My Experience Ensembling with the ApprovalTest Python Mob

I want to share my experience contributing to an Open Source library with a group of enthusiastic developers. I was feeling a bit lost in my professional development and was looking for motivation, then I found the ApprovalTest Python mob. I wanted to learn things that I did not get a chance to learn at work.

I pushed myself to attend the weekly meetings, over zoom. At first, it was challenging, but then the support from the ensemble gave me direction in my professional life again. Over time, I became hopeful as I learned about Python, the library, and ensembling techniques.

On the first day, I was lost. I had no idea what ApprovalTests were about. I didn’t know anything about Python. Even though I had learned it at a previous bootcamp, I had never used it in a professional context. I have trouble remembering things when I don’t use them often. However, I wanted to learn more, and find out what I could get from this group.

I could have learned new things from online courses, or watching YouTube videos, but the special thing about mobbing is that I get to ask questions when I don’t know what’s going on, and get immediate feedback. This helps me to learn and grasp concepts faster. I kept coming back every week, and I started to learn more Python syntax. Sometimes, I even felt confident about participating and contributing as a talker.

As an example of how this group helps me to grow, one day, the group decided to build a new feature that would allow us to test using the iExecutableCommand pattern.

As we worked, I understood some pieces here and there, like a puzzle, but I couldn’t put them together. Then, one day, the group decided to draw a picture of how all the pieces connected. All of a sudden, a light bulb came on, and I got the bigger picture of why we were building this feature. After this discovery, I felt like I understood the purpose of the ApprovalTest library. I was helping build an impactful library that can be used by everyone who wants to test their Python code.

Not only have I learned technically, I have also made friends through this group. We talk about challenges in our private and professional lives. Before finding this group, I felt alone in my technical and professional lives. Now, I have people I can lean on and who can lean on me.