Maelle Vance

In our recent team retrospective at DNSimple, we recognized a growing concern: technical debt. Many teams face this challenge, but rather than viewing it as a burden, I approach it as a strategic deferred investment in our codebase's design. In my latest blog post, I define technical debt, its impact on software projects, and how we can align its management with our product and engineering roadmap. This post is for developers and non-technical stakeholders who want to understand the nuances of technical debt and how to manage it effectively. Check it out, and let’s continue the conversation on innovating sustainably while managing our technical debt wisely. https://lnkd.in/dcihZ4fE

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Whenever I get "worried" that an LLM will take my job as a SWE in the near future I look back at this benchmark leader board of real-world issues and am reminded that LLMs have been stuck at making marginal improvements bellow 20% resolved rate for over a year now. That being said, I do think AI will become an increasingly powerful tool in a SWEs belt in the coming years if it hasn't become one already. I personally use it to help me explore a problem space faster and come up with boilerplate for trivial problems and expand from there. In those cases it's like using Google and Stack Overflow and other forums, but faster. Edit: I'd like to also point out that I really like this benchmark because you cannot train a model on it unlike HumanEval. It's in essence, a true test of an llms ability to generalize and solve problems. Source: https://lnkd.in/epK2GQ2w

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When I first learned about Amplitude, I was an engineer at another company. We were told we had to integrate this new analytics tool, and the reaction across the team was, "Where did this come from, and why do we have to do all this extra work?" Fast forward a few months, and we were all hooked—engineers, product managers, everyone. The effort spent integrating Amplitude was absolutely worth it. Suddenly, we could easily analyze our data, and it was miles ahead of anything we'd used before. But here's the thing—many Amplitude customers struggle to get past that first hurdle of implementation. So, we made it simple. Now, you can implement Amplitude with just ONE line of code! And don’t worry, precision tracking is still there—we’re just making it faster and easier to reach the moment where you can start analyzing your data. Learn more about #AmplitudeMadeEasy: https://bit.ly/3AUKC37. 

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My blog post about what I’ve been working on at Rippling the last year and a bit is live!  Come learn how Rippling Engineering is building data residency for the EU and beyond https://lnkd.in/gy-2ebD7

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😎 🚀 New blog post on Medium! 😎 🚀 Check out Part 1 of our journey at Outbrain Engineering as we moved from an in-house async framework to Spring Boot Reactive. If you're exploring similar technical landscapes or curious about Outbrain backend development experience, give it a read! 🎯 https://lnkd.in/dUwyavPd And stay tuned 👀 —Part 2 is coming soon ⌛. #SpringBoot #ReactiveProgramming #BackendDevelopment #AsynchronousProgramming #TechBlog #Outbrain #Engineering #Java #Spring

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Is there a better way to end the week than with a Go post? Nope...can’t think of one. Gladly, here's a new one on the Twilio blog, showing how to read and write CSV files 👉 https://lnkd.in/gCHhQcbB If you’re in to Go and CSV files, happy reading and happy Friday! #golang // #csv // #universalfileformat

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With Fauna you can now start with a document model; evolve your application and then enforce schema when you settle on business rules. Do those business rules change? No problem, built in migrations let you move to a new schema with zero downtime. Another cool aspect of this is you can rollout your schema changes using the Fauna Schema Language which you can use in your CI/CD and local development flows like you would with something like liquibase in a relational database.

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Every day we hear about AI making rapid advances, and coming up with creative solutions which were unimaginable barely two year ago. My fellow (ex) Planning Comissioner, R "Ray" Wang is moderating a panel on how AI will impact the job market. ============================================== What does AI mean for parents and students in the college and job market? Join our own AI experts from Cupertino for a special community educational event and forum: Liangfang Chao, Ph.D. -Senior Software Engineer -Cupertino City Council Gopal Kumarappan - Head of Engineering at JP Morgan Chase Peter Chu (https://lnkd.in/gM9kQZJQ) - Managing Partner - AsiaTech Ventures Seema Swamy, Ph.D. - Executive Leader of Insights in Fortune 100 Company Moderated by R “Ray” Wang - CEO of Constellation Research - An Expert on AI, Web3, and software - An Author of Best-Selling Books Location: Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave, Cupertino Time: 6/30, Sunday, 2-4 pm We'll ask questions such as: - Where are we in AI today? - What are the latest AI trends? - How will AI impact future career opportunities? - What should parents know about AI? - How will AI impact students? Must register here -

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Next week, I will be the Principals of Amazon (PoA) talk presenter. It would be fun to have folks join (and ask good questions!) if you are an Amazonian.   Talk Abstract: Code reviews can be a painful ordeal, leaving both reviewers and authors feeling frustrated. But it doesn’t have to be that way! In this practical talk, we’ll explore techniques to transform code reviews into an enjoyable learning experience. You’ll learn how to give and receive feedback constructively, focusing on the code rather than personal attacks. You’ll gain strategies for structuring feedback, addressing comments, and handling disagreements without devolving into office brawls. Whether you’re a junior or mid-career developer, this talk will equip you with the skills to make code reviews a collaborative, educational, and (gasp!) enjoyable process. Join us to get a stress-free ‘ship it!’ on your next CR.   Here is a sneak peek at what we will cover. You might notice a few Principal Tenets in here. I use these daily in my work, in addition to the more famous Amazon Leadership Principles. The Principal Tenets are a framework for thinking about my work as a Principal Engineer and always raising my game. You can learn more about them here: https://lnkd.in/esPSssWv   Code Reviews that Don’t Suck   Learn, Educate, and Advocate You are NOT your Code Start with a Self-Review Consider Team Standards Check the Obvious Things Make it Atomic / One Change per Commit Respect what Came Before Make it Readable Provide Clear Context Go Talk to a Person, in Person Work Hard; Have Fun; Make History   How about giving Code Review feedback that doesn’t suck? Lead with Empathy Don’t be too Harsh But Be Clear Use Radical Candor Give a Full Review Be Prompt… or Delegate Act as a Co-Owner Coaching a New Engineer Hold High and Consistent Standards Use Comment Conventions Include Praise

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People keep sending me this https://lnkd.in/eVWCt_c4 and ask me questions about my commute, so I thought I would make a post a FAQs. Yes, I live in Brooklyn, New York. Yes, I work in Wilmington, Delaware. No, I don’t drive. Yes, I take the train (and the subway and a bus). Yes, it’s hybrid. No, it’s not 2 days a week (it’s 3). Yes, I wake up at 3:10 in the morning. No, I don't leave Delaware before 5 (most times it's until after 10:00 pm). Let me know if I missed any or if I should make this into a medium article. #SuperCommuter #RemoteWork #HybridWork #TrainCommute #BrooklynToWilmington #WorkLifeBalance #Commuting #EarlyRiser #PublicTransport #WorkJourney #PotentialMediumArticle #FAQ

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Week 2 of My HeadStarter Journey I am glad that we have speakers every week. Each speaker at the Pathways to Tech event brought unique perspectives, but Dennis Crowley stood out to me the most. His journey from founding Dodgeball to scaling Foursquare underscored the importance of team collaboration, emotional connectivity in products, and maintaining focus. His insights on hiring great people and addressing impostor syndrome were particularly impactful. With our recently announced partnership with Olostep, I'm excited to prioritize my time in the Headstarter Fellowship to maximize my chances of joining their team. Here’s my action plan: 🔧 Enhance Technical Skills: Focus on mastering TypeScript, MongoDB, and browser plugin development to align with Olostep’s technical stack. 🤖 Leverage AI Expertise: Deepen my understanding of AI, especially in web scraping and data handling, to contribute effectively to Olostep’s mission. 🤝 Engage and Collaborate: Actively participate in Fellowship activities, seek feedback from peers and mentors, and leverage their expertise. 🚀 Showcase Initiative: Take on challenging projects, demonstrate problem-solving abilities, and show my dedication to continuous learning and growth. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to contributing to Olostep's innovative projects. Let's make great things happen together! #Headstarter #PathwaysToTech #CareerGrowth #Networking #AI #SoftwareEngineering #Olostep #Fellowship #TechCommunity PS. come check out my week2 project Pantry Tracker

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I'm excited to announce that I'll be presenting at the Codeborging: AI-Powered Programming Meetup on June 12 on "Harnessing OpenAI Assistants for Dynamic Content Generation." In this session, I'll share insights from my journey of using OpenAI Assistants to streamline content creation and enhance productivity. Key highlights will include: - Knowledge Bot: A context-driven OpenAI Assistant that personalizes content generation using advanced GPT-4o models. - Amazon Treasures Chat: Enhancing the e-commerce experience with AI-driven conversational interfaces. We will dive into practical code examples, demonstrating how to set up these assistants, craft effective prompts, and integrate them into your projects. Key Takeaways: - How to prepare data and configure OpenAI Assistants - Practical Tips for Generating Natural Language Search Results - Real-world applications to boost daily productivity, like generating blog posts, handling communications, etc. Join us and unlock the potential of AI in your projects. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your content strategy and productivity with AI! #AI #ContentCreation #OpenAI #TechTalk #MachineLearning #Productivity #SoftwareDevelopment Artium LeanDog

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I started writing regularly about AI. If you're an innovators or product developer eager to apply the latest in AI, whether you're in a startup or a big company, consider checking https://lnkd.in/gGdW8PYe I won't teach you ML, but I share real-world insights from launching - and sometimes failing at - numerous ML features on a large scale.

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This has been the craziest year of my life and it all started with me getting laid off from my software engineering job. I don't usually share, but I believe this warrants it. For the past year, a group of friends and I have dedicated ourselves to developing a system that empowers health-conscious individuals to achieve their optimal health through the utilization of Health Protocols. For context, a Health Protocol comprises a set of rules, procedures, and guidelines intended to promote and sustain health. Navigating the path to a healthy lifestyle can be bewildering, from choosing the right foods and supplements to establishing effective routines. Over time, the complexity only grows. Recognizing this, my team and I realized that while many individuals are pioneering the definition of a healthy lifestyle and crafting detailed blueprints (i.e., lists of activities) to follow, adhering to these protocols can be challenging due to the ever-changing landscape of health discoveries and technological advancements. What we've created is a platform for these Health Protocol Leaders to articulate their methodologies through our customizable scheduling system. Users can then join specific protocols and receive daily reminders of their tasks, enabling them to track their progress and analyze results. This allows individuals to gauge their trajectory and make informed decisions about potentially joining new protocols to address specific aspects of their lives that may be falling short of expectations, such as diet or sleep routines. In addition to easily incorporating protocols into their schedules for immediate tracking, users can share their achievements within the leader's community, fostering a supportive environment that encourages progress. This shared experience also fosters camaraderie among users facing similar challenges. We firmly believe that by adhering to the most current health protocols & being guided by professionals who rigorously study biohacking and optimal bodily functions, both life span (the length of time one is alive) and health span (the duration of healthy living) can be extended. If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read my post. If you're interested in learning more, please visit our website at https://achievable-app.com. We're always open to feedback and collaboration, so if you're passionate about our mission, please don't hesitate to reach out. By pooling our talents and ideas, we can maximize our potential to make a meaningful impact on society. Also if you happen to know a health leader below or in this space in general and can make an introduction, that would be greatly appreciated: #BryanJohnson #DrAndrewHuberman #DaveAsprey #TimFerris #DrRhondaPatrick #WimHof #DrJoeDispenza #PeterAttiaMD #DavidSinclairPHD #DrBradStanfield #DrMarkHyman #DrDanielSugai #BenGreenfield #MaxLugavere #doctors #nurses #HealthTech #DigitalHealth #PersonalGrowth #Achievable #CommunityHealth #protocols

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Love this diagram from Alex Ewerlöf. Simple and insightful. I like to explain the Senior Engineer -> Staff Engineer transition as scaling. Up to Senior Engineer, it's a vertical scaling, you invest in your personal skills. Staff and above is a horizontal scaling, you invest in those around you: your team, org, and mentees. And as with scaling vertically, every next increment of your personal growth gets asymptotically harder and more expensive. While growing others unlock a real productivity multiplier. Read his whole post from Alex: https://lnkd.in/gZcUnUjp

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I am back to help fellow techies with mock interviews! If you are a senior engineer, tech lead or an engineering manager currently pursuing opportunities and interviewing with companies? I can help by mock interviewing you (no cost). Topics are: - Engineering Management - System Design - Coding I will share feedback, what went well and areas of improvements. If you are not currently preparing, please share with your friends or folks who might need this. Comment for reach, or share in your network. Book a 45/60 mins time slot with me. (link in comment). #softwareengineering #softwareengineers #interviews

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Coming up with good metrics to successfully show results is not an easy task. Sometimes the metric itself becomes the actual target, and the original target is forgotten (see Goodhart's law). And from time to time, this is worsened by trends and hypes. Currently the hype is on GenAI, companies are acting as if "the most GenAI we have, the better", and the results of this mindset are far from good. Here the focus is on following the hype while measuring success with the number of GenAI features launched, and while the metrics show some numbers going up, the true goal is forgotten: What does this *actually* have to do with AWS customers? Very interesting article by Corey Quinn on how the GenAI hype is consuming AWS. This analysis can easily be extended to other companies, not only AWS.

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