guide for developers

Melinda Seckington presents

A long time ago…

in 2007…

there was a girl.

hi! I’m Melinda!

melinda had just moved to london…

there was just one problem…

while she loved the city with all its busyness and events…

well, two problems actually…

Professor fear and…

doctor imposter syndrome

these two villains plagued the city, causing doubt and hopelessness…

everywhere they went.

one day…

i need to do something

This needs to stop.

I need to do something

she became…

miss geeky!

with this alter ego, miss geeky discovered…

…the power of her words.

Eventually Professor fear was defeated…

But Doctor Imposter Syndrome was still a problem…

how could she defeat him?

the solution?

find more superheroes

who am i?

I’m a…

speaker

I’m a…

…blogger

I’m an…

…event organizer

I’m a…

Developer

I’m a…

Developerspeaker

find more superheroes

rockstar developers

unicorn developers

ninja developers

superhero developer

how do we become a superhero developer?

superhero |ˈsuːpəәhɪəәrəәʊ, ˈsjuː-| noun (pl.superheroes) a benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers, such as Superman.

“In modern popular fiction, a superhero (sometimes rendered super-hero or super hero) is a type of heroic character possessing extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or superhuman powers and is dedicated to a moral goal or protecting the public”

how to become a superhero?

- extraordinary powers or abilities - a strong moral code - a motivation - a secret identity - a distinctive costume

how to become a superhero?

- extraordinary powers or abilities - a strong moral code - a motivation - a secret identity - a distinctive costume

meanwhile at wdc…

how to become a superhero?

- extraordinary powers or abilities - a strong moral code - a motivation - a secret identity - a distinctive costume

10 lessons we can learn from

superheroes

warning: disclaimer

10 lessons we can learn from

superheroes

iron man

iron manReal name:

Height:

Weight:

Occupation:

Origin:

Tony Stark

Place of birth:

6’1”

225 lbs

Long Island, New York

Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist

Tales of Suspense #39 (1963)

Powers: None

Abilities: Tony has a genius level intellect that allows him to invent a wide range of sophisticated devices, specializing in advanced weapons and armor.

tony’s hackday project

shiny

minimum viable armour

iterate &

reflect

personal retrospective

daredevil

daredevilReal name:

Height:

Weight:

Occupation:

Origin:

Matt Murdock

Place of birth:

6’0”

200 lbs

New York City

Lawyer

Daredevil #1 (1964)

Powers: Enhanced senses

Abilities: Possesses the strength, speed, agility, endurance, and gymnastic skills, of an Olympic-level athlete. Skilled in a hybridized form of American boxing and the Japanese arts of ninjutsu, judo and aiki-jujutsu.

seeing without seeing

the Man without fear

listen actively

pay attention to your

environment

hulk

hulkReal name:

Height:

Weight:

Occupation:

Origin:

Bruce Banner

Place of birth:

8’

1400 lbs

Dayton, Ohio

Unemployed, former nuclear physicist

Incredible Hulk #1 (1962)

Powers: Possesses an incredible level of superhuman physical ability. Capacity for physical strength is potentially limitless due to the fact that his strength increases proportionally with his level of emotional stress, anger in particular.

bruce banner

hulk smash!

embrace failure

“Many people think it means accept failure with dignity and move on.

The better, more subtle interpretation is that failure is a manifestation of learning and exploration.

If you aren’t experiencing failure, then you are making a far worse mistake:

You are being driven by the desire to avoid it.”

~ Ed Catmull, Creativity, Inc.

spider-man

spider-manReal name:

Height:

Weight:

Occupation:

Origin:

Peter Parker

Place of birth:

5’10”

167 lbs

Forest Hills, New York

Scientist and inventor; former photographer

Amazing Fantasy #15

Powers: Can cling to most surfaces, has superhuman strength (able to lift 10 tons optimally) and is roughly 15 times more agile than a regular human. His acrobatic leaps and web-slinging enables him to travel fast.

with great power…

…comes great responsibility

share your knowledge

meanwhile at wdc…

with great power…

…comes great responsibility

do the right thing

agent carter

agent carterReal name:

Height:

Weight:

Occupation:

Origin:

Peggy Carter

Place of birth:

5’7”

120 lbs

London, England

British Liaison to the U.S. Army, S.S.R. Agent

Captain America (2011)

Powers: None

Abilities: Carter is a skilled martial artist, an expert markswoman, and can speak and read English, Russian and German fluently.

Strategic Scientific Reserve

make me a sandwich

don’t focus on job titles

thor

thorReal name:

Height:

Weight:

Occupation:

Origin:

Thor Odinson

Place of birth:

6’6”

640 lbs

Asgard

Warrior, adventurer

Journey into Mystery #83 (1962)

Powers: As the son of Odin and Gaea, Thor's strength, endurance and resistance to injury are greater than the vast majority of his superhuman race. Extremely long-lived, immune to conventional disease and highly resistant to injury.

thunderbolts and lightning

…very very frightening

asgard

don’t be arrogant

“every question is a cry to understand the world.”

~ Carl Sagan

there are no stupid questions

guardians of the galaxy

guardians of the galaxy

Core team members:

A group of cosmic adventurers led by Star-Lord, the Guardians of the Galaxy protect the universe from threats all across space.

Base ofoperations:

First appearance:

Star-LordGamoraDrax the DestroyerGrootRocket Raccoon

Starship Icarus

Marvel Super-Heroes #18 (1969)

seek out diversity

x-men

Core team members:

Feared and hated by humans because they're different, the X-Men are heroic mutants, individuals born with special powers who've sworn to use their gifts to protect mutants as well as humans.

Base ofoperations:

First appearance:

Professor XWolverineRogueStormCyclopsJean GreyAngelBeastGambitand more

Xavier Institute For Higher Learning

X-Men #1 (1963)

x-men

meanwhile at wdc…

Core team members:

Feared and hated by humans because they're different, the X-Men are heroic mutants, individuals born with special powers who've sworn to use their gifts to protect mutants as well as humans.

Base ofoperations:

First appearance:

Professor XWolverineRogueStormCyclopsJean GreyAngelBeastGambitand more

Xavier Institute For Higher Learning

X-Men #1 (1963)

x-men

mutant registration act

treat people like grownups

fantastic four

Core team members:

The Fantastic Four is an internationally-renowned group of superhuman champions based in New York City and dedicated to the betterment of the world through scientific discovery and defense against evil.

Base ofoperations:

First appearance:

Mister FantasticInvisible WomanThe ThingHuman Torch

Baxter Building

Fantastic Four #1 (1961)

fantastic four

human play doh

not very invisible woman

some like it hot

turn your weakness

into strength

avengers

Core team members:

They are Earth's mightiest heroes, formed to fight the foes no single hero could withstand. The Avengers are the most prestigious and powerful super-hero team in the world, devoted to protecting the planet from menaces beyond the scope of conventional authorities.

Base ofoperations:

First appearance:

Captain AmericaBlack WidowHawkeyeHulkIron ManScarlet WitchThor

Stark Tower

Avengers #1 (1963)

avengers

you are stronger together

10 lessons we can learn from

superheroes

understand yourself

be a superhero developer

to be continued…

Melinda Seckington

FutureLearn@mseckington

Photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/funky64/3485138671

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hamur0w0/6984884135

https://www.flickr.com/photos/fruey/7489124186

Superhero images courtesy of Marvel