Wiz Rejects Google's $23B & Microsoft Monorepo Strategy

Welcome to the new edition of my newsletter!

October’s wrapping up 🍂 and I’ve got some interesting reads to close out the month. Ever wondered if tech debt could actually drive your next big project? This edition brings you insights on this and more.

Catch up on the latest from Next.js Conf, see why Flutter is branching out with a community-led fork, and learn how the team at Microsoft slashed their monorepo size by 94%. Also, discover how LLMs are saving hundreds of hours in testing and the reasons Wiz said “no thanks” to Google’s $23 billion offer.

Sit down, grab some coffee, and enjoy this issue of Frictionless!

Also in the Queue

• 5 Lessons for Next.js Optimization

• Google AI Cloud Helps Medical Personnel

• How Companies Navigate Geopolitical Changes

• Avoiding Strategy Myopia

Reduce Friction

Why Zero Tech Debt is a Myth (and Maybe a Red Flag)

The words “technical debt” run a shiver down the spine of many CTOs, but trying to avoid it completely might be a big mistake. Technical debt can inspire the next wave of innovation in your team if you know how to use it strategically and aren’t afraid to be bold.

 AI Won’t Fix Your Software Delivery Problems

These days AI seems to be the default answer for all delivery-related problems, and while it’s able to improve the whole process, it can’t remove the cause of your issues. Instead of relying solely on AI, focus on building strong and lasting foundations for your software.

4 Ways Organizations Can Simplify Their DevOps Pipeline

Is your pipeline so complex it slows down your operations? Then it’s high time to do some simplifications. Removing redundant steps, implementing automation, and standardizing tools can make a real difference in your team’s deployment speed.

How to Avoid Strategy Myopia

When you’re chasing immediate wins, it’s easy to lose sight of the long-term goals. Don’t be afraid to take a step back and have a look at the big picture to discover what you can achieve in the future - not just the present. 

Why Sprints Are Taking the Joy Out of Building Software

Sprints are the bread and butter of Agile methodology, great for planning, but quite repetitive and at times rigid. Don’t treat your development like a factory’s production line and consider if your adherence to sprints isn’t doing more harm than good to your team’s creativity.

Deepen Your Expertise

How to Evaluate AI Performance When You Have No Domain Expertise

AI might be the hottest topic in tech, but with constant updates and new releases, building true expertise can be a challenge. So how can you assess whether your current AI solution is really delivering? Look at model accuracy, usability, and transparency.

Ending Microservices Chaos

Microservices are invaluable when it comes to building scalable web apps, though managing them on a daily basis can be a huge headache. To avoid being overwhelmed by their complexities, consider using monitoring tools, setting boundaries for services, and - most importantly - consolidating where possible.

OTA Updates With Expo

Is your app’s update delayed because of the App Store or Google Play’s review process? Expo’s OTA (Over-the-Air) updates make it easy to roll out app changes instantly, skipping the lengthy procedures. This means faster bug fixes, new features deployed seamlessly, and less downtime for users.

Recap: Next.js Conf 2024

Next.js Conf 2024 brought together thousands of developers offline and online and helped to show Vercel’s dedication to keeping Next.js as the top framework for web development through the latest update. 

We're Forking Flutter. This is Why.

As the Flutter team struggles with developer demand, delayed bug fixes, and platform de-prioritizations, the framework’s community decided to create Flock. This independent version of the framework aims to address the pain points of Flutter devs while keeping its "write once, run anywhere" approach.

Increase Scalability

Wiz CEO Explains Why He Turned Down a $23 Billion Deal

Assaf Rappaport, the CEO of Wiz, shocked everyone when he rejected Google’s offer to buy his start-up for $23 billion, and while it wasn’t an easy decision, he still stands by it. Why? Because he believes in the company’s growth potential, claiming it can be worth even $100 billion. 

How we Shrunk our Javascript Monorepo Git Size at Microsoft by 94%

Large monorepos can be a significant problem for companies of any size. Jonathan Creamer and his team at Microsoft managed to decrease the size of their git by an impressive 94% and were kind enough to share how exactly they managed that. 

How We Saved Hundreds of Engineering Hours by Writing Tests with LLMs

Testing, while crucial to a project’s success, can easily be one of the most time-consuming parts of the development. To increase their productivity and save hundreds of hours of work, the team at Assembled decided to incorporate LLMs into their written tests - and it paid off. 

5 Rules for Companies Navigating Geopolitical Volatility

As recent conflicts have shown, businesses can be easily disrupted by the decisions of politicians and militaries. If you worry your project might be affected, consider diversifying regions, assessing risk exposure, and preparing flexible responses to maintain your company’s resilience.

Just Cool

How Gen AI Can Help Doctors and Nurses Ease Their Administrative Workloads 

Every day, nurses and doctors around the world dedicate themselves to patient care, but a lot of their time is taken up by administrative tasks. Google Cloud’s generative AI tools are stepping in to help, automating time-consuming tasks like documentation, billing, and scheduling, so healthcare professionals focus on patient needs.

Let’s Stay in Touch! 📨 

Do you have any comments about this newsletter issue or questions you want to ask? Drop me a message or book a meeting.