My Learning Agenda: What's on yours?

I've had this list on my white board for a couple of months. It's time to make some space, so I'm posting this so I can look back and see how long it takes to achieve a modest degree of proficiency for each subject (by my own measure). Some of the subjects I have a beginner to intermediate knowledge of. I'm listing them here because I want to reach an expert level.

Apache Ant

I've run a build.xml file, but I do not know a thing about how Ant works or how to leverage it for development. Sad, but true...

Subversion

I've used Subversion for a long time, but have always been petrified of using branches, tags and merging. I need to overcome that to reach the next level. Even if I start with a local repository first.

Unit Testing/TDD

I've made some headway in this department with CFCUnit, but my effort has been less that stellar. I'm radically changing my development work flow and this is one area that I definitely want to integrate without backsliding or excuses.

Regular Expressions

Oh, the shame. For I am lame when it comes to regex. It's just one of those things I've passed on learning in favour of something else.

Aspect-oriented Programming (AOP)

Like subversion, I'm familiar with ColdSpring, but mostly on a simple level. Over the next few months, I'm pretty serious about breaking out of the comfort zone and really learning how to harness the more powerful features ColdSpring has to offer.

Design Patterns

I grok a few patterns, but the majority of patterns, and OO concepts, are elusive to me. I might need to really focus on the basics before venturing into the pattern hinterland.

Flex

I have an AIR app in the HTML/Javascript category, but I have not sat down and worked at learning Flex. "I'll get to it", I keep telling myself. And with the demand for Flex developers these days, I'd be a damn fool not to add those skills to the arsenal sooner than later. ;)

Actionscript 3

Oh how I love and cherish my Essential Actionscript 2 book by Colin Moock. I know I'm going to dig working with AS3 as much, if not more. Why haven't I mastered it yet? Still searching for a good project that I can put a focused effort into.

jQuery

jQuery gets a lot of love and rightfully so. I've had a taste over the last few weeks and it can be an addictive.

UML

I have only scratched at UML, but I'd really like to be able to build UML into a standard part of my development process. Even if I only master class diagrams I'll be happy.

A programming language I don't know

Ruby and Python are high on the list. Regardless, I want to spend a little time working in a new language (static or dynamically typed) to improve my understanding of object oriented programming.

This agenda is subject to change. I haven't place a date or priority on any subject as it is likely that I'll focus on two or more at any given time. And it's entirely possible that I immerse myself deeply into one subject until I'm satisfied with my level of proficiency.

Comments
Peter Bell's Gravatar Hey Paul,

Great list. In fact, I'd been meaning to put a list like this together for myself, but given that my list and yours are almost identical, I'll just use yours. Hopefully the time saved in using your list will actually allow me a chance to start actually learning the items!

Good luck, and keep me posted!
# Posted By Peter Bell | 1/16/08 3:16 PM
Adam's Gravatar You know these already, but here's a few links that may help...

SVN - http://svnbook.red-bean.com/
Design Patterns - Head First Design Patterns - http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-Design-Patterns/d...
AS3 - just buy Mook's new one :)
Ruby - http://poignantguide.net/ruby/

Good luck, that's a big ol' list of new stuff to learn :)
# Posted By Adam | 1/16/08 4:44 PM
Adam's Gravatar oops, meant to say 'you MAY know these already'... or my psychic traning's paying off :)
# Posted By Adam | 1/16/08 4:49 PM
Paul Marcotte's Gravatar @Peter, Too funny! I'll post a periodic update for those interested in any tidbits I learn along the way.

@Adam, I'm all over the SVN book and have a copy of Moock's AS3. Thanks kindly for the other links. I'll be sure to check them out!
# Posted By Paul Marcotte | 1/16/08 10:11 PM
Rob Wilkerson's Gravatar Great list. So good, that I'm going to adopt a few (AOP, TDD and a more sophisticated grasp of UML) for my own list. Ant is one of my favorite tools ever. Have been using it for years and it's really simplified my build/deployment process. I tend to find new stuff I can do with Ant every day and often write about it just to make sure I don't lose the information.
# Posted By Rob Wilkerson | 1/17/08 6:09 AM
Paul Marcotte's Gravatar Hey Rob,

Out of all the subject I listed, I think mastering Ant and Subversion will provide the greatest productivity ROI. I'll be sure to mine your writings as a resource. ;)
# Posted By Paul Marcotte | 1/17/08 10:14 AM
Sammy Larbi's Gravatar Awesome Paul. Please do keep up posted on your progress!
# Posted By Sammy Larbi | 1/17/08 2:40 PM
Chris's Gravatar I have to learn these 2 really quickly...

Transfer ORM
Mach-II

In no particular order either. Can someone just inject their knowledge of either into my brain? :)
# Posted By Chris | 5/1/08 8:10 PM
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