Monthly notes 42

Midsummer is couple of days away and it’s time to take a short break from work and enjoy the Summer nights and nature. And if you have time here is a short list of articles to read and videos from React Finland 2019 conference to watch.

Issue 42, 20.6.2019

Software Development

Consulting or con-$ulting
A theory on how Hertz’s inexperience in buying software — combined with Accenture’s incompetence to deliver it — flushed $32M+ down the drain. “The lack of transparency and technical expertise combined with the lack of ownership/responsibility was ultimately the reason why Hertz managed to blow tens of millions USD, instead of just a couple.” Lessons learned: “If you are buying software for tens of millions, you must have an in-house technical expert as part of the software development process”.

Dont’ stop writing code comments
“You should write comments which matter.” @nicolas_frankel)

Improve your technical craft
More knowledge helps you to do your work (more efficiently and in less time). In knowledge work time spent at the office doesn’t equal productivity or job well done.

I (usually) spend the first hour of my day, 8-9AM, working on open source or watching technical talks or otherwise just improving my technical craft.

I recommend it. 7 hours is plenty value to your employer. Spend the first hour improving your tools, skills, and knowledge.

— Jamon (@jamonholmgren) June 3, 2019

React Finland 2019 presentations
29 videos from React Finland 2019 conference. Some picks: Automation and Exploratory testing, More Accessible React Apps, guide to building your design system infrastructure.

Databases

Be careful with CTE in PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL doesn’t inline common table expressions, WITH clause, it materializes it and thus is unable to utilize the index => expensive. Good to know if you’re used to Oracle which doesn’t materialize CTEs by default. (from walokra)

UX

Can’t Unsee
“The devil is in the details”. A game where your attention to details earns you a lot of coins. Fun game which teaches you some UX rules and attention to details. With 5780 coins I’m a beginner :/ (or need glasses :))

It feels fine on my phone
“You literally can’t afford desktop or iphone levels of JS if you’re trying to make good web experiences for anyone but the world’s richest users, and that likely means re-evaluating your toolchain.”

People sometimes suggest I should calm down about web performance because the web feels fine on *their* phone.@DasSurma and I pulled a little data to try to visualise why that might be both true and not particularly relevant: pic.twitter.com/9EfoaEJLgf

— Alex Russell (@slightlylate) June 15, 2019

Something different

Arofly Link brings power meters under $200 using a tire pressure monitor
Forget power meters in cranks and pedals, here’s Arofly Link. “Unlike most power meters that measure the actual force being put into your bike’s drivetrain between the pedals and the rear hub, Arofly takes it one step further apparently measuring power where the rubber meets the road.”