[Launch School] Community Update - February 1st, 2024

Hello everyone. It's Clare again with more snack updates. How is it that time already? I have jumped the gun a little. Pete thinks it's because I was excited to tell everyone about the Python track and hence allowed me to wrestle this one from Brandi, but we all know that that was just a ruse. It's all about the snacks. I promised, and now I will deliver. Unbelievably, the deep-fried Mars bar was invented in living memory. How did no one think of this before? It all started with a couple of ingenious schoolboys, a dare, and a fearless chippy (aka a fish and chip shop), and ended with Scotland's greatest gift to the culinary world. [Mars bar] Let me whisk you away to an enchanting world, where the deep-fried Mars bar reigns supreme like a chocolatey monarch. Hailing from the hallowed grounds of Aberdeen's fish and chip emporiums, this sweet concoction is like a secret handshake among those in the know. Picture this: a Mars bar, once happily lounging in its wrapper, takes a dip in a fish-and-chip-style batter hot tub. Then, it bravely faces a sizzling hot oil baptism until it emerges not as the candy bar you once knew but as a golden, crispy diva with a molten chocolate soul. If you're curious to find out more, check out the [culinary world shocker](. It's snack history in the making. Amusingly, Mars themselves do not approve of the deep-fry because it ["goes against their commitment to promote a healthy and active lifestyle”](. Alright, let's dive into some delicious Launch School news. I, for one, am relieved we have finally made the Python announcement. I'd make a terrible spy; the weight of this undisclosed treat has been like withholding snack trivia from a community update. --------------------------------------------------------------- Important Updates Python track It's here! It's here! The Python track is go! This is deeply exciting. In addition to our Ruby and JavaScript tracks, students can now learn programming fundamentals via Python, which is a fun, versatile and widely used language. For more information, check out [our announcement post](. [Silly walk] (Am I the only person who, until recently, didn't know that Python was named after the greatest British male comedy group? Check out the [The Ministry of Silly Walks]( Gathertown using Umbra There have been deep issues with using Coderpad embedding into our Gathertown space, and although there is a workaround, the SPOT team have come up with a marvelous idea. Umbra was created by one of our recent Launch School Capstone cohorts and is basically Coderpad. So, Umbra is now being trialed in some areas of Gathertown. We are keen to hear feedback on how this is working out, so please read through [JD's announcement](, give it a go, and let us know! Volunteers needed! SPOT are doing a round of recruiting for session leads. Being a SPOT lead is a great way to deepen your "soft" skills while in Core, so, what are you waiting for? [SPOT Advert] --------------------------------------------------------------- Routine Updates Podcast A [new episode]( has dropped and it's a deeply, delectable delight. Chris interviews Julia Martin, a Capstone graduate and software engineer working at Databricks. Julia is a career transitioner, as many of us are (me? I'm transitioning to Snack Ambassador) and has loads of great advice for students who feel unsure of their abilities and need some inspiration for the journey. Asking Questions We are always improving on the curriculum and as such have replaced the "Good vs Bad Questions" assignment in RB101 and JS101 with a new assignment "Asking Questions". We hope this will inspire you all to keep asking questions - it's the deepest way to learn! As ever, please let us know what you think about the rewrite using the feedback button on the page itself. Student Articles The tradition of students writing great articles about their programming and studying exploits is deeply ingrained in our community. Jack explores what variables truly are in ["Understanding Variables in Ruby"](jacksebben.unicyclist/truly-understanding-variables-in-ruby-and-oop-in-general-81845f6a49d6). This article emphasizes the accurate concept that variables are references to objects in memory, not containers holding values, which is relevant to all languages. Jack also delves into the implications of passing variables and changing object values, hinting at upcoming articles on these topics... Derek has written a brilliant article on ["The Art of Speaking like a Ruby Programmer"](derek.novak1/the-art-of-speaking-like-a-ruby-programmer-cfc321bf3157). This guides readers through the challenges of verbalizing code, whilst emphasizing the importance of technical communication for developers. It covers fundamental Ruby terminology, basic rules for code explanation, and a strategic approach to articulating code effectively. [articles] Although focused on Ruby, there is plenty to learn for those of you on the JavaScript and Python (!) tracks. Maybe this will inspire you to write your own article about speaking like a Pythonista. If you do write anything you would like to share, please be sure to add it to our [Sharing page](. Meetups Zach and Medina met up in New York (where are the snacks?!!! I'm deeply disappointed): [New York meetup] [#vancouver]( are having a meetup this Saturday, February 3rd, at 11 am at Forecast Coffee on Main St! It's great that they do coffee, but how deeply do they fry their Mars bars? I need to know before I decide whether to make the journey from Royal Tunbridge Wells. [#portland]( is also having a meetup this Saturday, February 3rd, at 3pm 11 am at Lucky Lab at 1945 NW Quimby St.! They've been trying to get together for several weeks now, but twice got iced by the weather. Make sure to take a look through the (numerous) Slack channels to see if there's one for a region near you. If there isn't, feel free to start one up! Women's Group At our last meeting, Chelsea Saunders was very generous with her time and gave us a wonderful overview of her experiences with Capstone and her time as a software engineer at Futr, Inc. It was great to hear about the highs and lows of her journey, as well as to pick up tips to make the road a little smoother for those who follow in her footsteps. The next meeting is on Sunday, February 18th, at 12 pm EDT. This is a general meetup, so there will be lots of chat and loads of opportunities to get to know one another a bit more deeply. For more information, including how to sign up, check out [this forum post](. --------------------------------------------------------------- On the Lowdown Here I present the juiciest of discussions from our Slack channels. Coffee Tips George is a professional barista, who has recently joined Launch School (another career transitioner) and has opened up the floor to questions regarding creating the perfect journey from bean to cup. Check out the thread [here](. We're currently deep in house renovation and while I'm all about the underfloor heating and air-con, my husband's priority has been to install a reverse osmosis unit to keep his coffee machine happy. I may well need George's help to understand what my husband is talking about. Learning is Supposed to Feel Hard Phew! That's a relief to hear! Faud shared an [article from Harvard Business Review]( about learning as an adult. This came at just the right time for me. Object-oriented JavaScript has been the deepest struggle so far, so I must be learning loads, right? Which seamlessly leads us on to... --------------------------------------------------------------- Last, but not least, how is my studying going? I hear you ask. It's going ok. I could do without Pete luring me with shiny new toys like the siren call of Python, Smooth Start, and something called Screenflow (still a mystery to me). But, I'm playing the role of a diligent student, committing to a daily hour of study. The mantra is clear: feed the brain first (study before TA duties). If all goes pear-shaped, I embrace the midnight oil to catch up on studying and then reward myself with a literal catnap. [Napping Daisy] (Daisy didn't feel this was the most flattering photo of her, so I promised not to share it. I lied. Deeply.) --------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to stop receiving emails from us, you can use the one-click link below to unsubscribe. 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