Grant Kim

Today I added stripe integrations (not as hard as I thought) and also finally added placeholder loading.tsx pages (yes it really did take me 6 months to remember you can do that 😭). https://lnkd.in/g2RUfhSh My end goal for the month of June was to be at the point I am now, so I am taking the extra time to clean up the code base and get it ready for more devs to work on. From production toggling to setting up hosted versions of the dev api, I want to make sure the people working with me have the smoothest experience possible. All of this working on a code base stuff in general is still relatively new to me, especially from the perspective of the person running the ship. It's one thing to work on a team when you're responsible for a single branch. But when you are making decisions on how best to orchestrate multiple code bases for use by multiple devs, it's a whole different ball game. Beyond that I also want to sit down and figure out the possible caching optimizations I can be making, as it's one of the big upsides of next.js. Shorter update again today, but as always if you've read this far thank you, and see you all next time <3.

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It’s been nearly half a year already as a Googler and still loving every minute! Sharing a glimpse into what my SWE work here looks like for the first time. ➤ Like 99% of engineers, I start my day by checking emails and my calendar. ➤ Contrary to what many people think, most of my time goes into writing System Design Docs instead of coding. ➤ Once done, I implement the design docs, run tests, and get my work reviewed. ➤ After the code is pushed to production, I collaborate and assist teams using the service and fix any bugs that arise. Overall, I've found that system design, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration are essential skills in this role. ✅ If you are also preparing for PBCs, I'd recommend focusing on these. You can also reach out to senior engineers who can help you build these skills and prepare for the interviews. They are even offering a FREE trial, so go ahead and book a session: https://lnkd.in/dr3g2X9B These SDEs at Preplaced will take complete responsibility for your preparation - building real-world projects, upskilling, mock interviews, resume creation and more till you reach your goals. 🚀 All the best! #6MonthsAtGoogle #SoftwareEngineer #Collab #PreplacedCollab #InterviewPreparation

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🚀 Insights from Pathways to Tech Event #16 🚀 I recently had the privilege of attending the Pathways to Tech event, featuring an incredible lineup of industry leaders: Dennis Crowley - Founder of Foursquare ($150M Revenue) Tariq Afaq - First Engineer at AppLovin ($30Bn IPO) Julian Alvarez - Former SWE at Meta, CEO of Wisdolia ($20K+ MRR) Hamza Ali - CEO of Olostep (Hiring Headstarter Fellows) Erik - ML Engineer Intern at TRC, CS Creator with 75K followers Here are some of my key takeaways: 🔹 Dennis Crowley emphasized the power of team collaboration and the importance of creating emotionally connective products. His reflections on the role of software engineers in the AI age and the challenges of building a product with a potential exit in mind were particularly enlightening. 🔹 Julian Alvarez shared his journey from coding as a kid to founding Wisdolia. His advice on minimizing startup mistakes and focusing on specific user groups to drive business growth was truly inspiring. 🔹 Hamza Ali discussed the challenges of fine-tuning AI models and his mission at Olostep. His insights into using AI to enhance user experience were thought-provoking. 🔹 Tariq Afaq and Erik provided valuable perspectives on scaling tech companies and the role of personal motivation and growth in the tech industry. Favorite Speaker: Dennis Crowley’s discussion on the human elements of startups and impostor syndrome was particularly impactful. His focus on maintaining good health and staying updated with new tools resonated deeply with me. If you missed the event, you can catch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/d5-ZYukg Huge thanks to @ Headstarter for organizing this insightful event! 🙌 #TechEvent #PathwaysToTech #Foursquare #AppLovin #Wisdolia #Olostep #AI #Startups #TechIndustry #Headstarter

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I am so grateful to have met many brilliant, creative, and industrious people at Irvine Tech Week. Our team, which placed 2nd 🎉 for the Techstars Startup Weekend, was amazing: Oliver Liu: AI expert, speaker, team lead and organizer. Considered numerous input from team members, and was fair and decisive, so that everyone could make efficient progress. Chloe Chi: Senior software developer. Designed and implemented marketing survey, performed competitive market analysis, collaborated on pitch deck development, etc. Chi Huynh: Creative visionary, businessman. So many great, valuable ideas regarding business target market, product features, marketing, and presentation, which allowed our team to pivot for the better. Helen Chen: Integrative medicine advocate. Very knowledgeable about healthcare and nutrition. Was willing to jump in wherever help was needed. Sua Lee: Graphics designer, UI/UX designer. Created complete mobile app prototype in Figma. Listened carefully and collaborated with teammates to create the best functionality and appearance for the product. It was an honor to work together and I learned so much from working in this team. One of the parts that I enjoyed the most were the many discussions we had. We talked about fine-tuning the UI/UX, choosing photos, choosing test cases for ChatGPT, how to improve prompts, tech stacks, product features, how the product makes you feel, competitor analysis, which customers to serve, market validation, pricing, presentation slides, effective pitches, and much more. It was a great educational experience and 💯% recommend Techstars Startup Weekend and Irvine Tech Week to anyone interested in startups.  #TechstarsStartupWeekend  #IrvineTechWeek  #OC / #Irvine #TechCommunity  #GenAI #ChatGPT #AIIntegration

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Finally got back to my "0 to #glTF with #WebGPU" series, this post looks at adding basic material and texture support to get nicer looking renderings (and more interesting workloads to try and batch up later): https://lnkd.in/gjT7bt2U code: https://lnkd.in/g6fgJHW3

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Wrapping up Week 3 at the Headstarter AI SWE Fellowship, and I'm excited to share some highlights from my journey so far! This weekend, I: 1) Purchased my very own domain: nghialam.dev. I'm excited to have a dedicated space to showcase my projects and growth! 🌐 2) Completed my personal project, "Strum It Your Way"—a virtual guitar application. While it may not have a huge impact, building it was a lot of fun. You can check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eWijRGTp 🎸 3) Developed an AI Credit Card Advisor as my Week 3 project for the Headstarter AI Fellowship, helping users find the best credit card options tailored to their needs. 💳 4) Participated in the Pathway2Tech event, which left me feeling inspired and ready to keep pushing forward. 🏆 These past few weeks have been packed, and to be honest, pretty mentally taxing. I realize now that I should've taken better care of myself. But through it all, I've had the chance to dive deep into new technologies like React, Material UI, and Next.js—and it's been incredibly exciting! As Week 3 comes to a close, I'm looking forward to continuing my learning journey, experimenting with even more new technologies, and finding that balance between progress and well-being.

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I’ve been playing around with YC Founder Matching and it seems like everyone and their mother is interested either in 2-sided marketplaces or B2C businesses, even though they’re ostensibly the least profitable and hardest-to-get-off-the-ground business models there are. Why do people do this? You only have to take a glance at enterprise vs individual pricing to want to switch gears.

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Well sequencer centralization is surely an issue. Maybe base can allow independent sequencers. Also if sequencers fail, can have a fallback mechanism to allow to submit onto Mainnet directly to remove reliance on the centralised sequencers.

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Excited to share Starknet's core values that drive their ethos! 🌟 Lasting Broadness: Broad power distribution is key for legitimacy, ensuring operations and decision-making remain inclusive and transparent. Centralized operation, if needed, should be brief. 🔓 Neutrality: Starknet supports societal functions impartially, leaving creators in charge. It remains neutral towards user transactions without censorship. 💪 Individual Empowerment: Starknet thrives on an autonomous and informed user base. Education and adherence to core values are central to empowering users. Starknet's principles are defined by openness, inclusivity, and empowerment, ensuring a strong foundation for all stakeholders. Starknet Foundation #keepitstrange

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You know what's cooler than conversational AI? Empathetic AI 🤯 This week, I attended an Asian Founders event hosted by Asian Founders Club. ✨ I met Janet Ho, the COO of Hume AI, where she's guiding the development of the world's first empathetic voice AI. The company story was so compelling that I had to interview her afterwards. Here's our chat: 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲? A: We envision a future where everyone has a personalized voice OS that follows them across apps, tailored to their communication style. It will be a trusted assistant for executing tasks. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵? A: We sell to developers building applications whether for healthcare, robotics or any other space looking for a voice to supplement their GUI. Speaking is 3x faster than reading and writing, so we believe voice is the next frontier. 𝗤: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗚𝗣𝗧-𝟰𝗼? A: GPT-4o is nonmodular while our product sits above any single LLM. If you wanna use Claude, Haiku, or any other LLM, we are the interface for that model. We will also allow for more personalization. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? A: We believe the future is going to be flooded with AI systems and they're like strangers on the internet. We want an AI that can advocate for you that understands their preferences. Live interview: https://lnkd.in/g2MrZQJY #computerscience #softwareengineer #ai #humeai #llm #voiceai #chatgpt #asianfounders #claude #empathy

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Want to tease something my team has been working on over at Buffer! The attached image isn't a mockup, but a screenshot of a live prototype of RSS feeds directly in Buffer! It's only available internally and still pretty rough at this point, but we'll have it available for user testing soon. With this enhancement, we hope to help Buffer users easily find new and engaging content to share with their audiences. What do you think? Will RSS feeds in Buffer help you create more content?

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Apple's Eddy Cue is reportedly ramping up efforts to develop a proprietary AI-driven search engine amid growing antitrust pressure on Google's dominance. With the DOJ's ongoing scrutiny and Apple's push for innovation, this could signal a major shift in the search landscape. #AppleAI #SearchEngine #Antitrust

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NYC Leetcode Study Group - How we “Borrowed” WeWork’s Space, Got Kicked Out, and Found or Angel 😇 One month ago, I posted on Blind asking for a LeetCode study buddy. The post went viral, and the NYC LC Squad was founded! And boy did it take off! Last meetup we had over 50 attendees and split into groups of 5 by leetcode difficulty (Easy, Medium, Meta speciality). We also had a systems design group too! We started getting regulars, and even splitting off into weekday study groups meeting almost every day. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. We were kind of “borrowing” WeWork’s space. And with >50 people storming their space, they weren’t too keen on that. They were kind enough to let us have our last meetup last week. And then we were out a venue. We were scrambling. Space isn’t cheap in NYC. And techies are known for their, ahem, “thriftiness”. We made a tough decision to charge $20 a head and offer some free scholarship tickets for on those in need. We raised $300 by Thursday. After hours of research and touring 5 or 6 spaces, we landed on a tiny converted dance studio that could at best hold 20 people. Not ideal. I scoured my address book for sponsorships and advice. And through a friend of a friend (of a friend) we landed on our guardian angel 👼, NomadWorks. A beautiful Coworking space in NoMad (hence the name), they were charging 4x the amount we raised. We thought that it was over. Yesterday, 10PM, literally as I stepped off the plane, I get an email. Last minute, they gave us a 75% discount for the next two meetups 🤩 Miracles do happen. Tomorrow, we are having our biggest ever meetup in their beautiful 23,000 sqft space overlooking the Empire State Building 🗽 This group helped me immensely. A month ago I could not solve a LC Easy. A few days ago I passed a Meta tech screen. I’m a social person, and having others around me for motivation, and speaking my solutions out loud did wonders. And I’ve so proud to have seen a number of our regulars grow and clear FAANG interview rounds! Join us, and let’s tackle this job market together 💪 EventBrite for Tomorrow: https://lnkd.in/es3mfSDB Website: https://lcsquad.com/ Discord: https://lnkd.in/eJr3ZsGT Subscribe on EventBrite for Future Events: https://lnkd.in/e8TMc6cP

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Here is my interview experience for the Software Engineer 2 role at Nordstrom, where I went through a series of diverse and challenging round. 💻 Round 1 - Coding round: The first round focused on linked list operations, with a question about merging two sorted linked lists. I had to implement an optimized solution that combined the lists while maintaining their order, ensuring efficient time and space complexity. This round tested my ability to manage pointer manipulation and handle traversal techniques effectively. 💻 Round 2 - Coding round: The second round covered graph traversal using Depth First Search and Breadth First Search algorithms. I solved problems involving both recursive and iterative approaches to graph traversal. It emphasized my ability to explore different strategies for complex graph structures. 🛠️ Round 3 - System Design : I was asked to design a real-time commenting system similar to Facebook Live. We discussed scaling for large volumes of traffic, ensuring low-latency communication, and managing database consistency. This round focused on building a robust architecture with optimal trade-offs. 🤝 Round 4 - Cross-Functional Team Interview: This round involved collaboration with product management and design, with a focus on questions related to teamwork and communication. I was asked about my experience collaborating with engineering and non-engineering teams, along with situation-based questions on resolving conflicts and aligning team goals. This round highlighted my ability to work effectively across diverse teams and manage real-world challenges. 🤝 Round 5 - Behavioral Interview: This round was centered on discussing my work experiences and handling challenges in a team setting. I shared examples in the STAR format, emphasizing my adaptability, problem-solving, and leadership skills. It provided a platform to demonstrate alignment with Nordstrom’s values and culture. Each round of the interview process helped sharpen both my technical and interpersonal skills. I'm grateful for the opportunity to interview with Nordstrom and for the valuable insights I gained along the way! #TechInterviews #NordStrom #SoftwareEngineer #CodingChallenges #InterviewExperience #TechJobs #SystemDesign

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🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 I just launched my Substack and dropped my first post: Product Engineer: Nurturing Success Through Holistic Understanding! 💡 If you love talking about tech, product engineering, and what it takes to build awesome products, you’re in the right place. I’ll be sharing insights, stories, and lessons learned from my journey in engineering and product management. Come join me, and let’s dive into the world of innovation together! 💻✨ Subscribe, share, and let me know what you think—your feedback means the world! #ProductEngineering #Innovation #Substack #TechTalk 👉 Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/ggD_ZWis

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With the upcoming holidays you might be looking for a book recommendation. Think about checking out The Nvidia Way by Tae Kim, I read through it during this las rainy Saturday, so let me reflect a bit. The book starts detailing the origin story of Nvidia and how the three co-founders got together. What is fascinating is that they faced big challenges from the start and had a clear divide in expertise, while of course having overlap as well. Next it dives into the first success and subsequent struggles that emerged by getting to siloed and isolated from their customers. And finally into the CUDA and now AI era. Through out the book three things stand out: 1️⃣ Jen-Hsun Huang, commonly referred to as Jensen Huang, is central to Nvidia and keeps his fingers on the companies pulse. 2️⃣ The organization as a whole is very flat and highly focused on merit. 3️⃣ This quote from a Nvidia competitor have they have joined it : "Oh my God, we got here and we thought there was going to be a secret sauce. It turns out it's just really hard work and intense execution on schedules" - meaning people and culture. To keep the pulse of Nvidia Jensen Huang receives hundreds of E-mails from employees across the company with 5 bullet points, that contain what they are working on, what they found interesting, etc. Of these he reads 100 a day to keep track of what is going on. With 60 direct reports as the CEO, that is a number you will not find in other big companies. The book is a real page turner and with just 245 of them an easy read. If you are interested in AI, then I think it is worth it to pick this one up just to get a glimpse at arguably the company shaping the foundation of the current AI boom.

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🖥️ Frontend Developer Meets Startup Bootcamp: My Summer at USC Viterbi Just wrapped up an exhilarating 8-week journey at the USC Viterbi Startup Garage Summer Smasher Program! As a frontend developer, this experience was a game-changer. Here's what I accomplished: 👨‍💻 Tech Triumph: Spearheaded frontend development for Kintsugi Global, Inc., an innovative anime-focused startup. Transformed complex designs into responsive, user-friendly interfaces. 🛠️ Skills Sharpened: Mastered new frameworks and libraries Optimized code for performance and scalability Collaborated with UX/UI designers to bring concepts to life 🚀 Startup Savvy: Dove deep into the startup ecosystem, learning about: Pitch deck creation and presentation Market analysis and product-market fit Agile development in a fast-paced environment 🙏 Grateful for the mentorship from a diverse group of experts Ron Scovil, Arcelia Navarro, Dr. David Gerber, Ellis Meng, and Dave Eastman. Their insights were invaluable in bridging the gap between coding and entrepreneurship. 💡 Key Takeaway: The fusion of technical expertise and business acumen is powerful. I'm now equipped to not just code, but to contribute strategically for company's growth. #Kintsugi Global, Inc. #FrontendDevelopment #TechStartups #USC Viterbi School of Engineering #USC Viterbi Startup Garage

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Day 2 as a Headstarter AI Fellow with Jack O'Brien Today, I had the incredible opportunity to learn from Jack O'Brien, former Google software engineer and tech lead, and former CTO of the A16z-backed company “stonks”. His wealth of experience provided us with invaluable guidance on various aspects of launching a successful product. Key Takeaways: 1. Create Something Cool Enough: Start simple, even with just a landing page, to see if people are genuinely interested in your product. 2. Leverage Your Network: Engage friends, family, and acquaintances to use your product and give feedback. Their insights can be crucial in refining your offering. 3. Promote Widely: Use social media platforms to share your product, increase visibility, and attract potential users. 4. Choose the Right Tech Stack: Selecting the appropriate technology stack is critical and should be aligned with the specific needs of your application. A huge thank you to Jack O'Brien for the insightful session and to the Headstarter AI team, including Faizan Ahmed and Yasin Ehsan 🚀 Ehsan, for organizing another fantastic day of learning! Excited to continue this journey and put these strategies into action 🚀 #HeadstarterAI #LearningJourney #TechInsights #StartupTips #Networking

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