Refreshed java random numbers (hoping for better ranking at google)

_posts/2019-07-12-java-random-numbers.md → _posts/2020-01-03-java-random-numbers.md

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Let's first start with the basics.
 Java provides at least fours ways of properly creating random numbers.
 
 ### 1. Using Math.random Method
-The most basic way of generating Random Numbers in Java is to use the `Math.random()` method.
+The most basic way of generating Random Numbers in Java is to use the [`Math.random()`](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/Math.html#random--) method.
 
 It doesn't take any parameter and simply returns a number which is greater than or equal 0.0 and less than 1.0. In comparison to other methods, `Math.random()` only returns Double values.
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Second randomValue: 0.9664240431908591
 <br>
 ### 2. Using java.util.Random Class
 
-The `java.util.Random` is really handy. It provides methods such as `nextInt()`, `nextDouble()`, `nextLong()` and `nextFloat()` to generate random values of different types.
+The [`java.util.Random`](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/util/Random.html) is really handy. It provides methods such as `nextInt()`, `nextDouble()`, `nextLong()` and `nextFloat()` to generate random values of different types.
 
 When you invoke one of these methods, you will get a Number between 0 and the given parameter (the value given as the parameter itself is excluded).
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Second double: 0.42704069834866554
 
 This class was added in Java 1.7, so hopefully you can use it. 
 
-`ThreadLocalRandom` is similar to the previous approach and defines methods such as `nextInt()` or `nextDouble()`. In fact, it is just a small change to the previously used `Random`. See for yourself:
+[`ThreadLocalRandom`](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/util/concurrent/ThreadLocalRandom.html) is similar to the previous approach and defines methods such as `nextInt()` or `nextDouble()`. In fact, it is just a small change to the previously used `Random`. See for yourself:
 
 ```java
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadLocalRandom;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ Second double: 0.7118640850137595
 <br>
 ### 4. Using java.security.SecureRandom
 
-The previous solutions are using pseudo-random numbers. This one here is a `cryptographically strong random number generator`.
+The previous solutions are using pseudo-random numbers. This one here is a `cryptographically strong random number generator` see the JavaDocs of [SecureRandom](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/security/SecureRandom.html).
 
 The implementation only differs slightly from the ones before. Frankly speaking, it is a drop-in replacement for `Random`:
 

_posts/2020-01-11-starting-into-new-decade-software-engineer.md

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "Starting Into the New Decade - Software Engineer's Edition"
+bigimg: /img/content/new-year-2020_title.jpg
+share-img: https://programmerfriend.com/img/content/new-year-2020_title.jpg
+tags: [new-year, developers]
+---
+
+First of all, I don't want to get too technical about the start and end of decades.
+Personally, I would prefer the decade to had ended in 2019; yet I think 2020/12/31 will be the end of the current decade.
+
+Anyway, since I already explained that the title is technically incorrect - what else can we expect from this article?
+
+More or less the article is a personal one, I want to reflect on what happened last year and compare it with what I expected before.
+Luckily, I wrote a similar article at the beginning of last year [Year++ - A Software Engineer’s New Year’s Resolutions](../_site/year-a-software-engineers-new-years-resolutions). 
+
+The second part of the article is about the things I intend to do this year. Let's see how all of this ends.
+
+## 2019s resolutions
+
+My last year's resolutions were:
+* Writing 50 blog posts
+* Learn Android (Kotlin)
+* Improve the Stability of the Backend I was working on
+* Extend my Knowledge of Backend Technologies
+
+Ok, let's check if I did even achieve anything of these.
+
+**Writing 50 blog posts**: The resolution I actually remembered and already knew before checking that I would be missing a few posts.
+I wrote **24** blog posts last year. I knew I would be short - but I am still quite satisfied with the actual count.
+
+Writing those posts was more work than I initially expected. I have to stay at it in order to reach a similar count next year.
+
+**Learn Android (Kotlin)**
+
+In a conversation, this would be when you try to avoid eye-contact. Obviously, I didn't put too much pressure on this. In the first quarter of the year, I learned the Android Basics using Java in my spare time. Since then I didn't use any of that knowledge. 
+
+When it comes to Kotlin it looks a bit better. At work, we had a 3-month exploration. The Backend was a Kotlin Spring Boot service.
+For the current product I am working on, Kotlin is used for several services.
+
+**Improve the Stability of the Backend**
+
+I would count this a success: Despite leaving my old project earlier than expected, I still could use the time I had to improve the stability together with my colleagues. My latest tasks were the foundation for further improvements.
+
+**Extend my Knowledge of Backend Technologies**
+Looking back, this worked pretty well. Joining the new product allowed me to get in contact with technologies that were new to me.
+To name a few: Keycloak, Postgres, Kubernetes, Azure.
+
+### Recap of 2019s resolutions
+I didn't reach all my goals. But what did I do instead?
+
+With the new product, there were new personal challenges.
+
+A big part of the initial effort was to migrate the existing project to a new team. I also was the first developer of that new team. 
+
+One of my occupations was to staff the new team. I didn't have the freedom that I was expecting still, I am more than satisfied with the final outcome. I think we have a really good team that can throw at all problems that come along.
+Even after the team staffing was completed, I participated in a lot of interviews for future candidates.
+
+Instead of learning Android, I had a good refresh on the basics of [React](https://reactjs.org/), one of the most popular JavaScript Web Frameworks. I expect that I can further deepen that knowledge during the next year.
+
+So much for 2019 - what will 2020 have in store for me?
+
+## New Year Resolutions for 2020
+
+I enjoy writing for Programmerfriend.com, I definitely want to keep it going. I don't want to commit to a number here, but I realized I need to create a schedule for writing blog posts. Let's commit to writing at least **the same amount of posts as in the previous year**.
+
+When giving advice to others, I always stress to get out of the comfort zone. I also want to do this to myself and therefore will try to **get into some kind of public speaking**. I'm not yet settled on the way I want to tackle this in detail, but we will see.
+
+Still out of my comfort zone: I want to start my own things. Programmerfriend is really awesome, but I think it could be the time to **start something on my own, a side-hustle to my daily 9 to 5**. I still don't have any clue but I am pretty sure I will come up with something during the next few months.
+
+Lately, I realized that my typing became a bit bad. I measured it and it seems that I max out at around 70 words per minute. It is not only the speed but I would love to switch back to using more than 4 to 6 fingers for it. If it is not for the speed, I would love to do it for ergonomics and convenience. This year I want to go back to **Touch typing** with higher accuracy.
+
+When it comes to my current work, I am pretty satisfied with how everything works out right now. Things I would like to improve are:
+* **Meeting efficiency**: Replace meetings by e-mails when possible.
+* **Continue to work on the project/team**: Instead of just writing code, I got a lot of tasks that require me to go beyond that.
+I am a technical person but I am not just someone who writes code. I love to improve the whole Development process where possible.
+No matter if it is about Testing, CI/CD or talking to product owners or architects when thinking about the next features we want to implement.
+* **Network at Work**: I still have the feeling that at work I have a limited view over all the aspects. Therefore I would like to reach out to colleagues who are working on other projects in my business unit.
+* **Help where Help is needed/wanted**: In my opinion, the company as such or at least the business unit is facing a rough time. I would really like to help outside of my current scope where possible. Let's see if I get the opportunity to do so.
+
+## Recap
+
+We talked a lot about the past, today and the near future.
+This article focused on me, but how about you?
+What are your new year resolutions for 2020?
+
+I really would love to hear them. Either here as a comment or on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?screen_name=eiselems&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" class="twitter-mention-button" data-size="large" data-text="My new year resolution for 2020 is ...   #programmerfriend #newYearResolution" data-related="eiselems" data-show-count="false">Tweet to @eiselems</a><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>.