Stephen Solka’s Post

Curious how to make #coding efficiency second nature? From tech tools to audits, there are strategies that can help you optimize processes and capture every dollar you deserve. https://bit.ly/4guvPeT

We built our MVP in just 30 days—here’s how we avoided technical debt: Set clear priorities — We focused only on the 1-2 core features. Leverage no-code tools — Saved time and minimized bugs. Keep it simple — Only features that would impact the first customer base made it. Code review every day — Checked for any shortcuts that could haunt us later. Automated tests — Even basic ones saved us long-term. A 30-day MVP is possible. Just keep the end goal clear, and don’t build what you don’t need.

With 82% of developers wanting less time sifting through old code and more on creating new features, it's clear tech debt is a barrier to innovation. Have you thought about how AI-driven tools could reshape your team's workflow? We have. Let's talk about it.

Is Your Codebase a Ticking Time Bomb? Technical debt might be silently undermining your #software's future. But it doesn’t have to! At JetRuby, we reveal the most effective strategies to tackle #TechnicalDebt head-on, ensuring your codebase remains robust and scalable. Don’t let technical debt hold your projects back — find out how to clean it up and future-proof your software today. Find our clean codebase strategies in the latest blog post 👉 https://lnkd.in/ez_buJDG

This is a thought provoking take on software quality by Will Larson Building a complex software for a specialised domain requires a lot of brain cells getting the nitty gritty right. I can relate to this. In projects where Devs lack domain context, it's easy to build something technically correct but low in quality to actual users. Link to article below https://lnkd.in/emFtcAvE

Everything about how we develop software, and the expectations customers have on what / how we build has shifted over the past 12 months. So, likewise, the definition of what it means to "release" software has changed too. This "page turn" is what LaunchDarkly is focusing in on, on November 12th-14th at our Launch Week, come hang out and listen! At least to the Keynote on day 1! We spend a lot of time talking about "releases" - but releasing software has a whole new set of pressures around it. Speed, safety, and the ability to KEEP doing it week after week is what we're focusing on. The ways we're expanding the platform is setting the ground work for the next several YEARS of what we do in the software release space. This isn't just "we're announcing some new stuff" - it's the first part of a total widening of what the platform is capable of. - The Keynote from Dan Rogers and Claire Vo on the 12th is going to be awesome (adjacently, find yourself a CPO who gets deep enough into the tech to build her own demos; its a blast). You're going to see some VERY COOL, NEW 🔥 - On the 13th, Dan Rogers is sitting down with RedMonk and James Governor; who is my absolute favorite. I walk away from EVERY talk with James fired up, and reading how this one is setup to go is incredible - Come hang with us on the 14th in our Code Jam, with real prizes. Its a fun opportunity to get hands on https://lnkd.in/dQH3ek_g

Many developers don't fully appreciate or consider the performance of the software they work on - for many reasons! That's why I was excited to hear Martin Thompson, the former CTO and co-founder of LMAX, and one of the creators of the Disruptor, share his approach on how he consistently keeps performance in mind through TDD: "People talk about the Red-Green-Refactor cycle - I like Red-Green-Refactor-Debug-Profile." But why add debugging and profiling to the TDD cycle? According to Thompson: Debugging: * Lets you see your code in action, providing a different perspective compared to a static one. * Reinforces your understanding of your code's model by observing it live. Profiling: * Offers the same benefits as debugging (different perspective, reinforced understanding). * Highlights potential performance improvements. * Uncovers interesting things happening in the system, such as possible bugs, like exceptions that are allocated but are silently dropped, never appearing in any logs. I’ve actually used this extended cycle a few times, purely by coincidence and very informally. Now that I’ve learned about it, I see the value in adopting it more deliberately. This approach is definitely going into my toolkit!

🚀 Inviga's Doc Automation: Next-Level DevOps! 🚀 Geeking out at Inviga! We’ve engineered a tool that plugs right into your DevOps pipeline, automating documentation so you can focus on coding, not commenting. 🔧 Auto-updates Docs: Code more, write less. 🛠️ Bug Buster: Real-time, accurate docs mean fewer bugs. 🔗 Team Sync: Instant clarity for every team member, every time. We're not just coding—we're redefining how it's done. Join us to code smarter and faster! #DevOps #GeekOut #InvigaTech

We deleted over 3,000 lines of code in 90 days (and it made us more innovative than ever). Most engineers think adding more features is how you innovate. But a couple of years ago, my team did the exact opposite. We removed more than 3,000 lines of code. And let me tell you—it wasn’t just about cleaning up. It completely transformed how we worked. Here’s how it went down: 1. Cleaner code = less complexity When we cut out the unnecessary crap, the codebase got leaner. Less clutter, fewer headaches. Simplicity wins, every time. 2. Less complexity = less time reverse-engineering With the clutter gone, we weren’t stuck untangling messy code. Less code meant quicker onboarding and way fewer “wt* does this do” moments. 3. Less time reverse-engineering = more productive time We spent less time fixing the past and more time building the future. We got to focus on creating instead of firefighting. 4. More productive time = focus on quality, not quantity Instead of cranking out useless features, we focused on improving the product. We shifted from “add more” to refine what we had. 5. More quality = less tech debt By simplifying, we killed off a bunch of future problems. We didn’t spend our time patching up a sinking ship. We were free to move forward. 6. Less tech debt = more time to innovate You get time to think creatively when you’re not drowning in tech debt. That’s how we turned a “code clean-up” into our most innovative year yet. And you know... Innovation is what keeps you ahead of the game. Have you ever cut down code instead of adding it? How did it impact your team and product?

Thinking of building “one platform to rule them all”? You’re not alone—and it’s trickier than it seems. Right before Christmas, I wrote a post about the hot topic. As my thoughts spin up some good discussion, I expanded it in the latest #ArchitectureWeekly. I discussed why these big, central solutions usually peak after 1–2 years, then erode under patches, shifting priorities, and detachment from real business needs. I also brought insights from the 2024 DORA Accelerate State of DevOps report, plus stories from Spotify, Stack Overflow, and more. I see many of my clients trying to apply it, some succeeding, some more, but all struggling. I’m not an expert in building internal platforms, but I was a part of the core teams, shaping continuous integration and delivery processes, and I see many similarities. If you’re curious about my experience staying sane and keeping your platform or core team on track (without becoming that giant one-size-fits-all monster), check it out! https://lnkd.in/dQR9R3hz And that’s a free post, so if you enjoyed it, feel free (pun intended) to share it with your friends! I would also love to hear your thoughts!