Elm Town
Elm Town 83 – Wonder: Meeting people where they are with Ryan Haskell
Apr 15, 2025
Ryan Haskell, a senior software engineer at Brilliant and creator of the 'Welcome to Elm' YouTube series, shares insights on teaching the Elm programming language. He recounts his gap year adventures and the development of his game, 'Turbo Champ,' using the Godot engine. Haskell emphasizes the importance of accessible learning materials and relatable language in programming. He also explores how interactivity can enhance learner engagement, and he shares resources that facilitate a deeper understanding of Elm.
44:03
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Quick takeaways
- Ryan Haskell's gap year was an opportunity to explore personal projects like game development, highlighting the importance of community in overcoming isolation.
- His teaching approach for Elm emphasizes clear communication and relatable examples to guide developers transitioning from JavaScript frameworks while encouraging inspiration from various programming ecosystems.
Deep dives
Ryan's Gap Year Experience
Ryan Haskell shares insights about his gap year, taken from September 2023 to August 2024, highlighting his motivations behind this decision. He had recently gotten married and turned 30, prompting him to take a break from work and explore personal projects like starting his own business and developing a video game. During this year, he created a racing game called Turbo Champ using the Godot Engine, which allowed him to learn game development through a visual and hands-on approach. Although he enjoyed the process, he also realized that being isolated from work and social interactions was challenging, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and community.
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