's also fatigue, so reading a book is a must) π I think about what I did to achieve this success - sometimes I write it down - to nip the imposter syndrome in the bud π I focus on appreciating what is most important in my life - sometimes success doesn't feel celebratory at all, it's associated with difficult emotions, but it is a success (for example, when I give up a collaboration that is important to me, putting my goals first). Then the only thing left is to be happy that I am important to myself, although in the background there's a bit of sadness or regret that I had to choose.
Maybe you can give me some tips on how I can celebrate? π
2025-05-02
I've tested Clickup, Linear, Jira, Trello, and a few other work organization tools. And in a professional setting or when working in a group, they work well for me.
However, when it comes to planning my day, tasks, and development, I do best with a simple piece of paper and a pen. This is my reflection after recent attempts to write down ONLY 5 tasks a day, as Daniel Roziecki suggested.
Yes, I know if I wrote it down in a file, I could then run it through AI... but I don't want to. Not everything has to be in AI. AI doesn't have to work for everyone in this context. π±
And this notebook will contain summaries. I've already got a supply of stickers and washi tape π
What about you? Do you prefer to plan and track your progress in a program, file, or analogously, or perhaps in some other way? π
2025-04-29
Relax, I'm alive π€ͺ The course from Adam Gola, and then the latest post from Daniel Roziecki, assured me that it's worth continuing to be active on LinkedIn.
However, I need to think about what and how to write next to ultimately fit within 2-2.5 hours per week. Especially since I write posts without AI β I simply want it not to be just "content for algorithms," but something that also allows me, along with sharing some thoughts, to organize certain things in my head β whether in programming, psychology, or in the realm of work-related reflections.
I think that's the most important thing for me in writing, alongside conveying meaningful, inspiring content to the Reader. Thinking through the text, the choice of words, whether I want to formulate a particular thought in this way, organizes my mind and allows me to clarify my understanding of various issues.
Yes, I know, it's faster with AI. But then do I have a chance to think about who I am, where I'm going? To process the acquired knowledge in such a way that certain concepts are remembered?
So, I will write, I will write without AI β it's enough that it helps me with translating texts. But what and how β I'm still thinking. π€
2025-04-20
"Low-ball"β½ and the topic of sunk costs π±
Recently, I invested my time and energy in projects where I feel I've sunk some costs, such as time and energy.
Yes, I am satisfied with my participation in them (despite everything!) and I want to finish them. At the same time, I feel that I am incurring higher costs than I initially anticipated, and this is due to the fact that the rules of the game were changed during these projects.
I could have agreed or withdrawn. I agreed to stay, seeing value in these projects, however, this presence is not without its criticism. I think that some elements of these projects could have been communicated earlier, a lot of them - at the start. Then I would probably have planned my OKRs or my involvement differently.
β½ This is an example of the "low-ball" technique - being already involved in an action, we continue this involvement even if information about costs / lack of expected profits appears.
π± No, I don't think the responsible parties did this intentionally, but it's worth being aware of this phenomenon, just like the other one: the sunk cost fallacy - a situation in which, due to the costs incurred, we don't want to withdraw from a given project, even if the costs are increasing.
What we can do about this? π Be aware of these mechanisms π Create your own "checkpoints" - moments when we assess whether a given project, from the perspective of our needs, goals, and values, still has something to offer us, or not.
2025-04-16
What's happening with WordPress? π± Professionally, I've distanced myself somewhat from WordPress, although I still manage a few sites that run on this content management system and I keep my finger on the pulse. And it's this pulse that's starting to be very concerning.
I'm aware of the controversies that arose at the turn of 2024 and 2025. It also seems to me that the number of updates has dropped significantly.
Some of the projects I manage are React on the front-end and WordPress as the backend, the so-called headless WP. However, in the current situation, considering my development, I'm seriously thinking about migrating to NextJS and learning more about working with databases to leave WordPress for good.
Especially since, at the moment, you can really do a lot in WordPress using FSE or Gutenberg, so I have the impression that this is already a warning sign to either put everything on WP and become more familiar with lowcode / nocode, or settle into the realities of fullcode, but somewhere else.
I don't know what I'll do yet, but I have a strange mix of emotions. I feel like an era is ending, I feel a certain emptiness, and I wonder if these are just my feelings or if something is really coming to an end?
2025-04-15
No, I didn't see it coming. Just like getting into Tech Leaders mentoring program, the NTHW podcast, and a few other surprises this year. And now I got to next part of AIDEAS program from Generator PomysΕΓ³w and Politechnika WrocΕawska.
Yes, I intend to seize this opportunity, just like others, though not all of them. This makes me level up to master with planning skills, good and effective time management, as well as practicing work-life wellness and saying "no."
Basics: π getting enough sleep 𧑠proper diet π€ regular physical activity π building digital hygiene 𧑠relaxation as a non-negotiable part of the day
I'm waiting for the group assignment and we're moving forward full throttle with this π¦Ύ
2025-04-14
Still on the topic of talents - if you'd like to check, with a bit of humor, what superpowers you have, you can take a look at this test: https://high5test.com/cliftonstrengths-free/
My pleasant surprise: one of my superpowers is problem-solving, which shouldn't be surprising, since as a psychologist and therapist, I worked in a solution-focused approach. And that approach (SFBT) teaches a problem-solving mindset π
A slightly less pleasant surprise: philomath. Basically, I'm like Smaug π² when it comes to learning. I like to collect strange pieces of knowledge and I'm fascinated by the process of acquiring it, which sometimes makes me get lost in various side threads instead of focusing on the core of the topic. It's a superpower when it comes to small talk, but in learning programming, it doesn't always serve me well, so I'm working on taming this trait - and that's a recent discovery.
You can do something with the test results or not, it depends on the test and how reliable and valid it is. For me, focusing on the core of the topics I'm learning as part of the mentoring from Tech Leaders will definitely be helpful, so I wish you a good Sunday and I'm going back to work! π²
techleaders10 high5 test talenty talents superpowers
2025-04-12
What helps discover talents? βοΈ πͺ
From my psychological and therapeutic experience (on both sides, as a therapist and as a therapy participant), it appears that the key element in supporting others to discover their talents is accompaniment. βοΈ πͺ
In a world that increasingly isolates the individual, the presence of another person, support in difficulties and doubts, and the joint search for solutions, take on particular significance.
If someone struggles with various emotions, doesn't believe in their own worth, and is trapped in their own or others' beliefs, they will usually be more focused on what can help them reach a state of equilibrium, ensure a sense of security, build self-esteem, or accept themselves. Discovering talents β one's potential β will rather take a back seat in the face of more pressing challenges. In such a situation, non-judgmental presence, accompaniment, and ordinary human contact are very helpful.
That's why I believe the presence of another person is so important. I'm not talking about therapy, I'm not talking about mentoring (although I appreciate my presence in mentoring program from Tech Leaders), but about friendship, kind relationships, and supportive comments and constructive feedback within them. And sometimes just ordinary conversations, or even silence.
All of this helps to find oneself, and then the strength appears to discover further aspects of one's personality, including talents. βοΈ πͺ
2025-04-10
An Inspiring Story for Today.
πLauren, Margaret Hamilton's daughter, is playing with the DSKY simulator β a display and keyboard module that is part of the onboard computer in the Apollo program.
π Lauren accidentally runs the P01 program, which erases the navigation data.
π Margaret wants to add code to the program to protect the astronauts from accidentally deleting the data.
π NASA claims that their astronauts are walking ideals, so there is no follow up.
π On Christmas Day in 1968, astronaut Jim Lovell deletes the data during a flight, causing the spacecraft he's in to lose the data needed to determine the return route to Earth.
π Hamilton and her team create a solution, and the Apollo astronauts safely return to Earth.
And then production code gets a necessary fix.
For me, Margaret Hamilton's story is an inspiring tale of a woman who changed (or perhaps it's better to say: co-created?) the world of programming. This story inspires me to continue learning and acting to reverse the narrative I've experienced for years β I can be a humanist, but technical topics are not for women. Programming? IT? Forget it!
And yet, no.
Happy to learn with the Tech Leaders mentoring program and doing my baby steps toward the goal, that is important for me.
2025-04-08
Who doesn't know Chuck Norris? π€ It turns out there's an API with jokes about this action movie legend. Level: dad jokes 18+ π€― Coded as part of an API review.
Repo: https://github.com/lenasedkiewicz/modern-js-bt
2025-04-07
When I found out I got into Tech Leaders mentoring program, I got a little stressed. Not about the program itself, but about my own expectations of it. πΆ So today, I'll be talking about stress.
In my case, a lot of stress arises as a side effect of positive creativity, which is creativity in creating negative scenarios. And being an hsp (highly sensitive person) adds to this by emotionally experiencing these scenarios before they even happen.
From a brain function perspective (simplified), it looks like this: a thought appears - emotions arise - centers in the prefrontal cortex are activated, which send information about a threat to the amygdala - the body reacts.
How to deal with this kind of stress?
π Working on thoughts - e.g., redirecting attention to what's happening "here and now."
π Breathing exercises.
π Body scanning / focusing on bodily sensations.
Over time, it's possible to develop influence over how thoughts proceed and how the body reacts to them. This makes it possible to reduce stress resulting from scenarios that don't necessarily have to happen.
2025-04-06
I'm disconnecting π΅
Lately, I've noticed that connection requests are piling up, as are the "exciting" job offers I get in my inbox, which are usually fake, because after I reply, the contact just disappears.
Sometimes I also get "urgent" messages that are worth replying to ASAP. I used to keep LinkedIn open in the background for those messages, so I could reply right away. Now I don't. I check it once a day.
I reply with a delay. Sometimes I mess something up. Tough luck, I'll learn to live more offline, and others will learn that about me too, eventually.
The "always on" attitude is one of the problems those who want to take care of their digital hygiene have to face. This attitude means being maximally available through all channels and reacting to notifications immediately.
Pros - you're up to date.
Cons - you waste a lot of time switching between tasks, because you break your focus. And others learn that they can reach you at any time. After all, you're always on!
And I want to focus on my tasks. On coding. On building character, the right mindset, on going to the swimming pool or for a walk. I'm learning that replying to another post or comment won't bring me closer to my goals, because I'm not a superstar with a 100k reach who can find a job in a week thanks to connections.
That was a bitter pill to swallow and digest. I'm still learning this. And I'm working on not being "always on."
2025-04-04
Yesterday I mentioned that I've been neglecting the topic of digital hygiene a bit. It's a part of a broader concept, which is mental well-being.
How do I try to take care of it?
π Physical activity - there's no point in counting on motivation here, it's about building a habit.
π Switching to offline activities - systematically working towards reducing time spent on social media / in front of the computer in favor of, for example, crocheting or sewing.
π Changing thought patterns - in difficult times, it's easy to withdraw into oneself and accept that there's no hope for a better life. By working on my thinking, I'm working towards that change and taking care of my mental health.
And what works for you? How do you take care of your mental well-being?
techleaders10 higienacyfrowa dobrostanpsychiczny zdrowiepsychiczne dobrostan digitalhygene wellbeing mentalhealth
2025-04-03
Social Media Silence π±
And one more experiment from recent times. Scheduled posts, minimal reactions, focusing on life offline.
The last week opened my eyes to how lost I had become. Not professionally β I know what I want and I'm doing my baby steps. Rather existentially, believing too much in the power of social media.
I crossed a thin line, beyond which I check every notification and scroll through the feed to write at least three valuable comments a day. I absorb content hoping that some tip will magically help me find a job.
The last week was one LinkedIn check a day, scheduled posts, and replying when I had time. The reach is similar. And the mental comfort is much greater.
If I hadn't started doing a podcast for Not The Hidden Wiki, I probably wouldn't have noticed how much I neglected the topic of digital hygiene.
It's time to fix that.
2025-04-02
Silence π€ vs. music πΆ?
I'm a Highly Sensitive Person. Sometimes I get overstimulated, and sometimes I need additional stimuli to be able to focus on work or study. A lot depends on what topic I'm dealing with.
Recently, I've been experimenting a bit with this topic, and here are my conclusions:
π when I'm learning something new or I want to remember the topic well, silence wins (this is how it is when I'm learning, for example, Python or NodeJS, which I'm getting acquainted with during Tech Leaders mentoring)
π when I'm doing something repetitive, something boring, or something that doesn't require my full attention (React waves its hand), I need some "background," but it's not always music π«’. Sometimes it's F1, sometimes commentary on a football match or darts competition. And sometimes a movie that I know by heart. Sometimes sound in the background helps me, and sometimes I mute the sound and just the image flashing on the side screen is enough.
And what works for you? π
2025-03-23
Programmer's observations when filling out forms.
When you see a red sign saying "50 characters left", what do you think? I thought: I have to fit the description of my motivation in 50 characters with spaces...
However, after entering 50 characters, it turned out that I met the condition that was set - the field contains content longer than 50 characters, so I can submit the form π€¦ββοΈ
And it would be enough to write: "Enter a minimum of 50 characters"...
#ux #ui #form #user #test
2025-03-21
Protip for those building a personal brand on LinkedIn, who want to publish regularly but don't want to be slaves to the algorithm and the app installed on their phone π
π Click the 'Start a post' field π Click the clock icon π You have two options: either schedule the post for a specific day and time, or use the option: 'View all scheduled posts.'
Yes, I know, there's rumor that being on LinkedIn before and up to an hour after posting and quickly replying to comments boosts reach. But those reach boosts rarely translate into something concrete like 'job change' or 'new job offers.'
Want to publish? Do it! But life also happens outside of social media, and your mind needs a break from the information overload. I'm relearning this lately and scheduling posts more and more often.
Do my posts have less reach? Probably yes and... that's okay. I'm doing what I can to build it, while also taking care of my digitalhygiene, because I want my highly sensitive system to have space to regenerate and not be so easily overstimulated.
2025-03-20
I'm pretty sure each of you has played Hangman at some point, right? π I first played this game back at school. Playing it was supposed to help with getting familiar with English vocabulary. It wasn't my favorite way of learning, but some people liked it π
This time, however, the task in the project was not only to play but also to create the game itself. So here it is. A small thing, but written in #Python, so... it's exciting π
Once I study a bit more, I promise I'll think about a #React version (for the nice GUI) and #Python for the backend π
https://gitlab.com/lenasedkiewicz/hangman-game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQihDXypGFM&list=PLznTPMX2s1xNIBL8k6zD-PSV7X71bgGac
2025-03-18
I think I should start a series called 'Monday Fails.' Considering how many websites I've been logging into or adding my CV to lately, and how many errors I'm finding along the way.
This time, there was no error handling for the language I'm using on the site (Polish in this case).
LLM to the rescue, so I already know that the message is in Spanish and means: 'There was an error logging in. The login took too long. Try again. You can try to log in again.' (assuming Gemini isn't hallucinating).
How can such a problem be solved?
I'm hasztag#opentowork, so if you're looking for someone who will consider such issues when writing applications, feel free to contact me π
2025-03-17
My head is buzzing with ideas, and here's one of them. An app supporting goal planning within Tech Leaders mentoring: TL Helper π
Functionalities: π adding goals for a given day (max 5 goals) π tracking goal achievement over a week or month (with information about the length of the streak) π ability to set reminders (goal achievement, planning goals for the next day) π calendar view with access to the goal list and the ability to mark them as done π adding notes related to mentoring
When creating this graphic mini-project, I had hasztag#techleaders10 in mind, but generally, I would benefit from such a tool that allows setting a maximum of 5 goals and enables building simple habits related to literally one topic and small goals to achieve in one day. When you have a "Swiss Army knife" for everything, it's hard to focus on ONE thing to start building habits. For example, on mentoring π
And I think that in a world full of distractions, I'm not the only one who would benefit from focusing on one habit to start with π
2025-03-15
Today's post was inspired by Daniel Roziecki's entry and question about what developer hell might look like. I'm here to answer:
Circle 1: For those who don't fix the code spat out by LLMs because they thought they didn't have to.
Circle 2: Those who used AI reflexively at every step.
Circle 3: Devs chiseling code to perfection.
Circle 4: For Product Managers and Product Owners who waste hours on pointless meetings.
Circle 5: For those who give an Open Source license but then are surprised that people use the software according to the license and block it.
Circle 6: For those who claimed that AI should not be used in a programmer's work.
Circle 7: For those who make IT work hell for others. (new week, new framework...)
Circle 8: For those who "don't waste" time on planning or estimating tasks and consciously promise that a topic will only take an hour when it takes a week at least.
Circle 9: A place for those who scam people with programming (and not only) courses, promising quick entry into IT.
2025-03-14
Life motto? "Per ardua ad astra" - "Through adversity to the stars" (as it turns out, it's the motto of the Royal Air Force π©οΈ).
I've lost count of how many times I've wondered whether cancer would defeat me, or I would defeat cancer. It's one of the greatest adversities I've had to face in my life. Another is turning high sensitivity, which at the moment is more of an adversity than an asset, into a superpower. There are, of course, others that would make for a long winter's tale over hot chocolate... β
Yet, I still believe that it all leads, perhaps by a roundabout route, but still leads to a goal. What goal? That's my sweet secret, maybe I'll tell you someday π β¨
And what principles help me with this?
π Lack of planning is planning to fail (ClickUp is my best friend)
π Better done than perfect (escape perfectionism)
π Work isn't everything (that's why I'm learning to cooperate with my body, give it movement, healthy sleep, a good diet, and time to rest)
π Work smarter, not harder (pretty self-explanatory)
Joining the Tech Leaders mentoring program is working smarter, not harder in the context of development as a programmer. Yes, using the knowledge accumulated in LLMs can greatly accelerate development. However, IMHO, nothing can replace the support of a good mentor and human experience. π€©
2025-03-12
Over the weekend, amidst the wave of Women's Day wishes, I opened a box of memories related to the broad topic of 'gender'.
There were pleasant memories. And there were funny ones too (recently, despite providing female details in the hosting panel, technical support addresses me as 'Sir'). There are also quite a few memories where I try to break free from the narrative that entered my bloodstream through the influence of family, school, and neighbors, despite the positive messages from my closest people.
I'm supposed to keep a low profile. Technical topics aren't for me. For me, there are pots, laundry, cleaning, some 'mission-driven' work. I sing nicely, I crochet nicely, oh, I even read smart books (pat on the head), I'm quite good at humanities, that should be enough for me.
It's hard to break out of that mindset. Nevertheless, I see no other way for myself.
On the occasion of these two days β Women's Day and Men's Day β I wish everyone that we don't push anyone into such narratives. Regardless of gender β because everyone gets their share, in their own way.
2025-03-10
As a would-be participant of Skills of the Future (I'm still crying into my pillow about it π€ͺ ), I have a chance to make friends with AI. And in my context - the context of programming.
Yes, I use AI in writing code. Usually I still need to correct it or adapt it to the rest of the code, however:
π§ when I have no idea how to approach the topic, and StackOverflow does not give inspiration - I can speed up the search for a solution with the help of AI
π§ I can ask it to write code for me that I can then develop on my own
π§ and with boring tasks where you can use AI, I can get the job done faster and leave it behind.
Nevertheless, I feel like a person in the fog. I got on this train a bit late - well, distrust won for a long time. And under the distrust was ignorance.
Now I'm working with a challenge from Daniel Roziecki. And I believe that after this challenge I will be better at using AI.
2025-03-03
A donut-related reflection on customer service.
So, for health reasons, after medical consultations, I don't eat gluten. So I ordered gluten-free donuts.
After placing the order, the first problem: but we don't deliver our products to your area! My reaction: but there's nothing about it on the website! And you used to deliver. The answer: well, it was a courtesy, but now we're changing our policy. And it is on the website. In a different tab.
What could have been done? Add information to the order form, or add logic that would inform - we don't deliver to this postal code this way, choose a courier.
Second problem: I was supposed then to go to the store. I drive up at the time I was supposed to. There are no donuts. I pick up the rest of the order and I have the option - to wait (because maybe they will deliver soon, but it is not known when), to go the next day (again, over an hour of driving back and forth). Or I'll get the donuts - by courier.
What could have been done? For example, a simple system that sends an email when the entire order is available, and if it is not - then I get a phone call and we decide what to do next.
Effect: I'm waiting for the package. Maybe it will arrive today. But I've already lost my appetite for donuts...
And if you're looking for someone to help your team create solutions that keep customers from crying on days like today, I'm attaching my CV.
#jobsearch #fatthursday #donuts #donut
2025-03-01
"You say you have depression? Do some jogging!" - have you heard that too? Or maybe you've heard it yourself? World Depression Awareness Day inspired me to share this week some info on it.
π In the case of a moderate or severe depressive episode, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy will be necessary
When symptoms severely disrupt our functioning, there is no room for "golden advice" or negotiating that maybe it will get better. No, it won't. And a lot depends on the rapid implementation of the first steps, considering that it takes some time to choose the right treatment and for the treatment itself to make us feel better.
π In the case of a mild depressive episode, therapy will be helpful, but you can also support the regulation of the body through activities such as:
π Recognizing that something is wrong requires having adequate resources, which not everyone has at a given moment in life.
Yes, sometimes going for a run will help - if you like it and if it's your decision, made based on your awareness of yourself, your body, your needs. And "golden advice" does more harm than good because it uses language that diminishes the signaled difficulties and is close to stigmatization.
#depression #mentalhealth #wellbeing
2025-02-26
Some Fridays you just have to survive. Get the production to a usable state that allows you to go to sleep without major dramas. Because that's all you can do.
This week has been incredibly tough on me, and it's not over yet. Suffice it to say that I'm still sitting here dealing with, thanks to my family, a server screw-up. π€£ PS: a programmer sometimes does know what they're talking about when they say to do something earlier π.
Remember to take care of yourselves on days like these. Somehow. Even if it's not 100% of the self-care you need. Even a few percent can make a difference on a tough day.
PS: And don't play rescuers in hopeless situations like I do. It doesn't pay off. I comfort myself with the fact that I'm doing it less and less often.
2025-02-21
(Not only) for job seekers! Do you know what you are clicking on?
Recently, a recruiter sent me a link to a job offer that I was supposed to apply for. Well, I applied in one system, but there was a need for me to apply in another one. It happens.
However, it made me cautious - I don't like clicking on links from strangers. Looking for a solution, I found two sites that may be useful in testing such links:
π¨ Nord VPN Link Checker - for regular links π¨ Bitly Link Ckecker - for shortened links from Bitly π¨ VirusTotal - VirusTotal link checker
No, these solutions will not detect 100% of scams. However, they can help to weed out at least some of them, and that's always something. And no, we won't always think of checking potentially harmful links, like me yesterday, which I realized while writing this post. However, it is worth reminding - both yourself and others.
Some things can be checked in this way.
2025-02-15
I'm also crocheting today, but something different. Metaphorically, I've unraveled my own resume and I'm making a new one from the recycled yarn.
Was the old one bad? No. And at the same time, yes. It depends on who I was talking to.
After several years of regularly rewriting my resume, I felt tired of the feedback. For one person, the resume was brilliant, for another it was π©. After the change, the same thing. For the first ones π©, for the second ones a masterpiece. Who the heck is right? Try to find out π€
I treated it all as a process in which I can look at what is important to me, what I want to convey, how I want to convey it. What I want to emphasize.
I will not play the game "describe less, describe more, only one page, only two pages, write more, write less" anymore. I will make a resume that reflects me and meets the general requirements of a resume.
I prefer to send a resume than to polish a resume.
#cv #opentowork
2025-02-14
I mentioned recently that I'm slowly adding Python to my tech stack. To make this process easier, I decided to watch an interesting video from freeCodeCamp.
If you're just starting to learn programming, or are just starting to add another language, it's worth watching this video. It strongly organizes the basics, showing common parts in programming, independent of the language.
Such a logical introduction/review won't hurt, and it can help you discover what to pay attention to when learning, and in particular, what differences are worth noting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOjov-2OZ0E
PS: I recently came across a post titled "does anyone still take notes by hand".
So here I am. I do. And here is the first notebook with Python notes.
In college, I rewrote everything I could. When I write something down, it's easier for me to remember it. Although I'm also quite good at remembering from listening alone, note-taking wins when it comes to the effectiveness of remembering certain concepts.
And at the beginning of learning, when hasztag#Python was very confusing with hasztag#JavaScript, note-taking helped me better remember where the indentations, semicolons, colons and commas should be. And where not. π
So the first learning notebook is behind me. Time to begin with the next one.
2025-02-12
At first I thought I saw Qui-Gon Jinn, but in a cardinal's outfit. Then it turned out that it was not Liam Neeson but Ralph Fiennes.
The action may not have been fast-paced, but the film still offered many moments full of psychological tension. You could feel the moral dilemmas that the characters were experiencing, and immerse yourself in the hierarchical and celebratory atmosphere that accompanies the events in the Catholic Church.
This movie is good enought for a Friday screening with popcorn.
2025-02-10
The situation with hasztag#frontend is as it is. Because of it I'm at a crossroads: either keep pushing with frontend until I master it, or slightly shift my career path.
I'd be lying if I said frontend is boring. The past few days have shown me it can be quite exciting. I also realized how crucial good styling is β otherwise, even the best-written logic can suddenly break the page layout.
I experienced this firsthand while writing a certain functionality in hasztag#PHP and encountering hasztag#CSS code based not on grid or flexbox, but on float (an older tag for styling page layout), which had to be rewritten for the functionality to work.
However, I still feel that frontend isn't everything I want to do. Hence the PHP. I'm not giving up on FE and I'm still practicing hasztag#React and hasztag#Typescript as I code my own website.
But I'm slowly leaning towards a change. I've been learning hasztag#Python since December. It takes up some time and energy, but it also opens my eyes to a slightly different world.
And this is my first π project. If you happen to be missing snow, you can run your own snowfall in the console βοΈ"
https://gitlab.com/lenasedkiewicz/let-it-snow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xyNkuEIPSw&list=PLznTPMX2s1xNIBL8k6zD-PSV7X71bgGac
2025-02-02
Last class with my Students is behind me. I will miss you, dear Students. π€
It was a pleasure to share knowledge. It was a pleasure to discuss, argue, nitpick, and throw in more or less coherent thoughts. To drink coffee together, even remotely, because the classes were online. To talk about cyberpsychology and life, which somehow doesn't want to adhere to scientific rigors.
Will I conduct another classes? I don't know. Maybe. It doesn't depend on me π
I feel satisfaction, and that's the most important thing π₯° And I feel satisfaction because I gave it my all, and the Students liked the material and the discussions π
hasztag#lecturer hasztag#cyberpsychology
2025-02-02
A photo from yesterday's walk around Warsaw's Old Town and the surrounding areas. And it just so happened that yesterday we celebrated 100 years of Polish radio broadcasting. It was on February 1st, 1925, that the first trial radio broadcast was transmitted from the station of the Polish Radiotechnical Society in Warsaw.
I dedicated several years of my life to radio and I don't regret it π₯° The "magic" of radio still speaks to me. Although I don't listen to it as often as I used to, it has a special place in my heart.
It was my internship at Polish Radio that taught me that a journalist is someone who needs to know everything about something and something about everything. I take a similar approach to programming - it's worth having broad horizons while having one specialty in which you strive to be an expert π
2025-02-02
MihΓ‘ly CsΓkszentmihΓ‘lyi created the concept of the flow state: a state in which we feel positive emotions, lose track of time, and focus on an activity. Many people believe that this state is wonderful and beneficial for humans, making work or hobbies satisfying.
Uncle Bob, on the other hand, warns in one of his books that the flow state is not beneficial for programmers. Why? When in a state of deep focus, our attention is not scattered enough to take a comprehensive approach to the work being done. In other words: it may be more pleasant to write code, but then many more corrections need to be made.
I don't know if this is actually the case.
I know that sometimes I need this flow state, like last night, to rediscover why I love programming so much. When I started playing around at 8 PM, I finished at 2 AM π The project is so interesting that I'll probably show it off soon. Once I deliver the fixes π€£
Keeping such wonderful coding in mind, I prefer to work calmly on a daily basis, with regular breaks, with a slight dose of boredom, to be able to focus on what I'm doing, how I'm doing it, writing down tasks and checking them off. Yes, it's boring, and sometimes even the best motivation doesn't sweeten the process. However, it is methodical, well-thought-out, and the code is created and works.
Yes, fun, joy, ecstasy are important. However, on a daily basis, persistent work is what counts most.
2025-01-30
At every conference, I say that I'm a fan of crocheting... Which was even captured at PHPCon Poland 2023.
I can't count how many times I've heard that I'm impatient and that I want who knows what, immediately. However, when I thought about it, I could honestly say: I am sometimes impatient. When I'm tired, when I feel that life's stagnation lasts too long, when I have no idea what to do next - yes, I am impatient.
Today I also have some impatience in me. I would like not to be afraid of looking for a job. I would like to refine my CV so that it tells about me the things I want to convey, and not the ones I want to show to "look good" - but are not about me. I would like to finish the courses I started, and which I want to finish. I would like...
And yet, patiently, step by step, I move forward. Only this is usually not visible, because I don't write about it every day. Because patience is less visible than impatience.
PS: The work is done with a 3mm crochet hook - quite small, with which the works are beautiful, but time-consuming. Here you can actually see the patience in action π π₯°
2025-01-01
There's no "new year, new me," although there's a bit of planning to tame the chaos somewhat. I'm filling in my calendar, planning activities for the next quarter. All that's left is to survive the beginning of the year.
After all, this is the "perfect" time to introduce changes, so... a lot of people will decide to start now, and pleasantly uncrowded places have a chance to experience a siege.
Years ago, in a class on the psychology of willpower, the lecturer presented us with research according to which roughly 30% of people (varying depending on the research and the type of resolution) will be able to persevere with their goals and introduce the desired changes.
Don't get me wrong. I root for people in their change. I just don't like being in places where there are too many people, and as a hasztag#highlysensitiveperson I wonder how to survive these mythical crowds. Or maybe there won't be these crowds and it will be manageable, and the only thing that will give me a hard time is my own hasztag#overthinking and my own hasztag#beliefs?
We'll see if the place where I've been implementing my resolutions for some time will be like a besieged fortress this month or not.
Dear hasztag#HSP, let's not get caught up in overthinking all the details. Let's just think about how to take care of potential hasztag#overstimulation and we'll manage!
And I'm adding New Year's wishes. Quoting the irreplaceable Ptaszek Staszek: Distance, distance!
2024-12-26
Ever since the pre-Christmas lecture, I've been thinking about digital hygiene. About the battle of two factions in my head.
One says: check this portal, this message, this account, do this one more thing, it will only take five minutes! And then it will be off your mind, forever.
The other says: everything has its time. There will always be a lot to do. There will always be some interesting material to watch, a post to comment on, some smaller or bigger interesting fact to check, a conference or podcast to listen to...
In this post-Christmas and New Year period, I wish you the experience of logging off, not only for holidays.
PS: I was supposed to write this post before Christmas, but I preferred to close my computer. I don't have to worry about being on time with everything. However, I want to make sure I have time for myself and my mental health. Without the ability to log off, it is definitely harder.
2024-11-25
While preparing a class for students on recognizing scams, fake news, and other misleading content, I found a real gem: articles from CSIRT KNF.
They post selected scams from the previous month every month π and they post content both in Polish and in English!
If anyone is looking for material to educate themselves or others, they'll find real treasures there! Just click "czytaj wiΔcej" button (this could have been done a bit better, but still - content is insightful!) π‘
https://cebrf.knf.gov.pl/komunikaty/artykuly-csirt-knf
2024-07-14
I made it to Security BSides Warsaw just in time, 'thanks' to the protests in Warsaw (hope they're taking Saturday off π ). Despite the earlier tremendous stress coming from a very important question: 'will I even get there on time', I managed to deliver the OWASP Top 10 presentation from a web developer's perspective. There's one mistake in the presentation, but once I do more thorough research, I'll add a note with a clarification (thanks for pointing that out!).
Still, considering it was my first presentation on the cybersecurity, I think it went really well π
Also, I had the chance to meet a legends of cybersec in person, and see great people offline, which I'm thrilled aboutβI enjoy meeting in real world people I meet online first π
It was wonderful to talk with so many amazing people, and that was just the first day!
Tomorrow in my speech I'll delve into a more psychological topic. For now, as part of taking care of my neurodiverse self, I'm pushing forward with work on a project I'm coding with Joanna Kot.
Coding actually relaxes me after such an intense day π
PS: Today I added logic for fetching via GraphQL blog posts published in WordPress and displaying them properly in Vue front.
2024-03-01
It's been a year since I am #opentowork.
It doesn't mean I'm not busy. I've been busy all this time. Finished bootcamp, then started getting ready to be self-employed. In May 2023 I started coding as a freelancer. I decided to try on my own after fruitless time of looking for a job. I thought it would be better to do some courses and seek short term projects instead of wasting scarce resources I had on a job market full of people in a same situation like me.
I'm still looking for a bit more stable job. I see how hard it is for me to keep up with a pace that being self-employed sets. Combining work with conferences and meetups, however satisfying, is just hard when you need to deal with a chronic diseases as well.
A year ago, I lost faith in people. Just before I was touched by layoffs I was discussing with managers and was given a raise. Because of that I thought I'm safe. Then, few weeks later, I needed to find myself in a situation when I asked myself, if I'd be able to earn money to continue my treatment. Don't be deceived by an opportunity to have an unemployment benefit - in such cases it's not enough.
Sudden layoff had a huge impact on me, as well as the fact that I lost my job between the day of a death of my beloved Grandma I lived with for 7 years and the day of Her funeral. I remember, just after she was buried, I went to a job market meeting, trying to find something already... I didn't have time and space for grief.
I not only lost faith in people, I also stopped believing in myself. I lost a confidence that I have enough skills to continue my journey in IT. For months I was haunted by fear that I won't have enough money to buy my medicines. Yes, I has support from my family, but they were touched by crisis to and I was never 100% sure they could help me. I needed to handle financial issues, at least partially, on my own. And I needed to do that remotely, since my health still does not allow me to take even hybrid job.
I worked hard to re-gain confidence and trust in myself. To be able to set fear aside and to do hard work, between whole medical uproar I'll need to navigate till the end of my days and other, everyday odds and ends.
I am so glad that many conference organizers finance speaker's presence - I would be stuck home otherwise. I'm also glad that some people still tried to help me to find a job, even when it was fruitless it gave some hope. Finally, I'm really grateful to those, who hired me for coding from scratch, re-writing a website or joining some short-term projects. It gave me basic financial support so now I'm not that scared of not being able to continue my treatment.
Now I'm struggling with PTSD. Such a combined fight on many fields left its mark. I can also finally grief a loss of my Grandma. I'm taking care of myself and soon I'll probably start looking for a job again.
So, if you know of any remote jobs with flexible working hours in a place, that is inclusive and good for mental health, give me a shout.
2024-02-23
So I've heard it's National Day Against Depression. At least that's what LinkedIn posts say today.
I could possibly write a book about how people can hurt by saying, especially to person in crisis, that:
I'm not ready to talk about the demons I'm fighting with right now.
I'll just say that every 'pop-positive-psychology' phrase like that was pulling me strongly toward thinking there's something wrong with me. In some point I could clearly see depressive thinking patterns flourishing...
In some point I have built resilience BUT trust me, only my psychological education and being on a therapy helped me NOT to dive into depression while hearing such bullπ© .
I was self aware and lucky enough to get help before it got worse enough to talk about fully fledged depression.
I still wish people instead of telling me, how strong I am, would just BE and LISTEN.
2024-02-10
After joining some meetups, taking courses on AI, and experimenting in real life, I can now summarize my recent dealings with ChatGPT 3.5 and writing complex JavaScript.
π‘ If you think ChatGPT 3.5 will write the whole code if you provide a proper prompt - it won't work that way.
π‘ If you give ChatGPT 3.5 a prompt with code chunks and do some writing, debugging, and connecting the dots on your own - this significantly speeds up work.
π‘ You still need to have knowledge to assess written code, fix bugs, and not reinvent the wheel.
FYI: I'm not in such complex projects to invest in Copilot / ChatGPT4 right now.
2024-01-20
I am astonished how human brain works. And how harmful is that for people, who just didn't have enough luck.
Our brains work in such a way that - in most cases - when we succeed we attribute that to our dispositions, traits, skills. If we fail, we blame circumstances.
However, in case of other people we tend to overestimate their dispositions, traits (in negative way, like: they're too lazy to succeed), skills and underestimate the influence of circumstances.
Recently I saw many discussions with conclusions like: "you need to give more from yourself, learn more, learn new skills, do this, do that". Yes, excelling is important, learning new things is crucial, especially in areas that develop so fast - like IT.
At the same time, let's admit it - there are many people with impressive, or good enough skill set, but aren't lucky enough e.g. to get a job in IT. Fast learners, who by no mean lack hard and soft skills. But just are not lucky enough to get a job.
In most cases all they hear is... to give more. They hear that they are not good enough, while the difference between candidate who got the job an who didn't might very often be just... luck.
Maybe it's time to admit that sometimes some of us are just more lucky?
Yes, this means that we're not that exceptional and it might be hard to swallow.
But at the same time it gives space for more empathy and understanding for those, who were not lucky enough.
Your thoughts?