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Archives for August 2018

Start Coding: Learn Python The Hard Way 3

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This is my experience into learning Python from a network engineer’s perspective. Previously, I started this path with Zero Knowledge of Coding.

Is Learn Python The Hard Way 3 (LPTHW3) the best place to start coding? Sure! One of the worst things you can do is spend endless amounts of time figuring out where to start. I made this mistake. Finally, I just dove into Learn Python The Hard Way 3.

I’m a network engineer in higher education. Diving into the CLI is a regular task for me. And that’s the most difficult part of getting into LPTHW3. I kept looking for context. How could I use functions and lists with network engineering?

But hang in there. Get through the basics. Do about one to two exercises per day. It’s going to be challenging at first but it’s worth it.

We’ve been told to transform as network engineers and get familiar with Python. After attending DevNet Create in April 2018, I felt inspired to build something. So I grabbed a copy of LPTHW3 and got going.

My first try at the book I made it about half way before work projects prevented me from moving at a regular pace.

In August, I picked it up again and started from the beginning. There are 52 exercises in the book. I made it to exercise 48 before I decided to use another learning method that had more relevance to what I do, networking.

Conclusion

It’s a great book to get you started. You’ll learn the basics quickly but the exercises get challenging as you progress into the book. It definitely teaches you the hard way. Supplement your learning with other resources. Perform each exercise as described and don’t be afraid to experiment and break things.

Mobility Field Day 3 – What To Expect

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What I love most about the tech industry, and more specifically the Wi-Fi industry, are the events that are held throughout the year. One of my favorite events is Mobility Field Day (MFD) hosted put on by the fine folks over at Tech Field Day.

I’m happy to announce that I will be taking a seat at the delegate table this year among other new faces sitting around me. It’s going to be a wonderful event and we will get a lot of great discussions going.

MFD is an event bringing together Wi-Fi vendors and independent thought leaders (delegates). Each vendor shares their information and products and the delegates create a discussion, asking questions, and gathering feedback or more questions from the community through the use of social media.

What’s great about being a delegate is the intimate discussions and interactions you’re able to get by attending this event. In the end, each delegate shares their thoughts and opinions in the form of blog posts, video, podcast, and more.

This year, we’re fortunate to hear from the following Wi-Fi vendors:

  • Aruba Networks
  • Cisco
  • Fortinet
  • Mist Systems
  • NetScout
  • Nyansa

Each vendor can discuss a product that’s already been released or they may even announce a new release at MFD.

I’m delighted to see we have two women joining us at MFD. I’ve always wanted to see more women in our industry to participate. Both of which are two veterans in our industry, Amy Arnold and Jennifer Huber.

Why You Should Care

The sponsoring presenters want to get in front of you. Naturally, you’ll want to ask questions about their products. Engage with me on Twitter during the livestream and I’ll relay your question to the group. Create discussion around what excites you, what’s different, how it can/cannot work and why.

What are you looking forward to at MFD3?

Zero Knowledge of Coding

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In April 2018, I was able to attend Cisco DevNet Create in Mountain View, CA as a Cisco Champion. The idea of seeing DevOps from the devs themselves had me intrigued. Which means I’m learning about this new term, NetDevOps.

Later on, this event would leave a positive impact on me. I’ll get to that later on.

I have zero knowledge of coding. Well, maybe not quite zero. I could do a simple print(“Hello world”) but that’s it.

In May 2018, I got myself a copy of Learn Python The Hard Way 3 and hit the ground running. Learning how to code is like learning networking from the beginning. It’s challenging at first but with practice you start learning the concepts. I went through it the first time within 30 days not really grasping it very well. So I took a break.

It’s now near the end of August and I took another dive into LPTHW3. Having understood the exercises better this time around, I began to feel like I might be improving and actually learning something.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Benjamin Franklin

After seeing what was possible at DevNet Create, I was left inspired. I was able to see what automated tasks you could perform with Python with the Meraki Dashboard API, how you can approve Cisco configs through WebEx Teams using API, among other useful tasks. It left me wanting more. But most of all, I wanted to create something. And here I am learning Python.

This is how I decide to hold myself accountable to learning something completely new. To write out my experience, my challenges, and my solutions. Welcome to the first entry of my coding journal.

3 Valuable Lessons from Podcasting for 3 Years

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I was co-hosting a Cisco Champions Radio episode with François Vergès and realized I’ve been producing a podcast for 3 years now. Never have I thought I’d be in my 3rd year. Back in August of 2015, I took on a new adventure and put myself out there with the Clear to Send podcast.

The primary goal of starting the podcast was to get involved in the Wi-Fi community. The secondary purpose was to force myself to learn Wi-Fi and become an expert in the field. Over time, the process of producing the podcast with the addition of a new host, improved audio quality, and valuable content.

1 – Planning is Paramount

I firmly believe the success of a quality podcast will be the result of thorough planning. Creating an outline based on a specific topic will drive the whole conversation of the podcast recording. Otherwise, all talking heads start rambling and going on a tangent.

A simple outline keeps everyone on topic and straight to the point. Don’t give the listener unnecessary information. Their time is precious.

2 – The Best Mic You Have is The One With You

We all tend to be gearheads. We like shiny toys. The best of the best. But does the type of microphone you use really set your podcast apart from the rest? Not so much. Given, a listener must be able to distinguish what is being said on the podcast. But the money is in the content.

You can record with the built-in microphone of the iPhone if you wanted to. But the content is what listeners are after. Do you provide something of value. If so, the listener doesn’t care what type of microphone you’re using as long as they can understand you and gain something from the podcast.

3 – Be Consistent

Be, Be, Consistent. Nothing irks me more than podfading or a host who doesn’t publish regularly. If you’re going to publish once a week, then I better see a new episode every week. Granted, life happens and sure you can miss a week here and there.

Just tell everyone through your social media channels. I’ve done it. But to publish so irregularly such as once a month or once every other couple months. Why bother?

Consistency is the key for a successful podcast. Valuable content on a regular interval is a winning strategy.