The importance of blogging - or how to do your future self a favour

Yesterday, yet again, I was thankful for my past self taking time to blog about a technical solution I had found.

I had an error when trying to digitally sign a package. On searching on the error code I came across my own blog post with the solution. This was, as usual, one I had no recollection of writing.

I find this happens all the time. It is a little disturbing when you search for an issue and the only reference is to a post you made and have forgotten, so you are the defacto expert, nobody knows anymore on the subject, but better than having no solution.

Too often I ask people if they have documented the hints, tips and solutions they find and the response I get is ‘I will remember’. Trust me you won’t. Write something down where it is discoverable for your team and your future self. This can be any format that works for you: an Email, OneNote, a Wiki or the one I find most useful a blog. Just make sure it is easily searchable.

Your future self will thank you.