Good commit messages are essential for a healthy codebase. They provide context, aid in collaboration, and make the history of a project much easier to follow. When you’re revisiting code after months (or even years), well-structured commit messages can help you understand what was changed and why. To write an effective commit message, follow these practices, as recommended by Chris Beams: Separate the subject from the body: Your subject line should be clear and concise, but if you need to provide more detail, separate the subject from the body with a blank line. Limit the subject line to 50 characters: A short subject line ensures that it is easy to read and doesn’t get cut off in most interfaces. Capitalize the subject line: Start your subject line with a capital letter to maintain consistency and readability. Avoid periods at the end of the subject line: Since the subject is a brief summary, there’s no need to use a period. Use the imperative mood in the subject line: This makes it easier to read and conveys a sense of action. For example, write "Add feature" instead of "Added feature" or "Adding feature." Wrap the body text at 72 characters: This ensures [...]

Many engineers are naturally focused on technical challenges, but one of the most important skills you’ll need throughout your career is communication. Whether you’re explaining a complex feature to a non-technical stakeholder or giving feedback in a code review, your ability to communicate effectively will shape your success. Here are some tips on how to improve your communication skills: 1. Be Clear and Concise When writing code, you aim for clarity and simplicity—and the same should apply to your communication. Whether it’s an email, a design document, or a code review, ensure your message is clear and to the point. Avoid unnecessary jargon, and always consider your audience. 2. Give and Receive Feedback Effectively Feedback is crucial for growth, but it can be challenging to navigate, especially in a technical environment. When giving feedback, focus on being constructive, specific, and respectful. When receiving feedback, be open-minded and see it as an opportunity to improve, not as a personal critique. 3. Documentation Is Key Clear documentation is a form of communication that often goes overlooked. Whether you’re writing an API spec or documenting a process, remember that well-written documentation can save hours of frustration for your team. It’s especially helpful for [...]

As a software engineer, learning from others is crucial for developing new skills and growing professionally. One of the best ways to achieve this is by shadowing experienced engineers and engaging in pair programming. 1. Shadowing: Learn by Observation Shadowing allows you to follow a senior engineer and observe their approach to solving complex problems. It's an active process where you take notes, ask questions, and learn how experts handle various scenarios. To maximize the benefits of shadowing, plan sessions ahead of time and have a follow-up discussion afterward to reflect on your learnings. Once you feel more comfortable, try the reverse: have a senior engineer shadow you. This method offers invaluable feedback and provides a safety net if something goes wrong, especially in high-pressure situations like interviews. 2. Pair Programming: Learning Through Collaboration Pair programming involves two engineers working together to write code. One types, while the other reviews and thinks ahead. It takes time to get used to, but the benefits are significant: quicker learning, better communication, and higher code quality. Pair programming isn’t just for new engineers. Teammates at all levels can benefit from exchanging ideas and perspectives. The collaborative environment fosters mutual growth, making it one [...]

Two psychological challenges can slow your growth as a software engineer: impostor syndrome and the Dunning-Kruger effect. Both can affect how you perceive your abilities, and understanding them is key to overcoming these growth obstacles. 1. Impostor Syndrome: Feeling Like a Fraud Impostor syndrome occurs when highly capable engineers feel like they don’t deserve their success. Every mistake reinforces their self-doubt, while their achievements are attributed to luck. This self-perpetuating cycle can be hard to break. To overcome it, start by recognizing your accomplishments—no matter how small. Reframe negative thoughts to highlight the progress you’ve made. Talking to trusted colleagues about your self-doubt can also provide valuable reassurance and feedback. 2. The Dunning-Kruger Effect: Overconfidence Despite Incompetence On the flip side, the Dunning-Kruger effect is when individuals overestimate their abilities because they don’t yet know what they don’t know. These engineers might reject feedback and believe their approach is always right, leading to frustration among teammates. To combat this, foster curiosity and humility. Engage in discussions about design decisions, even when you disagree. Ask for feedback and embrace the idea that there are often trade-offs rather than one “right” solution. A mindset of continuous learning will help you grow.

Picking an eCommerce platform to sell online is a key moment for every business. There are plenty of pre-built solutions on the internet, some of which offer features that let you get online and start selling immediately. Chances are, if you're shopping for an ecommerce solution, you've heard of the larger ones like WooCommerce, Shopify, and BigCommerce. But not all these platforms are great at protecting your business. And even worse, some will try to profit off your hard work beyond the money you’re spending for their solution. For example, some will actually steal information you worked hard to get, like customer data, and use it for their own goals.  If you aren’t careful, you could end up stuck with an eCommerce solution that doesn’t serve you anymore.  How can you protect yourself from this? Issues with Most SaaS eCommerce Solutions Picking a pre-built solution sounds great. You gain access to a powerful platform that can get you online and ready to sell quickly.  But there is a huge downside in going with someone else’s solution. You don’t really own your shop and the data it processes. The solution’s provider can pull the plug and close down your store any [...]