Data Trails and Zero Clicks

Data that travels

• from Frontend
• to Backend
• to SQS
• that triggers a Lambda
• that retrieves data from DynamoDB
• that creates new data and contacts a third-party service

This is a basic architecture I've been working on today. There's a very satisfying feeling that comes from triggering the whole flow with the simple click of a button.

Much effort went into minimising the number of clicks my users will have to engage in to trigger the desired result. This came both from getting their feedback and from using the app myself - the latter being a concept with its own Wikipedia page, as I've recently found out.

Specifically, this doesn't simply refer to some type of manual testing, but actually adopting the given product in your daily life to experience it an end-user.

This part had me in chuckles:

In 2009, the new CIO of Microsoft, Tony Scott, argued that the phrase "dogfooding" was unappealing and should be replaced by "icecreaming", with the aim of developing products as "ice cream that our customers want to consume"

I'll add to this that the AWS Documentation would really need an improvement in several areas, particularly when it comes to providing code examples.

Projects and Learning

Confirmation of a project officially been greenlit is always a joyful event.

Nothing like the thrill of the opportunity to build something completely from scratch and on your own, anticipating the challenges and struggles, but also the opportunity for growth.

Incidentally, I've been studying for the CompTIA Project+ certification lately, having fulfilled some project management duties in the past, and this will be a good opportunity to engage in the sacred art of cognitive alchemy(©): transforming information into knowledge through practice.

Enough has been said about project-based learning, but I keep reading posts and comments about skills and certifications that often leave me baffled. It's worth reiterating:

• There is a big difference between being aware of something (even to the point of being able to answer questions about it in a test) and actually be able to do something

E.G., People study VPCs for AWS certifications, but are then incapable of provisioning basic networking infrastructure if required to do so.

Build stuff AND study for certifications. If your role doesn't provide many occasions for that, maybe start with something like Andrew Brown's free courses.

Enough for today. Go away now.