99 Tech Tips
MON 06:30 Alarm’s going off. It’s chuckin’ it down.

How to Survive the Tech Industry

99 tips from a developer who burnt out, walked away for three years, and came back loving it again — so you don’t have to learn it the hard way.

Buy the eBook · $9.99 Read chapter one free
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▶ 79 seconds in my shoes. Sound on.
FOREWORD

You used to love this. Codin’. Since you were a kid.

This book starts on a gloomy Monday, at a job that had quietly taken the joy out of everything. If any of this sounds familiar, it was written for you.

  1. 06:30

    Already dreadin’ it

    Shower. Coffee. Drive in, in the dark. Radio on, not listening.

  2. 12h worked · 8h paid

    Cuttin’ corners

    Work you’re not proud of, for a place that only cares about the money.

  3. Type. Delete. Send.

    Best thing you ever did

    The resignation email, drafted and deleted until it finally went.

  4. 3 years

    Couldn’t open the laptop

    A few weeks off turned into three years of burnout recovery.

  5. me.love(code); // again

    You came back

    Different. A bit wiser. And loving it again.

So here’s the thing —

You don’t have to learn it the hard way.

Practical, funny, no-nonsense advice for software developers at every stage — from landing the job to knowing when it’s time to move on.

Spot the bad ’uns
Find the good ’uns
Look after yourself
99 essential tips

What you’ll get from the book

Six sections, 99 tips, real stories — including steering clear of strip clubs with your boss.

TIPS 1–11

Navigate the job market

Red flags, green flags, being ghosted, interview prep, the technical test, and why it’s okay to turn an offer down.

TIP 12: DON’T BE A DICK

Collaborate effectively

Working with team-mates and clients, asking for help, and making mistakes without falling apart.

CAREER

Advance your career

Grow your skill set, step into leadership, and handle career transitions with confidence.

CODE STUFF

Deliver high-quality work

SOLID principles, design patterns, best practice, and whether you should really be using if-else.

WELL-BEING

Prioritise your well-being

Spot burnout before it spots you, keep a healthy work-life balance, and stay resilient.

THE LONG GAME

Achieve long-term success

Build a sustainable, rewarding career — not just surviving, but thriving.

Written for: Aspiring developers Juniors Mid-levels Seniors
CHAPTER ONE Hello,
there.
Book cover: How to Survive the Tech Industry: A Handbook by Stuart Todd
FREE PREVIEW

Chapter one… Hello, there.

Read the full foreword, meet the author, and get the first tips on the job market — red flags, green flags and being ghosted — before you buy.

Download the free preview Get the full book

What readers are saying

“Stuart has combined personal anecdotes, great jokes and images to create a super useful guide to surviving tech that is easy to read and more importantly easy to implement!”

Kelly Howes · Software Engineer

“A practical and humorous guide… This isn’t just about surviving; it’s about thriving. A must-read for anyone in tech, whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned professional.”

Stuart Todd
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stuart Todd

15+ years as a developer across agencies and freelance, now running Half Shell Studios. Test-driven, no-nonsense, and very much back in love with code. Married, two kids, two dogs. Andrew Garfield is the best Spider-Man. Otherwise he’d be an alpaca farmer.

Don’t wait for the next gloomy Monday.

The complete handbook, ready to download today.

Buy the eBook · $9.99
Leanpub Gumroad Amazon UK Amazon US