I'm setting up my startup, Public Law, to accept payments for new premium features. It's a SaaS app --- a law search engine based on open data and open source. That sounds pretty legit, not-sketchy and boring, I thought - and we'd never have problems with our account getting closed for being too risky. And … Continue reading SaaS Billing Platforms Compared
The perfect IDE in pictures: Part 1, *it* works for *you*
I don't think the perfect IDE exists. But all the right ingredients are out there. Allan MacGregor wrote a post about VIM as the "perfect IDE" that started an interesting discussion on dev.to. But I'm skeptical about the pages-long config file, the dozens of independent plugins, and whether the result is really an "IDE". This reminded … Continue reading The perfect IDE in pictures: Part 1, *it* works for *you*
Testing the multi-subdomain Rails app
Writing tests for a multi-tenant, multi-subdomain app turns out to be very tricky to figure out, e.g.: I saw that, and understood the frustration. Integration tests ("request specs" or "feature specs") are built on a stack of frequently changing libraries and shifting API's. And the recipe for subdomain-aware testing isn't documented in any particular tool's notes. … Continue reading Testing the multi-subdomain Rails app
What is a Design Pattern? (Answered.)
I recently answered that question: The entire concept of Design Patterns for software was popularized and maybe invented by the Gang of Four. This is the book. It's an amazing artifact, organized differently from any other book I've seen. It's worth checking it out from a library and reading at least the introduction and a … Continue reading What is a Design Pattern? (Answered.)
Twitter scam: Ethereum / BasicAttentionToken “giveaway”
E-coin faucets have been around for a while, and I’ve never had a problem with them. So I clicked the link, and saw the dwindling amount left to give away.
I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report
...the bottom line is, the experience is simultaneously high-end luxury yet while staying informed and in control of the device.
A Docker dev config for Ruby on Rails
I use Docker for all my client work, and most of my personal projects too. I love it. It's saved me a ton of money because it uses so much less RAM than Vagrant — what I had been using. Benefits of this config Just docker-compose up to set up and launch the dev environment … Continue reading A Docker dev config for Ruby on Rails
Setting up a Docker dev environment for Elixir+Phoenix
Benefits One-line setup and bootup: docker-compose up. It creates the database, does the Dialyzer pre-work (if the project has Dialyxer installed), etc. A true development-oriented config: Source code is mounted so that changes in the container appear on the host, and vice-versa. Fast re-builds because the DOCKERFILE is written to help Docker cache the images. Syncing with the … Continue reading Setting up a Docker dev environment for Elixir+Phoenix
What my top students had in common: they asked questions.
When I say, “they ask questions”, I mean literally, truly, a string of words followed by a question mark. Not implied questions like, “I don’t know what to do here!” I realized this after mentoring dozens of students, online and in person, at many code schools and online platforms. Scientifically speaking, this is an imperfect … Continue reading What my top students had in common: they asked questions.
The Economics of Programming: Externalized vs. Internalized Costs
Many days I feel like my work as an agile consultant is simply internalizing (externalized) costs. First example that comes to mind: software development done too quickly which creates technical debt as it goes. In the short term, a project like that can seem very successful, exceeding expectations for delivery time and customer satisfaction. And then … Continue reading The Economics of Programming: Externalized vs. Internalized Costs
