Hello world 🤟🏻 my name is Francisco, fcoterroba on the Internet and today I’m bringing you a post that’s a bit out of the ordinary because, as you know, on my website I talk almost exclusively about computer science, programming, and development. But today is a bit different, today, the last day of the year, I’m going to make a small summary of how 2021 has been and what expectations I have for 2022.
Before we begin, as it couldn’t be otherwise, if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend you go watch the latest video I have on my YouTube channel where I explained, in a very simple and concise way, how to install a smart light bulb 🧠 with which you can change its color, control it with your own voice, and much more! You can watch it here 👇🏻
Now let’s begin:
January 2021
The year began practically finishing that training course I told you about. From the Junta de Andalucía. We had only a few weeks left to finish and we were all more focused on having a good internship company than anything else.
Also, I had to keep submitting projects for the higher degree and sometimes I even complained:
Tweet hacia todos los usuarios de Aulas Virtuales basadas en Moodle:
— fcoterroba (@fcoterroba) January 22, 2021
¿No os parece una idiotez que esté la opción de entregar una tarea en borrador?
¿No sería mejor acaso que la tarea se quede enviada y se pueda editar hasta la fecha límite?
O mejor aún, un sistema basado en Git
I also had time to write a post about web scraping in Python that you can read here.
February 2021
This month the first exams of the higher degree approached, I couldn’t study much but I did really well
Officially this month I also finished the training course from the junta and started, with great enthusiasm and finally, my first stage as a professional web developer. I was at Ideanto, a Malaga SME in charge of web design for other companies, mostly public companies. I worked as a full-stack developer creating plugins, front and back development, etc. We worked to bring to market a product of virtual 3D fairs accessible via the web.
Although I was working at Ideanto, I always thought I couldn’t close my doors and so I kept sending my resume to job offers I saw or were shared with me. (Joaquín has been one of my best discoveries of 2021)
Gracias Joaquín!
— fcoterroba (@fcoterroba) February 10, 2021
I was also able to contribute to the Spanish Python association:
¡Nueva sección en nuestra web sobre cómo aprender Python 🐍! Con enlaces a multitud de cursos 🧑🏫 y libros 📚.
— Python España (@python_es) February 15, 2021
👏 muchas gracias @fcoterroba por el currazo!!https://t.co/R0fhbbIZts
Finally, that month I was able to upload a post about browser extension development. You can read it by clicking here.
March 2021
March didn’t have much special about it but still, I started two new aspects in my professional life:
One of them was starting to work as a Python teacher in a personalized online class for adults. We went from the most basic of the language to some libraries like NumPy or Pandas. I learned that I liked teaching more than I thought!
On the other hand, I began my long career at Newe, a fabulous startup that has given me many joys and from which I’ve been able to learn a lot. I was there as a back-end developer mainly in PHP.
I also kept looking for work because I wanted something “serious”:
Puedes abrir md?
— fcoterroba (@fcoterroba) March 12, 2021
That said, you also have to know when to stop and that’s why that month there was no post:
Durante casi todo el día d hoy he sentido levemente el síndrome del impostor.
— fcoterroba (@fcoterroba) March 29, 2021
Estoy intentando llevar muchas cosas hacia delante e intento que todas vayan genial pero hay días que… Uf, para qué
April 2021
In April things stayed the same, I had one month left to finish my internship at Ideanto and two months for the final exams. I kept looking for serious work:
Hablamos por DM, Marcos?
— fcoterroba (@fcoterroba) April 27, 2021
That said, the first day of the month marked one year since the website was born and as it couldn’t be otherwise, I uploaded a post making charts in javascript.
NEWE was starting to appear in media like eldiariodesevilla, businessinsider and ABC de Sevilla (formerly called Clothify). That month the company name was officially changed:
May 2021
In May I finished my internship at Ideanto taking with me great people and with a lot of learning to give my best in a new company:
As one door closes, another opens and that’s why I started taking care of a website as a WordPress developer for Alberto, a very good friend I met in the training program and who I’ll have forever. The website in question
NEWE kept appearing in media like COPE
And of course, it was my girlfriend’s birthday, a very complete weekend where we went to visit the wonderful town of Frigiliana. A town with beautiful charm that is worth visiting at least once in your life.
June 2021
In June NEWE managed to be part of PcComponentes’ startup booster. We were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
For the website I uploaded a second part of the previous post but programming it in Python instead of javascript! Read it here
Finally, but no less important, I took the final exams of the degree and went into summer in the best possible way!
It was also my birthday
July 2021
In summer I decided to try different languages that were outside my personal scope and that’s why on July 5th I uploaded a post with things about Rust.
I kept applying to job offers although I didn’t find anything yet:
Por favor, dónde puedo postular? ☹️
— fcoterroba (@fcoterroba) July 7, 2021
I have to make a special mention to my girlfriend, of whom I’m very proud and who that same Friday, July 2nd, got her precious driver’s license!
We also went on a weekend getaway to Seville! Computer scientists also know how to disconnect
August 2021
August was a bit weak, more of a rest. The only notable thing I did was upload a post on August 4th, a basic PHP project where I explained how to make a basic CRUD.
September 2021
Possibly one of the best months of my year and not only for having made a post about javascript using GitHub Pages but because I started working at a new company, Avature!
Obviously I had to say goodbye to NEWE, a company where after half a year we learned a lot and which to this day continues with a brutal project!
We also went to see a Málaga match where we won 2-0!
October 2021
One of the most notable things about that month (although off-topic) was the month and a half binge where my girlfriend and I played through both The Last of Us games. Highly recommended!
I also uploaded a post where I compared, along with two friends, the second year of each computer science training cycle. Read it here!
Coincidentally, a few months earlier a drive-in cinema opened in Málaga! And on Halloween night they showed The Nightmare Before Christmas, a movie we love and of course we couldn’t miss seeing it!
November/December 2021
I’ve combined the last two months of the year because they’ve been a bit standard. I kept working and my girlfriend managed to finish her higher degree in tourism.
I had “resolutions” that I set last year and that have been fulfilled to a greater or lesser extent:
The first tweet was a joke, although, I started the year with 200€ in the account and ended with more than I wanted, not bad for having collected one month of unemployment and 4 paychecks at Avature.
The tweet I put about learning ASIR I haven’t fulfilled, I haven’t had much time to work on things that aren’t programming.
The last one, which was a bit more serious:
- I haven’t been able to give a talk although I’m still interested
- I haven’t had time to create any API but I have a very good idea
- I’ve contributed a lot thanks to the Spanish Python association which helped me throughout the Hacktoberfest process
- From the higher degree I only have to finish the project and validate the internships next year.
- My clean code has improved a lot since I’ve been at Avature.
What do I expect for 2022?
For next year I would love:
- Health: We’ve already been living with COVID-19 in our lives for two years and luckily no close family member has ever caught it. Let’s hope it stays that way
- Work: Both for me, to continue doing well at Avature, and for my girlfriend, who will study for civil service exams this year.
- Money: I would be satisfied if within a year my bank account has 5 digits.
- Give a talk: I would love to be able to give a talk about development. I want to be someone who will be remembered for what they did
- Develop an API
- Do more sports: Right now I don’t do any sports but I’m going to propose, at least, to transport myself more by bike and less by car/motorcycle
And that’s all for today. Thanks for such a good year, for reading me, for putting up with me, and for making me happy. You’re incredible.
You can contribute financially via Paypal. Any amount is truly appreciated! 🙂
I also hope you have a great week and we’ll see each other here soon! Greetings and remember to follow me on social media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, GitHub and LinkedIn. 🤟🏻