GitHub, Open Source, and Developers Helping Developers

Kedasha Kerr, a GitHub Developer Advocate, shares her non-traditional path into the world of coding, inspired by a FreeCodeCamp post on Instagram. Kadesha shares her insights on the importance of empathy in the tech sector as well as tips for beginners starting with GitHub. She emphasizes the potential of tools such as GitHub Actions in maximizing efficiency and encourages more women to get into coding. The conversation touches on the role of a developer advocate at GitHub and provides tips on optimizing one's GitHub profile as a working resume. Finally, Kadesha speaks about her excitement about engaging beginners in open source development.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Backgrounds 00:35 Journey into Coding and Developer Advocacy 02:01 The Importance of Coding and Non-Technical Backgrounds 02:53 Empathy and Impact in Tech 04:40 Advice for Aspiring Developers 07:49 Exploring GitHub Features and Tools 17:43 The Role of GitHub in Developer Identity 21:42 Excitement for Open Source and Final Thoughts

 

Resources:

There’s an Action for that! Exploring the Possibilities of GitHub Actions

Guest:

 

Kedasha Kerr is a Developer Advocate at GitHub where she enjoys sharing the lessons she’s learned from her time as an engineer and from her day job talking with other engineers at GitHub and in the wider developer community.

Prior to her transition to the world of tech, she worked as a social worker in various government agencies. She finds joy in helping others learn about the tech industry and loves sharing her experience as a software developer.

When she’s not building software, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up her favorite Jamaican dishes. You can find her on Instagram & Tiktok at @itsthatladydev