My Development Journey: Embracing Open Source for Growth

From Coder to Developer: A Mindset Shift

As a 6th-semester student in Seneca Polytechnic’s CPA program, I, Steven Hur, am charting a path from being a “coder” to becoming a full-fledged “developer.” This ambitious journey is rooted in the belief that true development transcends mere coding, requiring an open-minded approach, a blend of confidence, and invaluable experience. Cultivating this mindset means actively seeking out challenges and venturing beyond one’s comfort zone—qualities I aim to develop through an Open Source course.

Strategic Goals for Open Source Engagement

My participation in this Open Source course isn’t about instant transformation or becoming an expert overnight. Instead, it’s about active engagement and exploration within a dynamic environment. My primary objectives include:

• Exposure to Real-World Codebases: Gaining familiarity with large-scale, live software projects.
• Practical Problem-Solving: Attempting to diagnose and resolve minor bugs to build hands-on experience.
• Learning from Experts: Observing and absorbing insights from seasoned professionals in the field.
• Enhancing Communication Skills: Becoming more adept at interacting and collaborating with diverse teams.

Ultimately, my goal is to accumulate practical experiences that will empower me to confidently tackle future challenges, knowing I’ve “done it before.”

Choosing the ML-From-Scratch Project

While the objective is to step outside my comfort zone, I’ve strategically chosen a project that aligns with my current knowledge base to facilitate a smoother entry. I’ve selected ML-From-Scratch (https://github.com/eriklindernoren/ML-From-Scratch), a GitHub repository dedicated to demystifying machine learning concepts through fundamental code implementations.

Having spent the past few months immersed in Machine Learning and Data Science, this project offers an ideal platform to understand the underlying mechanics of various models and algorithms, going beyond high-level library abstractions. Contributing to ML-From-Scratch will undoubtedly deepen my understanding of machine learning’s core functionalities, making it a perfect fit for my aspiration to transition from a “coder” to a “developer.”

I am keenly anticipating the next four months and eager to share my progress and insights from this exciting journey.