Desafinado

I'm in a situation where I understand the importance of unit testing and how TDD works, but in practice I don't actually get to do it much. The technology I'm working in isn't really testable in this way.

That being said I'm interested in locating some reading material on these topics that don't just cover the basics, but do so with a little more depth so I can hopefully glean some of the senior level experience I'd get if I was actually doing it regularly.

In other trades we often speak about experience in terms of 'mastering' a trade, but in software it's usually phrased in ambiguous corporate goals like '10x productivity'.

If we set aside productivity and view software as a trade and craft, which skills do you think are inherent in someone who's reached a level of mastery in the field?

I'm at a bit of a crossroads these days. Meta is a repulsive company and I prefer not to share any data with them or engage with their products, but there is a whole slough of distant connections I'd permanently lose touch with if I stopped using those products.

A bit of a cliche topic but I'm interested in hearing what others think of relationships like this. How do you feel about these distant contacts who are undeniably friends but who don't have enough time for us.

Lately I'm wondering if the whole game of social media is to leverage people's FOMO. Social media feels like the tribe that we'll lose if we leave. But is it true?