Software Development
-
Unlocking Semantic Search with Vector Embeddings
How Machines Understand Meaning — And How You Can Use It for Smarter Search 1. Introduction: Why Do We Need Embeddings? Traditional search engines rely on keyword matching. If your search query includes the words “best pizza,” it looks for documents with those exact words. But what if a document talks about “top-rated Italian food” Continue reading
-
Why 100% Automation Coverage Is a Myth
QA automation is often misunderstood as a one-size-fits-all solution. But in reality, it’s not here to replace human testers—it’s here to support them. In this post, I break down some hard truths about automation: why “same sprint automation” is mostly a myth, why scripts won’t find new bugs, and why chasing 100% test coverage might… Continue reading
-
Mastering Software Engineering: Key Lessons for Growth
In the ever-evolving world of software development, becoming a better software engineer is not just about mastering code. It’s about growing as a problem-solver. It also involves being a collaborator and a lifelong learner. The journey is as much about mindset and habits as it is about technical prowess. Here, I share lessons and strategies Continue reading
AI, business, career growth, Clean Code, coding practices, Collaboration, Continuous Learning, debugging, domain knowledge, growth mindset, Leadership, mentorship, open source, problem solving, self-improvement, side projects, soft skills, Software Development, Software Engineering, software fundamentals, system design, Teamwork, technical skills, technology -
Why Prompt Engineering Isn’t a Reliable Skill
Prompt engineering is tweaking inputs to get desired outputs from AI models like ChatGPT. It’s not engineering—it’s trial and error. Why Prompt Engineering Falls Short: 1. No Foundational Principles: Unlike engineering, it lacks structured techniques or frameworks. It’s about guessing, not systematic problem-solving. 2. Unpredictable and Non-Reproducible: A prompt that works today can fail tomorrow. Continue reading
-
Improving Code Reviews: From LGTM to Excellence
Code reviews are an essential part of software development, yet many of us approach them with an “LGTM” (Looks Good to Me) mindset. While this may seem sufficient on the surface, it often results in missed opportunities to improve code quality, enhance team dynamics, and foster collaboration. Let’s delve into the common pitfalls in code Continue reading
Agile Development, Code Quality, Code Review Tips, Code Reviews, Developer Productivity, development workflow, DevOps, Effective Communication, Programming, Programming Best Practices, Pull Requests, Software Best Practices, Software Development, Software Engineering, Team Collaboration, Team Dynamics, technology -
Mastering React’s useId() Hook for Unique Identifiers
React just gave us the useId hook, which magically creates unique IDs for our components—no more ID drama! It’s like a personal ID generator for forms and accessibility. Just remember, don’t use it for list keys or call it while doing the cha-cha. Keep it classy, folks! Continue reading
-
The FocusFlex Philosophy: A Lesson for Technical Leaders
In the ever-evolving world of technology, leadership transcends managing people and projects; it’s about mastering the delicate balance between granular details and overarching vision. This duality, which I call FocusFlex, is the art of seamlessly zooming in to understand finer details and zooming out to maintain awareness of the big picture. Embracing FocusFlex requires setting… Continue reading
-
Agile vs. Agile in Disguise: A Tale of Two Approaches
You know, I’ve seen teams approach projects in all sorts of ways, and it’s always interesting to see how different methods play out in real life. Also most teams claim to be agile, actually they operate more like a traditional waterfall process, just broken down into sprints. I like to think of it as “Agile Continue reading
-
Deciphering Programming Paradigms with C#
Venturing beyond the entertaining yet often superficial ‘language wars’, this blog dives deep into the heart of programming paradigms using C# as our lens. From the organized realms of Object-Oriented Programming to the mathematical rigor of Functional Programming and the step-by-step logic of Procedural Programming, we explore how mastering these paradigms can elevate our coding… Continue reading
-
The Pros and Cons of UUIDs in Databases and Their Alternatives
In a world increasingly driven by distributed computing, the need for unique identifiers is paramount. While UUIDs have long been a popular choice, are they always the best fit? This blog delves into the intricacies of UUIDs, their effect on database performance, and introduces alternatives like ULIDs that might be better suited for certain scenarios. Continue reading
Umamaheswaran 