5 posts tagged: Development
You don't need a map for that
One of the most misused data structures is the humble map; hashmap, dictionary, hash table, etc. It's a great data structure for quick storage and access of key value pairs. Unfortunately, because of its ease and availability, it becomes pervasive at jobs it has no business doing. The problem grows most visible in dynamically typed languages that make the map a first class citizen (Python, Ruby, Clojure, etc.), but it can creep up in any language.
When DRY goes wrong
DRY has become a mantra throughout the industry. Any time repetitive code shows up, DRY gets applied as a cure all. If you even start to question DRYing up a piece of code, you are viewed as a heretic to the entire industry.
Embrace your constraints
Engineers want to measure the quality and effectiveness of their work. They turn to code coverage, burn down charts, and yearly goals, with the best intention.
The Right Abstraction for Lambdas
Serverless functions are a great alternative for many light tasks that would traditionally required a server. They allow you to split up work across mutiple small functions, and you only pay for what you use. On top of that, they require less maintenance than managing your own server or Kubernetes cluster.
Your Job Isn't Writing Code
Every line of code you write is a liability. That line of code you just wrote adds complexity to your code base, gives you more nuances to remember, it might even be a bug. If code is so expensive and dangerous. What can you do? After all, you are a developer.