CS 373: Abdul-Ghaffar Balogun
Blog #11
What did you do this past week?
This past week I spent most of my time working on the project and working on Algorithms. I had a test in Algorithms, so I had to balance studying for that with finishing up phase 3 for SWE. It was hard to balance both, but fortunately, it was made easier by the fact that I started studying much earlier for my Algorithms test. This helped me spend more time on the project as needed, and make considerable progress. I also met with my team where we were able to work together and get the back-end working with the new features.
What’s in your way?
I need to prioritize the right things that are important to me and make sure I don’t deviate from my responsibilities to them. Beyond that, there is not too much in my way that would stunt the progress I want to make. I do need to schedule my time effectively to ensure I don’t spend too much of my time wasted.
What will you do next week?
Next week I have to help oversee multiple events for the organization that I am apart of. This means following a publicity schedule and making sure everything pans out to our liking to meet the desires of our audience. Fortunately, I have more time this week, so I can spend more of my energy and effort doing things on the side that doesn't necessarily revolve around my classes.
In addition, I want to pick up some slack with my classes at a comfortable rate, so when those busy weeks come around they won’t be as busy as they could be. This could potentially include meeting with my team to go over the last Phase and how we want to pursue the next Phase.
4. If you read it, what did you think of The Dependency Inversion Principle?
I haven’t read the paper this week.
5. What was your experience of relational algebra in Python? (this question will vary, week to week)
I personally liked this topic. I was always interested in SQL, and now I am getting a rough introduction to how it works. It is always a good feeling when you learn something that you know would make things easier or more efficient for you outside of class. I also like the pace at which we’re discussing this topic, because he introduces us to the concept then asks us to implement it with our team. This helps us have a better overall understanding of what we’re learning.
I am looking forward to the transition to SQL, and hope it’s as good as I make it out to be!
6. What made you happy this week?
Finishing Phase 3 and my exam are some of my happiest points this week. It allowed me to relax and give myself some time back after a hectic week. Immediately after finishing it felt as though there was a huge weight lifted off of my shoulder.
7. What’s your pick-of-the-week or tip-of-the-week?
Have different channels for different functions with your project. Instead of having one huge #general channel, try having #front-end, #back-end, or #help channels as well. This keeps your work and discussions organized to the extent where you're able to make productive progress. I think it’s also important because it helps people receive notifications that are relevant to them, as opposed to spamming the chats and having people mute it.
