The Product Engineer

Product Engineers can replace Product Managers in consumer software roles by fostering equal participation among Engineering, Design, and Product teams. Current structures often create dysfunction, with Product Managers overstepping by acting as decision-makers, Designers becoming entrenched in their own processes, and Engineers feeling disconnected due to unclear directives. A Product Engineer possesses in-depth product knowledge, drives accountability, and promotes clear communication across teams. Successful product outcomes stem from empowering those who build to share product responsibilities, minimizing reliance on conventional Product Managers.

https://randsinrepose.com/archives/the-product-engineer/

Visualising Data Structures and Algorithms Through Animation

VisuAlgo offers animations to visualize data structures and algorithms, enhancing understanding through interactive features. Funded by Optiver since mid-2023, it aims to improve mobile accessibility and online quizzes. With 24 visualization modules, the platform includes an online quiz system for self-testing. It's trilingual and designed for both NUS students and a global audience. Ongoing improvements focus on user experience, making it more mobile-friendly and engaging for learners.

https://visualgo.net/en

What Is AI Vibe Coding? It’s All the Rage but It’s Not for Everyone

,

Extreme TLDR: “Vibe coding” is a new coding approach where experienced developers use AI tools to streamline coding tasks, allowing for quick iterations and low-effort setups. While effective for prototyping, it may lead to loss of control and overwritten changes, making it unsuitable for beginners. Ultimately, it enhances productivity but requires solid coding skills to navigate its risks effectively.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-ai-vibe-coding-its-all-the-rage-but-its-not-for-everyone-heres-why/

Why I’m No Longer Talking to Architects About Microservices

No longer discussing microservices due to: 1) ambiguous definitions causing miscommunication. 2) abstract conversations disconnected from real business goals. 3) organizational changes often ignored, making microservices adoption ineffective. Focus should shift to tangible outcomes rather than microservices debates.

https://blog.container-solutions.com/why-im-no-longer-talking-to-architects-about-microservices

Sobering Revenue Stats of 70K Mobile Apps Show Why Devs Beg for Subscriptions

,

Most mobile apps struggle to generate $1,000/month within two years; only 20% achieve this milestone, while 5% hit $10,000. Revenue disparity is growing, with top apps making significantly more than others. Developers push for subscriptions to survive, but trial subscriptions often face high cancellation rates. Many seek diverse monetization strategies amid ongoing challenges.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/sobering-revenue-stats-of-70k-mobile-apps-show-why-devs-beg-for-subscriptions/

Git From the Bottom Up

Git Basics Overview:
– Repository: Collection of commits; defines HEAD for current tree.
– Index: “Staging area” for changes before committing.
– Working Tree: Directory with a repository, includes files.
– Commit: Snapshot of working tree; creates revision history.
– Branch: A name/reference for a commit.
– Tag: Permanent name/description for a commit.
– HEAD: Indicates currently checked-out branch or commit.

Workflow: Create repository → work in working tree → add changes to index → commit changes to repository.

https://jwiegley.github.io/git-from-the-bottom-up/

Cool Native HTML Elements You Should Already Be Using · Harrison Broadbent

Summary: Article highlights useful native HTML elements like

,
, and that can enhance web apps without relying on excessive JavaScript. Features discussed include modals, accordions, range inputs with ticks, progress bars, searchable dropdowns, keyboard shortcuts, and captioned images. Utilizing these elements can simplify web development and reduce dependency on libraries.

https://harrisonbroadbent.com/blog/cool-native-html-elements/

Why We Ditched Next.js and Never Looked Back

Northflank abandoned Next.js due to severe performance issues, slow rendering times, and a lack of control. They faced SEO penalties and a frustratingly complex ecosystem. Rather than continue struggling, they developed a custom server-side rendering solution with React and Express, significantly improving load times and SEO rankings. They concluded Next.js may suit small projects but is inadequate for scalable, high-performance needs, advocating for DIY approaches for better control and efficiency.

https://northflank.com/blog/why-we-ditched-next-js-and-never-looked-back

One File Linux

One File Linux: ~20MB live Linux distro, no installation needed. Copy one file to EFI partition to boot on any UEFI computer. Advantages include no USB required, direct UEFI boot, no boot manager, and compatibility with disk encryption. Useful for Linux on bare metal without USB. Run on Mac by copying to EFI and setting boot option; on PC, use efibootmgr to add NVRAM boot option. Can also run from formatted USB. Build your own version based on Alpine Linux.

https://hub.zhovner.com/geek/one-file-linux/

1x Engineer

1x Engineer: A modest engineer who seeks help online, shares knowledge, maintains work-life balance, collaborates with others, embraces mistakes, values constructive feedback, and supports teammates while being open to admitting limits. They contribute to the community, respect diverse work environments, and remain humble, often accepting corrections gracefully.

https://1x.engineer/

The Good Times in Tech Are Over

Tech perks dwindled; layoffs increased. Shift from zero interest rates encouraged reckless hiring to prioritizing profitability. COVID gave a short-term boost but wasn’t the main cause. Engineers' personal interests now conflict with company goals, risking job security. The reality: delivering value means retaining jobs; unrealistic perks were an illusion. A realistic approach to engineering simplifies the role but involves navigating tough market conditions.

https://www.seangoedecke.com/good-times-are-over/

Teach, Don’t Tell / Steve Losh

TLDR: Steve Losh's blog post emphasizes the importance of teaching in writing technical documentation for programming languages and libraries instead of merely stating facts. Good documentation should transform novices into experts by guiding users through a structured learning process. It should include clear, organized sections like First Contact, The Black Triangle, The Hairball, and Reference, avoiding ineffective methods like directing users to source code, tests, or wikis. The focus is on making documentation accessible and engaging for users.

https://stevelosh.com/blog/2013/09/teach-dont-tell/

Life Altering Postgresql Patterns

Ethan McCue outlines effective PostgreSQL practices for improved database management. Key recommendations include:

  1. Use UUID primary keys for easier sharing and generation.
  2. Include created_at and updated_at for useful record tracking.
  3. Apply on update restrict, on delete restrict to foreign keys to prevent unintentional data loss.
  4. Utilize schemas to organize tables better.
  5. Implement enum tables for flexible value management.
  6. Name tables in singular form to reflect individual row representation.
  7. Use concatenated names for join tables in many-to-many relationships.
  8. Prefer soft deletes with nullable timestamps to avoid permanent data loss.
  9. Track status changes using a log-like structure with a timestamp.
  10. Use a special system_id for critical rows.
  11. Limit use of views due to complexity in management.
  12. Leverage JSON in queries for efficient data retrieval.

These strategies collectively enhance PostgreSQL usability and data integrity.

https://mccue.dev/pages/3-11-25-life-altering-postgresql-patterns

Linux Routing Fundamentals

,

Linux networking supports multiple routing tables and advanced features like policy-based routing (PBR), VRFs, and network namespaces. This summary covers basics of routing tables, explaining their structure, routing lookups, source address selection, and special route types. Linux systems come with default tables: local, main, and default, which are checked in sequence for routing decisions. Users interact with routing tables via the ip command. The article also discusses handling ICMP errors and interface link states. Further articles will expand on advanced routing techniques.

https://blog.sdn.clinic/2025/01/linux-routing-fundamentals/

Scroll to Top