Reflections on the Global Day of Code Retreat 2024
A Day of Learning, Community, and Rediscovering the Joy of Code
This year, I had the pleasure taking part in the Global Day of Code Retreat (GDCR) 2024, held in person at the Nagarro office in Vienna. GDCR is an event dedicated to pure, deliberate coding practice, where the goal isn’t to finish a project but to learn, explore, and challenge ourselves. Here’s a rundown of how the day unfolded and some key takeaways I’d love to share with anyone thinking about joining next time.
Structured for Exploration and Growth
The day was divided into five coding sessions, each with its own unique twist. In the morning, we kicked off with ensemble programming, where a group works together, rotating roles, and building solutions in sync. Later, we broke into pairs, taking turns solving parts of the classic Tetris game, each session introducing different constraints to push us out of our comfort zones.
Working on Tetris might sound simple, but it turned out to be much more complex than I expected. We focused on implementing specific pieces of logic, like making the blocks fall or rotate, and every session addd new layers to the challenge. For anyone interested in attending, I’d say: don’t worry about completing a perfect solution. Just focus on the process, let curiosity guide you, and you’ll walk away with valuable lessons.
The Joys and Challenges of Pair Programming
Each session, I had the chance to pair with different people. This variety in skill levels and experience made for a unique experience in every round. In one ensemble, I worked with beginners who were new to Python, while other sessions paired me with experienced developers. These differences really shaped my approach.
With beginners, I had to be more mindful and explain each step in detail. This helped me reconnect with some basics I hadn’t thought about in a while. With experienced peers, the dynamic was more about exploring ideas, pushing boundaries, and even challenging each other with new techniques. Both experiences reminded me of the importance of adapting to your pairing partner’s needs, and I came away with a stronger appreciation for how different perspectives can make for richer learning.
Embracing “Reset” and the Power of Practice
One of the unique aspects of GDCR is the “reset” between each session. After every 50-minute coding sprint, we’d delete our code and start fresh in the next round. I loved this approach because it encouraged us to focus on practice rather than perfection. Knowing that our code wasn’t meant to survive beyond tthe day allowed us to dive into the process, make mistakes, and experiment without the worry of “what will we do with this code later?”
This freedom to let go and start fresh was surprisingly freeing. It helped me become more comfortable with taking risks, letting go of mistakes, and not getting too attached to any one solution. By the end, I noticed how much easier it was to relax and just enjoy coding for the experience itself.
Learning New Techniques Through Constraints
Each session introduced different constraints, which kept things interesting and helped us explore techniques like Test-Driven Development (TDD) in depth. For example, one session was focused on “Outside-In TDD,” where we approached coding from the perspective of a user story, delivering a usable slice of software. Another session was all about Test && Commit || Revert (TCR), a practice where you commit code only if it passes all tests, and revert if it doesn’t. This approach was strict but valuable - it forced me to think in tiny steps and stay hyper-focused on what the code needed to do, no more, no less.
The final session, “evil pairing”, was my favorite. One person would write a test, and the other had to implement it in the most lazy way possible. At first, we tried to break the code in silly ways, but it ended up showing us new ways to simplify our approach. By the end, we’d developed a way to simulate a Tetris game without even keeping the board as a state! That was exciting since our solution grew organically from the constraint itself.
Focusing on Simplicity and Minimalism
Through all of these exercises, I was reminded of the power of simplicity. In our usual work, it’s easy to fall into the trap of over-designing solutions or building “just-in-case” features. But this retreat reinforced the idea that the simplest solution is often the best starting point. Making smaller steps, thinking incrementally, and letting the tests drive the logic helped me appreciate just how powerful minimalism can be. Moving forward, I’ll stick to this approach much stronger when coding.
The Value of Community and Shared Learning
One of the biggest highlights of GDCR was the community aspect. It was fantastic to be surrounded by people who were all there to learn, grow, and share in the joy of coding. Many of the attendees were new to the event, which added a lot of fresh perspectives. We had all kinds of discussions - on the benefits of TDD, the challenges of learning new languages, and even the doubts people had about practices like TDD. Talking through these topics in a collaborative, low-stakes environment was a rare experience, and it led to insights that I’m not sure would have come up in a regular work setting.
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Try a Code Retreat
If you’re considering joining a Code Retreat in the future, I can’t recommend it enough. The focus on deliberate practice, the ability to reset, and the opportunity to code just for the sake of learning are experiences you don’t get every day. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to connect with other developers who are as excited about improving their craft as you are.
No matter if you’re a seasoned coder or a novice in the field, there’s something to be gained from stepping out of the usual work routine and spending a day fully immersed in code. I’m already looking forward to the next one and can’t wait to see what new insights it brings.