Your Django Story: Meet Caroline Simpson
This is a post in our Your Django Story series where we highlight awesome ladies who work with Django. Read more about it here.
Caroline is a software developer who loves working in Python. She works as a web developer at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. She co-founded a local Python user group with a friend and fellow Python enthusiast. She loves learning new things and making fun stuff.
How did your story with code start?
When I was little we had a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A home computer that hooked up to a television. There was a TI BASIC programming book which provided some example programs, one of which was a mastermind game. I used to copy out the game so that I could play. As it didn’t have a hard drive, each time the computer was turned off, the game was gone. Sometimes I would tweak the code and try out different things rather than just copying it out exactly as provided.
What did you do before becoming a programmer?
I think I’ve really always been a programmer to some degree, but in the summers of high school I also worked in a convenience store and in a restaurant. During university I had the opportunity to work as a quality assurance specialist for a few co-op work terms. I think that experience definitely made me a better programmer. It helps to think about how software can be tested and about the usability of the software while making it.
What do you love the most about coding?
I really like making things. I always love the time when the program is complete enough that you run it and it really looks like something or does something neat/useful. And then knowing that you made that happen.
Why Django?
I wanted to get into more web development, so I started learning Ruby and working with Ruby on Rails. Then I ran into some problems and kept getting stuck. I didn’t know any other Ruby programmers but my boyfriend had a friend who worked in Django. I talked to him and decided to give Django a try and haven’t looked back since. To help me get started, he let me help out on a website he was building. He reviewed my code and gave me feedback about how I had done things. Now when I run into problems and can’t find the answer on the web, I have someone that I can explain my problem to and get help. Now I continue to use Django because I like it. The abstractions make sense to me. I don’t have to spend a lot of extra brain power thinking about the framework, so I can just focus on the details of the site I’m building.
What cool projects are you working on at the moment/planning on working on in the near future?
I’m currently working on my second iOS game. I’m thinking about using open data to generate the game behaviour, but I haven’t worked out all the details of how it will come together.
What are you the most proud of?
I thought about this for a while, and I think I’d have to say that I’m most proud of my firsts. For instance, I’m proud of my first iOS game, Bambookie Monster. It has a panda. And cookies! I was a little surprised when there were downloads that weren’t just my friends and family. And I recently finished sewing my first dress, and was really happy with the outcome. I’m also proud of co-founding our local Python user group. It’s great to be able to contribute to such an awesome community and to have the opportunity to meet so many other people with a shared interest in Python.
What are you curious about?
Everything really. There are so many interesting and fascinating things to learn about.
What do you like doing in your free time? What’s your hobby?
As I mentioned above I really like making things. Most of my hobbies involving making things in one way or another. I like to take photos. I have an adorable little cat that I love to spend time with. In the winter I knit, and I’ve recently taken up sewing as well. In the warmer weather I like to garden. I also play a lot of board games with friends. And in reality I spend a lot of my free time coding, because that is what I really do love to do.
Do you have any advice/tips for programming beginners?
Find someone or a community that works in the language or framework you are trying to learn, it really helps to have someone you can talk through problems with. Sometimes it can save you a lot of struggle to get a nudge in the right direction. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to work through things on your own, but sometimes when you are learning, you might meet a problem that seems like a wall; it’s nice if you have a friend that can give you a boost to get over the walls.It also helps if you have a project that is interesting to you. Something that you will actually use for yourself. It can be that extra motivation you need to finish the project.
Thanks Caroline! :)
Anna Ossowski