Introduction
I swore I wouldn’t let it get that far. But I did. And in one fell swoop, I crashed.
I couldn’t see past my own hand. My eyes were in a permanent squint from stress, sleepless nights blurred into loops, and weekends? Forget it — every day felt like it ended with “Y.” I didn’t even know what “Sunday Scaries” were until they became my new personality trait, served up alongside ads for calming gummies in my doomscroll feed.
I’d become a heartbeat at the dinner table and not much else. And that, friends, was a major red flag.
The tech industry is incredible — full of chances to level up and reinvent yourself. But what no recruiter ever puts in the job description is the hidden cost of working in a profession that never, ever powers down.
What was I chasing? Or better yet, what was I running from? Was burnout just the pandemic catching up with me? Did I let job titles inflate my ego past the point of balance? Or did I just pile so much pressure on my “future self” that I forgot to ask my current self the simplest of questions: Why am I doing this?
The more I tap this out — writing, backspacing, deleting, re-typing — the more I realize: burnout doesn’t hand you answers. It hands you questions.
So no, today’s not the day for me to pitch you “5 Steps to Guaranteed Happiness” or a 30-day productivity bootcamp. Instead, consider this an invitation: if you need it, take a pause. Check in with yourself.
Here’s what’s helped me in the thick of burnout, a sabbatical, and a career gap. No particular order, no silver bullets — just things that worked for me.
1. Pen & Paper
I trust the weakest pen more than the strongest memory.
— Tim Ferriss
Ferriss also coined the term brain vomit — which, gross as it sounds, was exactly what I needed. My head was jammed with thoughts swirling like a blender on high, and writing them down became the release valve.
I tried all the classics: morning pages, gratitude journals, the 5-minute journal. None of them stuck long-term. What did stick was keeping it dead simple: bullet points, no ceremony, no templates. Just pen, paper, and whatever was in my head.
If a thought kept repeating across days, that was my signal it needed more attention. Otherwise, the act of writing was enough to quiet the noise.
2. Phone a Friend – Virtual
Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.
— C.S. Lewis
There’s something downright intoxicating about reconnecting with someone you haven’t talked to in ages. Seriously, try it today. DM or call someone you haven’t spoken with in months. Anyone but your ex — unless you want a different kind of burnout, haha.
Just don’t go digging years back to that one random acquaintance. Otherwise, you’ll sound like you’re about to pitch them a pyramid scheme or sell them knives.
3. Phone a Friend – IRL
Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain… But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.
— Muhammad Ali
This one hits different. Face-to-face matters. And no, you don’t need to book a weekend bender at an Airbnb to get it. Coffee works just fine.
For me, it’s a tall hazelnut oat milk latte. One hour, phone silenced, just talking with a friend. No algorithm can replace that.
4. Move of the Day
If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl — but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
I don’t “work out” anymore. Back in the day, workouts meant chasing vanity muscles and late-night aesthetics. Now, it’s about function. Staying strong for my family. Staying present.
In Jiu Jitsu, some instructors promote you if you can successfully apply a new move the same day you learned it. That stuck with me. Movement doesn’t have to be intense — a walk, a jog, or just active recovery counts. Bonus: those are free.
5. Do It For You, Not the Resume
The irony is that this kind of pause is exactly what makes me better at the work when I come back, but the industry isn’t built to reward that. We’re wired for velocity. We celebrate the visible wins.
— Ashley Willis, GitHub
Career gaps can feel terrifying. No Teams notifications. No calendar invites. No dopamine hit from “being busy.” But here’s the thing: not everything needs to produce a bullet point for your LinkedIn profile.
This is where pen & paper come back in. Capture the thoughts, the temptations, the little urges to “do something that looks important.” Then remind yourself: this pause is important.
A Few Things That Gave Me Perspective
Closing
So yeah — burnout sucks. But it doesn’t have to be the end of your story. Pause. Reconnect. Move. Write. And do things that matter to you, not your resume.
I’ll leave you with this:
The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
— Steve Jobs
Cheers, friends. Here’s to finding your version of “great work.”
Preface
I'm still in the trenches of experimenting with MindStudio, a no-code platform which allows you to create almost anything you can imagine into an AI Agent.
In this case, it's still about cutting through a ton of writer's block that I currently have and outsourcing some of that hardship to the newer systems available which can support me.
Here's the next piece of realistic fiction where I speak with Jake and Sophia on things I'm doing to support the San Diego tech scene by way of our Discord server.
Introduction
In this episode, Jake and Sophia dive into the innovative world of modern web development with the visionary founder behind AllWebSD.com. They explore how this cutting-edge service is filling crucial gaps in the market, the unique methodologies that set it apart from competitors, and inspiring success stories that demonstrate its impact. Get ready for an insightful conversation about the future of web presence for small businesses and actionable advice from an industry pioneer.
Transcript
Mercer: Hey there, and welcome to Digital Frontiers! I'm Jake Mercer.
Chen: And I'm Sophia Chen. Before we dive in, we should probably mention that we're completely fictional podcast hosts created for this episode. But don't let that stop you from enjoying our conversation!
Mercer: That's right! We may not be real, but our enthusiasm for web development and digital innovation is as authentic as it gets.
Chen: Today, we're exploring the evolving landscape of web development services, especially for small businesses in San Diego.
Mercer: And we're thrilled to have with us the creator of AllWebSD.com, a platform that's making waves in the local digital scene. Welcome to Digital Frontiers!
Mark: Thanks, Jake. Thanks, Sophia. Happy to be here.
Chen: So, let's start at the beginning. What inspired you to create AllWebSD.com, and what gap in the market were you hoping to fill?
Mark: AllWebSD started as a personal journal. I didn’t want to blog, even though I had WordPress set up. I just wanted to capture the fast, messy world of web dev differently. Then the pandemic hit, and it grew into a community—somewhere local tech folks and newcomers could swap stories and ideas.
Mercer: That's fascinating! I'm curious about your background. How did your previous experiences shape your approach to creating AllWebSD?
Mark: Honestly, it was trial by fire. Back then, no bootcamps, no code schools. I learned from books and trade classes. Textbooks didn’t click for me—except a couple of O’Reilly guides. When newsletters popped up, I realized tech could be shared in smaller, bite-sized conversations.
Chen: It sounds like you've really put thought into creating something that serves the San Diego community specifically. Let's talk about the services you offer. Could you break down the core offerings of AllWebSD.com for our listeners?
Mark: At its core, AllWebSD is just me hosting a local tech podcast. You don’t need to be “in the industry.” If you live here and want to talk tech—or promote yourself—that’s enough. I didn’t study Computer Science; I studied Media Arts. So I keep it casual, no jargon, more like happy hour. I’m also adding YouTube tutorials, resources, and mentorship for folks building AI Agents.
Mercer: I love how you're focusing on connecting the digital professionals in San Diego. That's something we don't see enough of in the tech world – that local community building.
Chen: What would you say makes your approach different from other web development networks or communities? There are plenty of online spaces for tech professionals, but yours seems to have a unique angle.
Mark: The whole thing is about connection. Not a syllabus. Not bots. Just us. That’s why I push Discord—jump in, jump out, no pressure. Think of it as a pocket network of colleagues you can chat with about anything: web, mobile, AI, hiring struggles, your next big project. I’ll be there to cheer it on.
Mercer: You mentioned transparency and collaboration as core values. Are there specific technologies or methodologies that AllWebSD favors to promote these values?
Mark: Tech itself? Changes daily. But my method is simple—transparency. For example, this episode: no studio, no Fiverr editors. Just me, MindStudio, and a little iMovie. That’s it. Transparency makes collaboration work.
Chen: I think it's time for a quick break. This episode of Digital Frontiers is sponsored by MindStudio, a platform with hundreds of free, ready-to-use and easily-customizable AI agents to help you get things done.
Mercer: That's right, Sophia. I've been using MindStudio's Chrome Extension, and it's like having AI superpowers right inside your browser. Whether you're writing content, doing research, or managing your workflow, their AI agents are game-changers.
Chen: Download the MindStudio Chrome Extension from mindstudio dot ai today. Now, let's get back to our conversation with the creator of AllWebSD.com.
Mercer: So, without naming specific clients, could you share some success stories that have come out of the AllWebSD community? Maybe some collaborations or projects that really showcase what your platform is all about?
Mark: For me, success is any guest who shows up and shares openly. Right now, I’ve got five featured on the homepage—everything from nonprofits to software firms to recruiters and devs. The variety keeps it fun.
Chen: Those are impressive outcomes! Were there any particular challenges you had to overcome in these projects that taught you something valuable about running this kind of platform?
Mark: Yes—booking, production, editing, web dev. It’s taught me to break big projects into smaller ones, stick to a plan, and pivot when needed.
Mercer: It sounds like building a community comes with its own unique set of challenges and rewards. I'm curious about what's next for AllWebSD. What future plans do you have, and what emerging trends are you keeping an eye on?
Mark: Naturally, AI comes up a lot. People joke it’ll take my job and I should learn plumbing. And sure, I can fix a toilet handle, but I’m not touching emergency shutoff valves. The truth is, the job has changed, but it hasn’t vanished. The question now is how we adapt. I’ll also be sharing resources and mentorship for AI Agent builders—again, Discord’s where I’ll drop that.
Chen: That's a compelling vision for the future. Before we wrap up, what advice would you give to businesses in San Diego looking to improve their web presence or get more connected with the local tech scene?
Mark: For beginners: start with LinkedIn. Connect with people both in and outside your field, and especially local folks—it’s powerful to have community close by. For your web presence, tools like SquareSpace are fine, but when you hit a wall, that’s when specialists like me step in. And, of course, hop on the Discord—it’s free, and it’ll stay free.
Mercer: I love that idea of joining the Discord community. It's such a practical first step for anyone looking to get involved.
Chen: And those upcoming AI Agent courses sound fascinating – definitely something our listeners should check out.
Mercer: Well, that brings us to the end of today's episode. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing the story behind AllWebSD.com. It's been great getting to know more about how you're fostering digital innovation in San Diego.
Mark: Thanks again, and looking forward to chatting more soon.
Chen: Absolutely. To our listeners, remember to check out our website for links to AllWebSD.com and that free Discord community our guest mentioned.
Mercer: And don't forget to tune in two weeks from now when we'll be discussing the rise of no-code development tools and what they mean for traditional web developers.
Chen: Until then, keep pushing those digital frontiers!
Mercer: See ya next time!
Preface
There are countless ways to approach AI technologies, but one in particular has really stood out to me: MindStudio.
So far, it’s proven to be the kind of orchestration platform that helps cut through the upfront friction I face daily when trying to be “creative.”
Lately, I’ve been dealing with a fair share of writer’s block, so full credit goes to the magicians behind this tool for making it such a fun and surprisingly useful playground.
Sharing a little piece of realistic fiction below — and if you’re curious, don’t hesitate to hop on Discord and say hello! 👋
Introduction
In this episode, Jake and Amara explore how San Diego's tech professionals are combating digital isolation through the innovative AllWebSD Discord community. They dive into why local connections remain crucial in an AI-dominated landscape, debate the value of region-specific online spaces, and examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping professional networking. Whether you're a seasoned developer or new to San Diego's tech ecosystem, this conversation offers valuable insights on building meaningful professional relationships in 2025.
Transcript
Morales: Hey there San Diego! Welcome to Tech Pulse San Diego, episode eighty-seven. I'm Jake Morales.
Chen: And I'm Amara Chen. Before we dive in, just a quick heads-up to our new listeners – Jake and I are fictional podcast hosts created for this episode. But the community we're discussing today is very real!
Morales: That's right! And we've got a great show lined up today. Amara, did you catch that announcement about the new biotech incubator opening up in Sorrento Valley?
Chen: I did! That's gonna be huge for our local healthcare startups. And speaking of local tech news, I heard the La Jolla coding bootcamp just graduated their largest class ever – seventy percent of whom already have job offers. Pretty impressive in this market.
Morales: That's awesome. The San Diego tech scene is definitely heating up... which makes today's topic even more timely. We're talking about a new initiative to bring together digital professionals across San Diego through a Discord community at AllWebSD.com.
Chen: And we're framing this within the bigger conversation of how we build meaningful tech communities in the age of AI. Because let's be honest – the way we connect professionally is changing dramatically.
Morales: It really is. And I've been thinking about this a lot lately... San Diego has all these amazing tech professionals, but we're kind of fragmented, aren't we? You've got the UX designers in one corner, the developers in another, data scientists somewhere else entirely.
Chen: Absolutely. And each group has their own Slack channels, Meetups, and happy hours. But there's not much cross-pollination happening. Which seems like a missed opportunity, especially when you consider how interdisciplinary tech work is becoming.
Morales: Exactly! And with AI reshaping literally every digital role – from coding to design to marketing – there's never been a more important time for us to be talking across these specialties.
Chen: I'm curious though, Jake – with remote work becoming so normalized, do you think local connections still matter as much? Couldn't someone just join an online community of professionals in their specific niche?
Morales: That's a fair question. And sure, those global communities are valuable. But... there's something special about local connections. Remember when we had Sarah from that AI startup on the show last month?
Chen: Oh yeah, she talked about finding her co-founder at that random Web3 meetup in North Park.
Morales: Right! And it wasn't even her scene – she just went because a friend dragged her along. Those serendipitous local connections can be game-changers. Plus, there's something about grabbing coffee with someone who understands the specific challenges and opportunities of building in San Diego.
Chen: That makes sense. And we've seen other tech hubs do this really well. Austin has their Texas Blockchain Initiative, Portland has Silicon Forest – these tight-knit local communities that support each other while still being plugged into the global conversation.
Morales: Now here's the interesting part... San Diego has all the ingredients to build something similar or even better. We've got major universities, established tech companies, a growing startup scene, and honestly – the best weather for outdoor networking events.
Chen: Hard to argue with that last point! So let's talk specifically about this AllWebSD initiative. What exactly is it trying to accomplish?
Morales: So it's a Discord server specifically designed for San Diego's digital professionals – developers, designers, marketers, product people, AI specialists, you name it. The goal is to create one central hub where the local tech community can connect, share resources, and potentially collaborate.
Chen: But Jake, I've gotta play devil's advocate here. There are already so many online communities out there. What makes this one different? Why would someone add yet another Discord server to their already overwhelming digital life?
Morales: That's a totally fair challenge. I think what makes this interesting is the hyper-local focus combined with the cross-disciplinary approach. It's not just another JavaScript Discord or UX Discord – it's specifically about building connections across different digital specialties, but all within our San Diego ecosystem.
Chen: And I imagine there's potential for this to move beyond just online interaction? Maybe in-person meetups or events?
Morales: Absolutely. From what I understand, the Discord is just the starting point – a way to facilitate those initial connections that can then grow into real-world collaborations, mentorships, maybe even new business ventures.
Chen: I can definitely see the value there. And with AI changing our professional landscape so rapidly, having a support network of other locals navigating the same challenges seems particularly valuable right now.
Morales: Speaking of AI – we need to take a quick break to thank our sponsor.
Chen: Today's episode is sponsored by MindStudio, a platform with hundreds of free, ready-to-use and easily-customizable AI agents to help you get things done.
Morales: I've been using their Chrome Extension lately, and it's pretty impressive. It's like having AI superpowers right inside your browser – helping with everything from summarizing long articles to generating creative content.
Chen: I've been playing with it too! It's saved me hours of work already. If you want to check it out for yourself, download the MindStudio Chrome Extension from mindstudio dot ai. Now, back to our discussion about building tech community in the age of AI.
Morales: So Amara, you've worked with a bunch of different San Diego companies. How are you seeing AI change the professional development needs of the folks you work with?
Chen: It's fascinating, Jake. I'm seeing this interesting paradox where technical skills are simultaneously becoming both more and less important. The barrier to entry for creating certain types of content or code is getting lower thanks to AI tools, but the strategic thinking about how to use these tools effectively is becoming more valuable than ever.
Morales: That's such a good point. And it makes me think that as AI automates more of the tactical aspects of our work, the human connections and community become even more important. The creativity, the ethical considerations, the strategic thinking – that's where humans still shine.
Chen: Exactly. And that's where I see huge potential for a community like AllWebSD. Imagine having a place where developers can learn from designers about aesthetic principles, where marketers can collaborate with data scientists on more effective campaigns, where everyone can share their experiences with integrating AI into their workflows.
Morales: I love that vision. And there's something powerful about doing this at the local level, where people can eventually meet face-to-face and build those deeper connections.
Chen: Definitely. And I'm curious – how do you think a stronger, more connected tech community might change San Diego's tech landscape over time?
Morales: That's a great question... I think we could see more cross-disciplinary startups emerging. Maybe more talent retention as people feel more connected to the local scene. Potentially even more investment flowing into the region as we develop a stronger identity as a tech hub.
Chen: Those all sound like positive outcomes. And speaking of local AI initiatives, aren't there several AI-focused events coming up in San Diego?
Morales: Yeah! There's that AI Ethics workshop at UC San Diego next month, and I heard about a new AI meetup starting in Carlsbad focused specifically on practical applications for small businesses.
Chen: That sounds really valuable. And I imagine these are exactly the kinds of events that might get cross-promoted in a community like AllWebSD, helping to bring together people who might not otherwise connect.
Morales: Absolutely. It's all about breaking down those silos between different tech specialties and creating more opportunities for collaboration and learning.
Chen: Well, I think we've covered a lot of ground today! To recap, we've talked about the importance of local tech communities even in our increasingly remote world, the specific initiative at AllWebSD.com to bring together San Diego's digital professionals, and how community building takes on new importance in the age of AI.
Morales: That's right. And if you're a digital professional in San Diego – whether you're a developer, designer, marketer, product manager, or working in any tech-adjacent role – we definitely encourage you to check out this Discord community at AllWebSD.com.
Chen: We'll be following up on this topic in future episodes, so if you do join, we'd love to hear about your experience. And next week, we're excited to be interviewing Maria Gonzalez, the founder of that new AI startup that just secured two million in seed funding.
Morales: That's gonna be a great conversation! Until then, keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our local tech scene.
Chen: This has been Tech Pulse San Diego. I'm Amara Chen...
Morales: And I'm Jake Morales. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you next time!
Introduction
Made popular by the JavaScript rendering framework Astro, Island Architecture is an opinionated way of building content-driven websites like blogs, marketing pages, and e-commerce. Honestly, I’m still wrapping my head around it, so I decided to channel my inner 8-year-old self to demystify this pattern just a little more.
You see, before I moved to the mainland, I wasn’t just a web developer storytelling out of America’s Finest City. I was a kid eating shave ice, playing marbles in the dirt, and hanging out with ‘ohana at the only Pizza Hut on the island. This entry is dedicated to those who still hold island life close to their hearts — and to the JavaScript aficionados booking their next flight to the Aloha State.
Mahalo. 🤙🏾
A Brief History
The general idea of an ‘Islands’ architecture is deceptively simple: render HTML pages on the server, and inject placeholders or slots around highly dynamic regions […] that can then be ‘hydrated’ on the client into small self-contained widgets, reusing their server-rendered initial HTML.
— Jason Miller, Creator of Preact
Around 2019–2020, some really smart folks realized that traditional websites were getting too busy… too noisy… too complicated. Kinda like the mainland — traffic lights at every corner, cars clogging up the road for no good reason, and everything always on, even if you aren’t using it. Noisy, yah?
Instead of that big, overbuilt single-page app smushed into the browser all at once, think of Island Architecture like the 8 main islands we all know — from Ni‘ihau to the Big Island — each doing its own thing but still part of one ‘āina. The website is the whole Aloha State. Same ocean. Different waves.
Astro’s trying to be more chill. More sustainable. Garden Island vibes. 🏝️
What Is an Island?
In Astro, an “island” is an enhanced UI component on an otherwise static HTML page.
If the entire website is Hawai‘i, then components like buttons and forms are like Kaua‘i. Zoom in further and they’re like Kapa‘a’s Farmers Market on a Wednesday or traffic near Lydgate Beach — lively and bustling while the Sleeping Giant chills in the background.
This matters because it saves energy (JavaScript), keeping things fast unless you really need interactivity. People can see the whole island, but only the busy areas — like chickens crossing the road or folks grabbing poke — are truly interactive. 🐓
Island Components
Astro components are the building blocks of your page. They render to static HTML by default — no client-side runtime.
An “island” is the part of the site that’s interactive. There are two types: client and server. Think of them like your weather widget, chat bot, or image carousel. Everything else — sidebar, blog post, footer — just chills like the Tree Tunnel heading into Poʻipū. 🌳
Client Islands
Client islands are interactive widgets floating in a sea of static HTML.
It’s the stuff that wakes up on your side. Like going to Foodland in Kapaʻa and getting an unassembled poke bowl — rice in one container, toppings in another. You gotta go home, pour on the shoyu, sprinkle the furikake, and mix it how you like.
That’s a client island: it doesn’t work until you touch it. All the parts came from the shop, but the action happens at your house.
Benefits of Client Islands
It’s like you don’t have to fire up the rice cooker for the whole family — it’s just you and some good eats. 🍚
Server Islands
Server islands handle personalized or dynamic content — rendered on the server and sent to you ready to go.
It’s like Auntie picking up a musubi and Good News Bar from 7-Eleven and handing it to you. You didn’t have to lift a finger.
Benefits of Server Islands
You trust Auntie to handle it, so you can just grind. 🍱
Conclusion
Client or server island? Depends on what you need. Like island life, it’s about balance.
Sometimes you want to make your own poke bowl. Other times you just want the laulau already wrapped. Either way, a chill site is a fast site — and you only use energy when you really need it.
So have fun, leave your slippahs at the door, and try it out. Just remember to turn off the lights by 8. After all… this ain’t Waikīkī. 😉
Thanks and Aloha!
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, join the movement and let’s bridge the digital divide. For over 25 years, San Diego Futures Foundation has been a catalyst for positive change in SD, providing critical digital services and resources to nonprofits and individuals in need. Their programs have consistently helped bridge the gap between technology access and digital skills. Monetary, technology and volunteering are ways you can genuinely help. I’ll see you in the next round, everyone. Thanks and Aloha!
Attribution
Introduction
Welcome to Season 10 of AllWebSD! Has another year gone by? Yikes! As they say, the days are long but the years are short! In just a blink we’re rapidly getting inundated with AI this, AI that, finding leverage between RTO mandates, hybrid and remote agreements and the pendulum swing of high skills being in demand relative to available positions. one could argue that we’ve stepped into The Upside Down.
What’s Hot
Step Up to The Plate
The Open Mat Series Invitational still holds. I put it on myself to kick out a total of 5 episodes once I start a season and that means there are 4 more of these coming through. If you’re camera shy, don’t worry. It’s audio only unless you say otherwise. Irrespective of being a Vulcan, or where you live on this planet, AllWebSD can be your starbase. But of course if you are in SD, why say no when it feels so good to say yes.
So step up to the plate, take a swing and get that base hit.
LFG. Go Padres!
Conclusion
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, join the movement and let’s bridge the digital divide. For over 25 years, San Diego Futures Foundation has been a catalyst for positive change in SD, providing critical digital services and resources to nonprofits and individuals in need. Their programs have consistently helped bridge the gap between technology access and digital skills. Monetary, technology and volunteering are ways you can genuinely help. I’ll see you in the next round, everyone. Thanks and Aloha!
Attribution
Sound Effect by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay
Sponsor
Are you a professional tired of overly complicated, difficult, or time-consuming processes? Overwhelmed by all of the AI buzz? Do you need a single resource that could truly be your foundry on all things related to AI? Then check out this course, Prompting for AI Operations, brought to you by The AI Exchange, and get ahead in the AI revolution. Learn to break down business goals into tasks that can be executed by ChatGPT and go beyond copy/paste and develop 'prompting sense' which helps you take your prompts to the next level. Just visit this link or click on the AI Exchange banner on the home page of AllWebSD.com.
Introduction
Hmmm…how to set the stage for this one? When I put AllWebSD on pause back in April of 2022, it was about 7 months before the release of ChatGPT. Since November of that year, the landscape of tech quickly changed with AI casting a very big shadow over the hype of Web3. It felt like minutes. Night and day. On a Tuesday, we were absorbing ourselves with key words like the blockchain, decentralized, NFT and crypto. Then on Wednesday, AI, LLMs, OpenAI, Gemini and Prompt Engineering. Ever since then, we haven’t looked back. The shadow was so big that in my view, AI instantaneously took the attention away from all things catered to Web3, with everyone, including myself, dropping one shiny object for the next. And since then it’s been difficult for me to cut through the noise of AI to get to a better understanding of Web3. I was desperate. Desperation went even further by me emailing the man who invented the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners Lee. No, he did not reply back. He probably marked me as spam.
So I said screw it. Until I find an individual that could coach me through all things related to Web3, I decided to outsource it back to AI. Funny how things come full circle. Enjoy this segment covered with voice overs by Pericles screen reader and I as I consult about this topic through a custom ChatGPT model (Web3 Blockchain Expert) found on OpenAI’s GPT Store. Thanks to Tomorrow Explored as these inquiries are essentially a remix of their 7 must ask questions.
That said, as I learn more about how to be more effective in communicating with these LLMs, one detail I’d like to point out is that I’m not threading these inquiries. In other words, sticking to one topic to provide better context. I’m simply going through these questions on a single chat. Perhaps the results would differ had I placed each question into its own chat rather than what I did here in this demo of plopping all the questions into one conversation. I’ll explore that idea next time. But for now, sit back and relax as ChatGPT and I discuss Web3 before my usage limit was met!
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, you can find me on occasion at San Diego Tech Hub’s monthly meetups. For more details on that, go to meetup.com/sandiegotechhub. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Welcome to Season 9 of AllWebSD. This season is dedicated to my colleagues at the San Diego Futures Foundation and today I’m in collaboration with Teresa Valenzuela, Community Outreach Manager for SDFF and we’re here to expand on a new initiative developed on their behalf called the Digital Bridge.
Highlighted Topics
Here we are now and on to the grandest of all ways to support this cause. As gamers would often describe it as the final level!
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, you can find me on occasion at San Diego Tech Hub’s monthly meetups. For more details on that, go to meetup.com/sandiegotechhub. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Welcome to Season 9 of AllWebSD. This season is dedicated to my colleagues at the San Diego Futures Foundation and today I’m in collaboration with Teresa Valenzuela, Community Outreach Manager for SDFF and we’re here to expand on a new initiative developed on their behalf called the Digital Bridge.
Highlighted Topics
Looks like we’re getting deeper into the rabbit hole now. This next one sounds like a superhero!
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, you can find me on occasion at San Diego Tech Hub’s monthly meetups. For more details on that, go to meetup.com/sandiegotechhub. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Welcome to Season 9 of AllWebSD. This season is dedicated to my colleagues at the San Diego Futures Foundation and today I’m in collaboration with Teresa Valenzuela, Community Outreach Manager for SDFF and we’re here to expand on a new initiative developed on their behalf called the Digital Bridge.
Highlighted Topics
Let’s segue into the next level of support, yes?
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, you can find me on occasion at San Diego Tech Hub’s monthly meetups. For more details on that, go to meetup.com/sandiegotechhub. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Welcome to Season 9 of AllWebSD. This season is dedicated to my colleagues at the San Diego Futures Foundation and today I’m in collaboration with Teresa Valenzuela, Community Outreach Manager for SDFF and we’re here to expand on a new initiative developed on their behalf called the Digital Bridge.
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In some way shape or form, I feel that I personally am in this role. So let’s start our exploration here, shall we?
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, you can find me on occasion at San Diego Tech Hub’s monthly meetups. For more details on that, go to meetup.com/sandiegotechhub. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Welcome to Season 9 of AllWebSD. This season is dedicated to my colleagues at the San Diego Futures Foundation and today I’m in collaboration with Teresa Valenzuela, Community Outreach Manager for SDFF and we’re here to expand on a new initiative developed on their behalf called the Digital Bridge.
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, go head first into our Discord server by clicking the link on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Otherwise, you can find me on occasion at San Diego Tech Hub’s monthly meetups. For more details on that, go to meetup.com/sandiegotechhub. Thanks and Aloha!
TLDR
Today marks a temporary pause of the AllWebSD.com Podcast as I go head first into figuring out what on Earth Web3 is all about. I’ll be in the trenches of code once again and when I come up for air, I’ll be sure to come back through audio to give back my findings.
Red Pill
Let’s face it…the web is once again in transition. The meta verse, cryptocurrency, the blockchain, NFTs and more. It’s a bit murky for me at this point when I hear these buzzwords but my curiosity is leading me back to the sandbox to go play. I’ll be suspending this project for the near-term but when I come back, rest assured it will be another 5 episode season, which, for better or worse, spotlights my findings on what I’ve stumbled upon with Web3.
Special Thanks
All things considered, I hit 40 episodes in total. Awesome! A big thanks goes out to all of my previous guests, to the San Diego Tech Hub community for giving this domain a place to call home and to you, the listener, for giving this podcast a chance.
As a token of my appreciation, the following gifts are linked below:
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
More coffee, more coffee, more coffee!
My inbox is flooded. I haven’t caught up. I’ve short circuited my anxiety by marking all as read, even though that’s definitely not the case. So let’s take a look at what’s so important in a few short minutes.
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
I need to put a break tag on my HTML to get this message off the ground.
At the time of this recording, it’s been a little over two weeks since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine. Officially, Wikipedia notes the start of this conflict as Thursday, February 24th. Why this one hits home for me is that in my work experience as a web developer, I’ve had the pleasure of working with several Software Developers, QA Engineers and Product Owners of Russian, Ukranian and Belarusian heritage and they all have voiced a similar opinion. They stand with Ukraine. And I do as well.
If you’re sitting behind your keyboard right now with headphones on sitting state-side in the continental US, it might be hard for you to fathom what on Earth is really happening minute-by-minute. I’m certainly struggling. On my end, I’m trying to empathize with as many frames of reference that I can muster and here’s how I’ve given myself some context in how to better relate to this global event.
Frame of Reference
I could go on and on about how to make this hit home, but I think you get the theme. A big thanks goes out to my work colleagues, both past and present for providing this list.
Ways to Help
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today, I’m joined by Krishna Kabra, CEO of the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum. And in this discussion, we go head first into the spectrum of STEAM programs and events offered for the parents and children of San Diego.
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Conclusion
Here are the resources Krishna mentioned earlier on Institute of Biomimicry and a talk by Sir Ken Robinson, where he makes a case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today, I am joined by Janaira Quigley from the San Diego Futures Foundation. And in this discussion, we go head first into spotlighting their privately funded program, called CompTIA A+ certification, a paid internship designed for students transitioning into an IT profession.
Highlighted Topics
Conclusion
If you are interested in hiring for an entry level position, please reach out to Janaira regarding the CompTIA A+ certified graduating interns. She can be reached at 619-391-0050 x225 or jquigley@sdfutures.org
They are also looking to develop their resource database for the City of San Diego’s Digital Navigator program. Please use the Tech Resource Asset Mapping link to tell them about your organization that can provide free or low-cost tech services.
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Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Are your items stuck offshore at Long Beach due to supply chain issues? If so, I hope to spark joy and not junk into your life this holiday season with these virtual gifts. It’s my hope that these offerings have an everlasting impact for you at some point in your professional careers.
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Hey everyone. Here are some free resources I’ve found to be helpful in my own personal and professional journey. I hope you can find some hidden gems from what’s being offered here.
TriNet.com
Do you have a startup? Alternatively, do you already have a startup and need to build out your team on a more comprehensive level? Not sure where to begin? Let me introduce you to Gabe Balanag and his team from TriNet. They’re geared as a full-service HR solution providing access to premium benefits, HR expertise, risk mitigation, payroll services and more. For more details on that, simply click here to learn more!
Hired.com
Are you a Software Engineer, Product Manager, Data Scientist, or Designer looking for your next dream opportunity? Then Hired might be your next play. Create your free profile and let companies apply to interview you (with salary details upfront). Outside of LinkedIn and networking in general, I’ve found this platform to be extremely helpful when setting myself up for that next step!
Digit.co
Save money and pay off debt, all without thinking about it. Without getting into the weeds of my own struggles, I’ll gladly say that the Great Recession forever left an impact on me. On that note alone, it’s been my mission to surround myself with the right tools that could help my financial base. I adopted into Digit in early 2019 and it’s probably the most meaningful tool I use…and yes…without even thinking about it. Start here and try Digit free for 30 days.
Coinbase.com
Speaking of a financial base, let’s talk crypto. I’m by no means an expert on crypto but I can’t ignore its potential in general as a solution outside of fiat currency. That said, I’ve gone head first into Coinbase as my preferred platform that makes it easy to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more. Get your first $10 in Bitcoin from me by starting here.
ReMarkable.com
Word of mouth led me to this product and it is hands down the best electronic item I’ve purchased since pivoting from Blackberries/Nokias/Samsungs to an iPhone 3GS. Since I like to scribble, I thought the next best thing to do for optimizing my chicken scratch was through ReMarkable. Replace your notebooks and printed documents with the only tablet that feels like paper. Get a $40 discount when you purchase a reMarkable 2. Shop now with this link!
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Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Meet Tiffany, Senior Product Designer at AliveCor Inc. and an old coworker/friend in a previous startup life! Today we’ll be going head first into the idea of gender in the modern day world and how that may redefine how we move forward building out our digital experiences.
Highlighted Topics
"Neither end of the [male/female] spectrum is a suitable way of expressing the gender I am," Wilson says. "Sometimes I feel 'feminine' and 'masculine' at the same time, and other times I reject the two terms entirely." - BBC
Conclusion
We’ll stew on this for a moment and follow up at a later date. For now, feel free to outreach with Tiffany directly on LinkedIn, buy a print from her new store and enjoy the gallery on Instagram. Also, the article she mentions regarding sex and gender and its impact on health research can be found here.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Dear Gen Z,
I hope this voicemail finds you well. Hey look…the reason why I’m calling today is because I wanted to speak to those of you who have logged off from this oversaturated tech world. I’m inspired by an article from The Guardian, which sheds light on a growing trend of young people who have consciously abandoned social media.
I’m looking to simply understand. I’d like to understand what the positives are for saying sayonara to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. I could easily come up with reasons why I’d abandon it. Yes, I’ve thought about it multiple times and at minimum I’ve already removed most social media apps from my phone. Thanks Digital Minimalism. And as a young father squinting at the ingredients list of these digital jelly beans, it extends my curiosity. Furthermore, I’m looking to forecast alongside you on what the world may look like as we move forward with our pocket-sized super computers.
Let it be known that this channel is a safe space, not dependent on any social media metric such as likes, follows or comments. It is very much dependent on you and your sincerity throughout. So if you have a few minutes, and would like to go on the record to speak of a topic which may be corollary to mental health, cyber bullying, privacy and more, please don’t hesitate to give me a buzz.
Thanks and Aloha.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Meet Peter Harnish, San Diego resident and CEO of Well IQ. I’ve known him professionally as a Technology Manager, eCommerce Architect (hello Sony Style) but more importantly, he’s an old friend. And in this discussion, I wanted to steal a few short minutes to deconstruct Well IQ - the accessible survey platform which strengthens patient and provider relationships.
Highlights
Conclusion
Check Well IQ out on their website, or feel free to reach out to Peter directly by email, peter@welliq.org for more details.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
My Working Soul is a unique business and career resource, offering targeted, full-cycle support for career professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Today we’ll be talking with Corrine Ishio, My Working Soul Founder and CEO. Corrine is an accomplished people leader, with a background in talent acquisition, entrepreneurship, communications, and networking. She got her start recruiting in the highly competitive tech industry in San Diego, CA – and was inspired to pursue entrepreneurship after her experiences supporting startups in the emerging cannabis, e-Commerce and online media industries.
Highlighted Topics
Conclusion
Check Corrine out on all major social media platforms but I think it’s most important to simply go head first into the source at MyWorkingSoul.com
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
The goal for this season of AllWebSD is to deconstruct lessons learned from going head first into data structures. It’s my hope that I can translate a complex topic into an easy-going format and I’ll do so by channeling my inner 10-year-old self. You see back in my day, I was a big fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. So I’m going to take snapshots from that show and brush it with some code.
Information on data structures are abundant. To be honest, you don’t have to invent this. And frankly, neither did I. Hence, the code is pre-baked and available on Github.
The additional and intentional challenge here is that this is in audio only. If you can follow along, awesome. But remember, the source code is on the repo. I’ll upload a video as well, just in case.
That said, are you ready? Alright then. It’s Morphin Time!
The Situation
We need DinoZord power now!
Recall from our last episode that we’ve reprioritized the emergencies based on our priority queue. Now it’s time to call on the power of MegaZord by assembling the DinoZords. We’ll do so with a stacked data structure.
This introduces us to the concept of LAST IN FIRST OUT.
The Data Structure
function createStack() {
// Store our items in an array held in closure.
const stack = [];
// Return our stack as a plain JS object.
return {
// Place new items at the end of the array.
push(x) {
stack.push(x);
},
// Remove the final item in the array. This ensures order is maintained.
pop() {
if (stack.length === 0) {
return undefined;
}
return stack.pop()
},
// Return the last item in the array.
peek() {
if (stack.length === 0) {
return undefined;
}
if (stack.length === 5) {
return 'MegaZord activated!';
}
return stack[stack.length - 1]
},
// Use a getter ensures we always get the current length.
get length() {
return stack.length;
},
isEmpty() {
return stack.length === 0;
}
}
}
Conclusion
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed learning about data structures with a mighty morphin twist. Let me know your thoughts on this choice thus far and other paths that could’ve been considered.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
The goal for this season of AllWebSD is to deconstruct lessons learned from going head first into data structures. It’s my hope that I can translate a complex topic into an easy-going format and I’ll do so by channeling my inner 10-year-old self. You see back in my day, I was a big fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. So I’m going to take snapshots from that show and brush it with some code.
Information on data structures are abundant. To be honest, you don’t have to invent this. And frankly, neither did I. Hence, the code is pre-baked and available on Github.
The additional and intentional challenge here is that this is in audio only. If you can follow along, awesome. But remember, the source code is on the repo. I’ll upload a video as well, just in case.
That said, are you ready? Alright then. It’s Morphin Time!
The Situation
Recall from our last episode that Rita threw her magic wand down from the moon and it looks like she sent Scorpina to do her bidding. And yikes, she’s 300 feet tall.
The Data Structure
It’s time to introduce our priority queue.
function createPriorityQueue() {
// Make two queues held in closure to determine priority.
const highPriorityQueue = createQueue();
const lowPriorityQueue = createQueue();
return {
// Set high priority to false by default. Ternary operator will determine if it's high/low priority.
enqueue(item, isHighPriority = false) {
const queue = isHighPriority ? highPriorityQueue : lowPriorityQueue;
queue.enqueue(item);
},
// Make sure high priority queue is emptied first BEFORE attempting to dequeue from low priority queue.
dequeue() {
if (!highPriorityQueue.isEmpty()) {
return highPriorityQueue.dequeue();
}
return lowPriorityQueue.dequeue();
},
// Similar to dequeue(), let's peek from the high priority queue first.
peek() {
if (!highPriorityQueue.isEmpty()) {
return highPriorityQueue.peek();
}
return lowPriorityQueue.peek();
},
get length() {
return highPriorityQueue.length + lowPriorityQueue.length;
},
// Conjunction of our 2 queues.
isEmpty() {
return highPriorityQueue.isEmpty() && lowPriorityQueue.isEmpty();
}
}
}
Conclusion
Scorpina is 300 feet tall. We can’t do this alone. We’ll need DinoZord power. Join me in the finale where we introduce MegaZord by way of a stack data structure.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
The goal for this season of AllWebSD is to deconstruct lessons learned from going head first into data structures. It’s my hope that I can translate a complex topic into an easy-going format and I’ll do so by channeling my inner 10-year-old self. You see back in my day, I was a big fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. So I’m going to take snapshots from that show and brush it with some code.
Information on data structures are abundant. To be honest, you don’t have to invent this. And frankly, neither did I. Hence, the code is pre-baked and available on Github.
The additional and intentional challenge here is that this is in audio only. If you can follow along, awesome. But remember, the source code is on the repo. I’ll upload a video as well, just in case.
That said, are you ready? Alright then. It’s Morphin Time!
The Situation
Recall from our last episode that Rita just deployed the Putties and Goldar to Angel Grove. They’re causing havoc very quickly and it’s time to address these problems.
The Data Structure
It’s time to introduce our queue. A linear data structure which obeys the principle of First In, First Out. And that’s exactly what we’ll need to consider granted what Rita just unloaded to the general public.
We’ll create our queue utilizing a function declaration which returns a JavaScript object.
function createQueue() {
// Store our items in an array held in closure.
const queue = [];
return {
// Use unshift(), to keep the collection of the array in order by adding items to the front.
enqueue(x) {
queue.unshift(x);
},
// Use pop(), to remove the final item from the array while maintain order.
dequeue() {
if (queue.length === 0) {
return undefined;
}
return queue.pop();
},
// Return the next item that's ready to be removed.
peek() {
if (queue.length === 0) {
return undefined;
}
return queue[queue.length - 1];
},
// Use a getter function to get the CURRENT queue's length.
get length() {
return queue.length;
},
isEmpty() {
return queue.length === 0;
}
}
}
Conclusion
Oh no. What’s that in the sky? Rita’s wand is shooting down like a bolt of lightning. That’s not good. Let me know your thoughts on this choice thus far and other paths that could’ve been considered.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
The goal for this season of AllWebSD is to deconstruct lessons learned from going head first into data structures. It’s my hope that I can translate a complex topic into an easy-going format and I’ll do so by channeling my inner 10-year-old self. You see back in my day, I was a big fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. So I’m going to take snapshots from that show and brush it with some code.
Information on data structures are abundant. To be honest, you don’t have to invent this. And frankly, neither did I. Hence, the code is pre-baked and available on Github.
The additional and intentional challenge here is that this is in audio only. If you can follow along, awesome. But remember, the source code is on the repo. I’ll upload a video as well, just in case.
That said, are you ready? Alright then. It’s Morphin Time!
The Situation
5 ordinary teenagers are now at the command center. After initial shock, they’re starting to gather their senses and are willing to give this Power Ranger thing a try. The viewing globe lights up and we see that Rita’s sent these clay-like spandex goons called Putties and a Golden Armored Monkey to Angel Grove, a city wedged between LA and San Diego. Just kidding. Maybe.
Before they leave to address the issue, Zordon still needs to issue each Ranger their power.
Zack will bestow the powers of Mastodon, Kimberly receives Pterodactyl, Billy gets Triceratops, Trini inherits Sabertooth Tiger and Jason will kick it into high gear with Tyrannosaurus.
The Data Structure
Array Of Objects
const arrayOfRangers = [
{
name: 'Zack',
power: 'Mastodon',
isMorphed: false
},
{
name: 'Kimberly',
power: 'Pterodactyl',
isMorphed: false
},
{
name: 'Billy',
power: 'Triceratops',
isMorphed: false
},
{
name: 'Trini',
power: 'Sabertooth',
isMorphed: false
},
{
name: 'Jason',
power: 'Tyrannosaurus',
isMorphed: false
}
];
Glossing over this it looks like I can still quickly access any member of the team by indexes of 0 through 4 and each member of the team now has their power.
Conclusion
Putties are at the park and Goldar is wreaking havoc in down town Angel Grove. There’s no time to waste. Let me know your thoughts on this choice thus far and other paths that could’ve been considered.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
The goal for this season of AllWebSD is to deconstruct lessons learned from going head first into data structures. It’s my hope that I can translate a complex topic into an easy-going format and I’ll do so by channeling my inner 10-year-old self. You see back in my day, I was a big fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. So I’m going to take snapshots from that show and brush it with some code.
Information on data structures are abundant. To be honest, you don’t have to invent this. And frankly, neither did I. Hence, the code is pre-baked and available on Github.
The additional and intentional challenge here is that this is in audio only. If you can follow along, awesome. But remember, the source code is on the repo. I’ll upload a video as well, just in case.
That said, are you ready? Alright then. It’s Morphin Time!
The Situation
“Alpha, Rita’s escaped! Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude.”
The Data Structure
Okay, before I go into teleporting underage kids to the top of a mountain without their consent, I’m going to change the original storyline and instead ask Alpha to contact one person. Hopefully, that alongside word-of-mouth is enough to make a team.
I’m looking at the viewing globe and it looks like this guy Zack teaching Hip Hop Kido at Ernie’s Juice Bar is available. Okay, so I lied. I guess I’m going to have to teleport at least one person without their consent. Hopefully we can do some convincing and the remaining teens will follow.
Minutes pass and the convincing is done, Zack is going to rope in 4 of his other friends to see if they want in on this.
I’ve consulted with Alpha and knowing that we’re assembling this team, Zordon’s going to need a data structure which would allow him quick access to any Ranger should an emergency take place. Alpha offers me two choices, a linked list or an array.
Conclusion
Sirens are going off and the viewing globe just activated. Let’s pause on this for now and address the emergency on hand. For today, assembling the team was hard enough. Based on Zordon’s current need, we’ll conclude that an array data structure is the way to go.
Let me know your thoughts on this choice thus far and other paths that could’ve been considered.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today, I’m joined by Coach Mikey, certified personal trainer out of San Diego. And in this discussion, we talk about the value of stepping away from your desk for a few minutes and some of the services he provides for integrating a healthy routine into your daily life.
Highlighted Topics
Where to find MikeyOFit
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today I'm joined by Gabe Balanag, Tech Consultant servicing the LA and SD marketplaces. And with his help, he spotlights the most common gotchas new businesses experience as they set forth with their startups.
"One example, is if you have 26 or more employees, you need to have at least 80 hours of sick leave time that you’re able to give to your employees."
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today, I’m joined by co-worker, colleague and friend, Daniel Gurtner, web development consultant based out of San Diego. In this session we go head first into a situational question. Can he explain what a cookie is to his wife?
Highlighted Topics
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
Website after website after website...
Without Googling it and in your own words, explain to your spouse what a cookie is?
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today I’m honored to have Teresa Valenzuela and Gary Knight from the San Diego Futures Foundation. And today, we’ll be going head first into the digital divide, specific to our county and how local members in our community (me included) can be involved in these initiatives.
Welcome Teresa and Gary!
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
Today, I'm joined by Ansel, Manager of Data Analytics at Thermo Fisher Scientific. And with his help, he coaches me on the importance of data, with a stronger emphasis on its value for your business.
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Today, I'm joined by Justin, Senior Software Engineer at ParTech. And with his help, he walks me through a high-level explanation (by way of Italian food) of what a MicroService is!
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
It’s always fun to stumble onto an easter egg. But it’s even more fun when they’re Chuck Norris easter eggs. And my Automation Engineer left quite a few on our Jenkins server.
So without further ado, I’ll leave you with some amusement with a bit of an ASMR twist. Let’s begin!
No statement can catch the ChuckNorrisException.
When a bug sees Chuck Norris, it flees screaming in terror, and then immediately self-destructs to avoid being roundhouse-kicked.
Chuck Norris rewrote the Google search engine from scratch.
"It works on my machine" always holds true for Chuck Norris.
There is no need to try catching Chuck Norris' exceptions for recovery; every single throw he does is fatal.
Chuck Norris doesn't need an OS.
All browsers support the hex definitions #chuck and #norris for the colors black and blue.
You don't disable the Chuck Norris plug-in, it disables you.
Chuck Norris doesn't need to know about class factory pattern. He can instantiate interfaces.
Chuck Norris doesn't program with a keyboard. He stares the computer down until it does what he wants.
Chuck Norris can compile syntax errors.
Chuck Norris's beard can type 140 wpm.
Chuck Norris doesn't bug hunt, as that signifies a probability of failure. He goes bug killing.
When Chuck Norris presses Ctrl+Alt+Delete, worldwide computers restart is initiated.
When Chuck Norris gives a method an argument, the method loses.
The only pattern Chuck Norris knows is God Object.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
What’s up everyone and welcome back to AllWebSD. As 2021 unpacks itself the recruiting season is once again in full swing. And as companies unleash their budgets for their next round of hires its a no-brainer that you may get a call. Sometimes its a tech recruiter gauging your interest. But every now and again you might get called because someone marked you as a professional reference.
And that’s what leads me into tonight’s topic.
You see, that very much happened just a few hours ago and one question in particular felt like an awkward one to answer.
The Loaded Question
What are some of his/her weaknesses?
Dear Recruiters
What can I say? Obviously, if someone inks me in as a professional reference, I intend on outlining the brightest attributes about this person. I’m going to deliver, in real-time, a series of bullet points as to why this person is more than qualified for the role on hand. I’m not placed on a short-list to bad mouth my peer. I was called to spotlight what could help you make a more informed decision.
That said, I’m not foolish on the inquiry either. I understand that to even get this far into the conversation, my peer must have done well enough to make it to that next step.
But what gives? I’m hard-pressed to find something sensical with this specific question. What does a question like this serve? Where would you like me to begin? How does my answer play into the company’s philosophy? Better yet, how does my answer play into the Hiring Manager’s psychology?
Dear Listeners
This is definitely food for thought. And I have to throw it out there into the universe and ask…how on Earth do you answer the loaded question? And is honesty an effective solution which can surpass the inherent negative bias?
Think about it and let me know!
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
What’s up everyone and welcome to Season 4, Episode 2. I guess this episode is more of a heads up in that, I’ve been revisiting VueJS. And with version 3 recently released, its’ once again become a premier option in JavaScript frameworks. I’ve noticed more so that Vue and React’s community continue to push each other’s frameworks into the next level, whereas Angular is definitely blazing its own unique path.
That said, I wanted to brush up quickly but I also didn’t want to spend any more money on subscriptions.
Hence, when I stumbled onto Vue School, I was very excited to see that they had an abundance of free courses designed for all levels. I encourage you to check them out at vueschool.io if you have a moment. I do not have an affiliation with them. This is simply a courtesy.
On my behalf I went ahead and did some of their tutorials - all of which were straightforward and under an hour to complete. It was well worth it!
Feel free to check out 2 articles I wrote with source code and demo attached regarding Vue components. The goal here was to get a grasp of reusable components and implement them in 5 steps or less.
Vue Components: Bootstrap Alerts
Vue Components: Bootstrap Card, Github API
Cheers and happy coding!
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Hey guys and welcome to the newest episode of AllWebSD. Where I put my city’s digital savants on the forefront, talk tech and find the proper moments of rest before burnout becomes a reality.
Hmmm…
My city’s digital savants. Let’s go there.
Today I’m hungry. And I’m hungry to be once again inspired…by YOU. Specifically, the you that right now in this very moment decided to undertake such an arduous specialization inside of software development. Recent graduates, career pivots and the like, this round of dialogue is dedicated to you.
Let’s talk. Let’s break bread. Let’s train.
In my Jiu Jitsu school my Professor would call this an Open Mat. So let’s take this opportunity to be just that. A moment of time where we train together and pick each other’s brains on why we made this choice. Where we were, where we are and where we’d like to go with the decision already made.
You’ve gone all-in trusting your instincts and inner wisdom to be on this path and I’d like to be part of that journey, even if for a few short minutes. We can go here, we can go there and we can talk about any uncertainty you have along the way.
Now…are you hesitant and a bit camera shy? That’s okay. It’s audio only. I’m opening the mat for up to 5 spots, first come, first served.
On a final note, I’d like you to take this chance and view it from a different perspective. A time capsule-like approach or a message in a bottle, if you will. A note you can look back on fondly down the line as a way to really gain some insight about yourself direct from no-one else…but YOU.
Be easy, take care and I’ll talk to you again in the new year.
Aloha, San Diego. 🤙🏾
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Foreword
It’s the night before Thanksgiving. I have a laptop, a mic and an itch to talk to my wife about tech and not turkey. Aloha.
Introduction
What’s up everyone and welcome to season 3 series finale of allWebSD. It took a while to get to this episode, so I must apologize in advance. It looks like 5-6 episodes is what I can define as a season at this point for the show and I’m looking to regroup next year with Season 4. That said, let’s get to the topic on hand.
Tonight I’m joined by my wife Kyung Mi, Senior Data Administrator for San Diego based ResMed. And like many of us in 2020, she’s had to juggle a lot of moving parts. And somewhere along the way, aspiring to learn SQL has become part of her performance.
Yes, you heard that right. SQL aka Structured Query Language. For me, the non-traditionalist, I say Sequel.
“…it never ends…like I feel like I don’t have a stop point where I can actually pull back from my day to day job to learn something new”
– My wife (when I asked what’s making it hard at the moment to pick up a new thing to learn)
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Oops, My Bad
Something I just realized is that I referenced the wrong book. I should have just suggested the original Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes but I pointed you in the direction of a more specific 10 minute book in, Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL.
My Suggestions
Conclusion
Thank you for listening. Stay tuned. Keep up to date. Wish us a lot of luck. It is the blind leading the blind and it’s going to be fun. And we’re just gonna leave it at that. So please give it a like, subscribe, a follow—allWebSD.com. Visit me on marklreyes.com. Check it out on all your professional networks, namely LinkedIn.
We’ll see you next time. And let’s hope we don’t delete any data. Uh oh. 😳
PS: I kept saying series finale. I should’ve kept saying season finale. See you in 2021!
PPS: Drop a comment, leave a line and tell us what’s going on. What ways, shapes or forms do you find to be most effective to learn a topic like this, especially from the ground up?
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase by clicking on any of the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Introduction
Coding is hard. And if you aren’t careful, it’ll suck you down a rabbit hole costing you the chance to be mindful of everything else. And that’s where this book comes into play.
Soft Skills: The software developer’s life manual by John Sonmez, is a book which helped me understand that there’s more to this career path than creating object oriented code or deploying things into a cloud.
Here’s my summary and why I think you should add this to your developer book shelf.
Summary
The book is broken down into 7 thoughtful sections including: “Career”, “Marketing Yourself”, “Learning”, “Productivity”, “Financial”, “Fitness” and “Spirit”.
Sections are divided into chapters, with each chapter offering advice in short order and action items to do at the end. Think of this as a tiny list for you to digest. Use it as a way to take stock to then apply to your situation.
What’s Important
At 400ish pages in length, here’s what you’ll want to focus on first.
Career
People skills: You need them more than you think – a 5 page pep talk on informing you that it’s not all about code. John channels his inner Dale Carnegie to give advice on the ineffectiveness of criticizing other people, the value in avoiding arguments and more.
Marketing Yourself
Marketing basics for code monkeys – this headfirst explanation is written for the developer to understand the value of marketing oneself and options on how to do so.
Learning
Finding gaps in your knowledge – take inventory of where your knowledge gaps are with this series of written exercises challenging you to write down your questions and hardships with an intention to revisit them down the line.
Productivity
Pomodoro Technique – a timing exercise applicable to your daily work life. Although I don’t prescribe to the timer down to the exact second, I still leverage some form of this pattern throughout my day. It’s a nice flow of focus and rest that I strongly recommend you explore.
Financial
What are you going to do with your paycheck? – John paints a broad brush on finances, consistent in his opinions like other financial experts. Stop thinking short term and distinguishing between an asset and a liability are my personal favorites.
Fitness
Why you need to hack your health – a commitment to your health. Need I say more?
Spirit
Having the right mental attitude: Rebooting – this chapter molds itself as a personal reflection you must take when it comes to your thoughts. Essentially, techniques are given on how to take an x-ray of your thoughts and what to do with them next.
Conclusion
Enjoy the read. Don’t barrel through it. Read it in order. Jump around. It doesn’t matter.
John’s tone is very empathic. His narrative offers a sense of calm throughout and the format is set up for readers to consume advice in digestible pieces. If you choose to be in the software development career for the long haul, buy this book and never let it go.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase by clicking on any of the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Introduction
I’m fairly rusty with freelance. Frankly, my last freelance gig was almost a decade ago. A lot has changed since then…namely starting a family. But alas, with 2020 being so unique, I thought I’d take a stab at getting back into this arena part time and I wanted to outline some things which happened along the way.
Long story short, I did not get the job.
Denied
Through word of mouth, a colleague of mine connected me to one of his clients in Los Angeles. Their company – an app based service for home cooked meals. They had a web app written in AngularJS and looked to add new features on an existing screen.
After a few days and filtering the true needs to be met, I emailed a quote. Thereby getting this reply:
$…for one screen being updated is way out of our budget. I thank you for your time. Perhaps we can do something together in the future.
– Client XYZ
What Now?
I can’t knock the receiving end for saying no. I too am a customer and I empathize that every scenario is already influenced with a prefixed budget in mind.
But could I have done something else to have supply and demand equal out?
Honestly…no. That said, I thought it’d be best to leave a checklist for those of you in similar scenarios. Here are my essentials I obsessed about behind the scenes before ever striking into a conversation.
Freelance Checklist 2020
Do I really want the gig?
Seriously…do you? Have you spent enough time on your own deeds? Would family time be in jeopardy should you say yes? Decline immediately if you’re on the fence. Neither side will benefit if you’re not all in.
Are my conversations free?
Some people charge like lawyers. I’m not one of them. Free conversations (albeit, you must time box them) is the opportunity for you to filter out what the true needs are from the client.
What’s my quote?
The hardest part. Honestly, the best advice I received as of late came from two fronts.
First, my colleague who connected me. In short, billing from total project cost is recommended if you’re absolutely sure of everything you had to quote. If you have a sense of uncertainty, bill by the hour.
Second, what rate to charge? Make it up (thanks CareerFoundry.com).
Conclusion
At this point, what matters most isn’t that I didn’t close the deal, but the lessons I can uproot after the fact. I hope this checklist sheds some light on your next freelance endeavor.
How do you balance freelance with a full-time career and other lifestyle dynamics? I’d love to know your opinion. Feel free to contact me and hopefully we can get a conversation on this sometime in the future.
Thanks.
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase by clicking on any of the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Introduction
Developers. How many companies have them? The developer suffix is often prepended with any of the following: Front End, Back End, iOS, Android, Web, Full Stack, Embedded, Software, Desktop, Middle Tier, etc.
But what about The Angry Developer? You know who I’m talking about. That one developer always wrapped in angst, flips out on scope changes or constantly punts back, it works on my machine. Okay, that last one might be a stretch because honestly, that could be any developer under any circumstance.
But back to the point and I must confess, I’m very much guilty of being that person. When I first got into this industry, I picked up some bad habits and I wanted to send notice on my mistakes and offer suggestions, in case you ever feel angry when in the trenches of code.
Choose Your Role Models Wisely
It’s your first day at the company and you’re meeting people left and right. You follow certain personalities on social media. Be extra mindful on who you choose to fold into your own. In the beginning of my career, I was seriously just excited to do web. But I never thought beyond the task and the level of detail which takes place after receiving the opportunity, namely your soft skills.
What I can tell you is that Austin 3:16 may work in the squared circle but you should think twice before bringing the rattlesnake into a conference room.
Take a break and meditate.
Embrace Criticism
Criticism – both good and bad will exist in the workplace. It just happens. It’s a song and dance you and your coworkers are playing at every turn, especially if you’re in a position which literally produces an experience. Rest assured, nothing is perfect. Facebook, Google and the start-ups of today still go through their examinations before throwing something out into the wild. Remember, your customer doesn’t know you by name. But they do know how they’d feel after a first pass at your product or service. Criticism, in my opinion is an inclusive exercise when inside your office space. But once it exits that door, the customer’s critique will always be exclusive.
It’s Just A Job
This comment won’t win any stars with recruiters or your boss but when you distill all things into its basic parts, it very much is that…a job. Payment in exchange for your service and time. When you’re done with the day, go home owning that simple fact. There are no additional burdens to carry into your night and it’ll help you get that mental break you need in this insanely fast paced world.
Additional Tips & Tricks
Conclusion
I had to get this one off my chest. 2020 has been quite a rodeo to say the least and with our zoom skills increasing and our soft skills not getting its fair shake, I figured now was the time to bring back the human elements needed in an ever abundant remote work ecosystem.
Thanks.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase by clicking on any of the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Welcome to Season 3 of the allwebSD podcast! I’m back bringing stories to the foreground within the San Diego tech community and today I’m opening up this season with an awkward subject.
Simply put, when to call it quits.
Today, I’m here with my former coworker who is helping me understand just that. His name is Greg Schumsky and I had the privilege of working with him for a little over 6 months on a digital project within the consumer sleep space.
Here’s a bit about Greg – he drives a DeLorean almost daily and built a remote controlled R2D2 out of God knows what. It’s accurate enough that I think Disney would want to acquire it.
But today he is working on his bigger creative dreams, which I’ll let him disclose should he want to but for the most part he’s here to clear things up on today’s topic.
You see Greg decided to do just that. Specifically within the UX side of our digital world and I wanted to know why. So here he is, opening up his heart as to why that decision was necessary in his creative career.
Best advice I can give is to be flexible...and don't take anything personally.
Highlighted Topics
Conclusion
For anyone listening, it’s important to pull certain elements from this as you blaze your own path but for the most part, leave the rest in passing. Greg’s story and experience is unique and I’m thankful that we got this chance to reconnect and gain perspective.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Welcome to the Season 2 Finale of the AllWebSD podcast. I’m joined today by Security Engineer, Developer but more importantly one of my best friends and brothers from another mother. I’ve grown up with this guy since my high school days. I will not tell you when I went to high school cause I don’t want to date myself, but ya Michael Jordan was still the King...still is the King and we’ll leave it at that.
This is Edel John Marcelino of Beacon Cloud Solutions, a local cyber security company out of San Diego.
"Look at it (digital data) like you would anything else...I'm sure everyone still has file cabinets full of paper files...if I lost those paper files, what would happen?"
Highlighted Topics
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Hey, everyone and welcome to another episode of AllWebSD. Today, I’m taking a virtual tour of a San Diego company called Family Proud.
Heads up, I’m taking a nose dive deep into cold water so if my questions seem spotty, I’m asking you now for forgiveness, so thanks.
Please welcome a member of the San Diego Tech Hub community, he is CEO and Co-Founder, Jaden Risner.
“We connect patients and families to community and resources that are critical to their care in their time of need.“
PS: He said "Instagram" 🤪
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Introduction
WordPress in easy stepsby Darryl Bartlett, is a book which saved me when I was tasked with maintaining my company’s WordPress website. At last pass, the website was officially on PHP 7. Whereas my last freelance project used PHP 4.
Yikes 😶 .
I needed an insurance policy and I found this book to be a saving grace in helping me survive the modern day WordPress ecosystem.
Summary
The contents of this book are broken down into 11 condensed topics including: “Introduction to WordPress”, “Dashboard & Users”, “Appearance & Themes”, “Creating Content”,”Plugins”, “Creating an Online Store”, “Settings & Tools”, “SEO & Social Media”, “User Interaction”, “Tips & Tricks” and “Advanced WordPress”.
All chapters are condensed, straight to the point and are thoughtfully written. It’s not a complex read at all and each topic is fully supported with clear illustrations.
What’s Important
In order to thrive, you first must survive. And in my opinion out of all of the topics discussed you’ll want to focus on these 5 chapters first:
Dashboard & Users
You’re going to need to know the sidebar and the dashboard as a whole once logged in. The advice here breaks down the out of box WordPress sidebar and its available menu options. Find your way through the dashboard quickly and learn to add users to give them specific roles. Heads up, the more involved your WordPress development is (namely adding more plugins), the probability of your sidebar and dashboard becoming bloated would be high.
Appearance & Themes
Augmenting the look of your website will mean hitting the installed theme of your WordPress site. Here you’ll get the basics of what a theme is, how to install, upload and edit them.
Creating Content
Part of the grunt work will simply be adding or editing your site content. In this chapter, you’ll learn to distinguish between posts and pages and learn how to add text, images, video and audio.
Plugins
Most complex problems you encounter can most likely be solved in two ways: you code your way into solving the issue or you download a plugin from the open source community. Learn how to find, install, update and even edit a plugin. In my opinion, plugins are both a gift and a curse but you’re going to have to understand them, regardless. That said, I do not recommend you edit a plugin ever. That may break any licensing terms or cause undesirable side effects. Put that responsibility on the developer that built that plugin. Write a support ticket or contact them directly.
Settings & Tools
Learn the underpinnings of your WordPress ecosystem. Toggle each of the core settings and observe what they do. As important as it is to create a cool experience on the front-end, you’ll need to know what buttons to push behind the scenes to keep the entire house in order.
Conclusion
I strongly believe you could read this entire book in one focused hour. This book is a great utility to keep in arms reach when you need to quickly learn the outs of your WordPress environment. This isn’t a book to teach you WordPress on an academic level. It’s a book designed to keep the plane that’s already flying to still be at altitude.
If you’re looking to be immersed in the technical how-tos I’d recommend starting off with the source itself, WordPress.org. To add a bit of flavor, opinion and friendly guidance, follow Chris Coyier and CSS Tricks.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase by clicking on any of the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Introduction
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport is an important book that I’ve picked up in the last decade. It’s a pretty bold statement to make but for me personally, I was in the market for something which could help me out with some mental stress that I’d been carrying over my head. At the core of it all, the root cause is my iPhone. It’s been a great tool to have but it’s also come at a cost. And those tiny apps which sit inside of that expensive piece of machinery has caused me a ton of mental headaches, social anxiety and has misled me many times over with misinformation and half baked conversations.
Frankly, if I could summarize it, I felt sad. So I turned to this book in hopes of finding clarity in this gruesome situation and I wanted to share some of the things I thought were worth mentioning.
Summary
In short, Cal breaks down this form of anxiety from the very beginning. You should know this by now. 2004 and The Facebook takes hold. Then it’s 2007, roughly a year out from the Great Recession and Steve Jobs designs what Apple deemed to be the best iPod yet. Harnessing both the telephone and music player capabilities into one device, the iPhone was never originally presented as segue into mobile apps or the app store as one would assume.
Through a series of short chapters, a total of 7, he takes you on this well explained journey: A Lopsided Arms Race, Digital Minimalism, The Digital Declutter, Spend Time Alone, Don’t Click “Like”, Reclaim Leisure, and Join the Attention Resistance.
What I Found Important
Cal defines the meaning of Digital Minimalism quickly as,
“A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else.”
Addiction - not only relates to alcohol and drugs but is thoroughly explained in relation to our digital consumption too. Two forces in particular are explained: intermittent positive reinforcement and the drive for social approval. It’s a pretty nasty explanation on how the Like button impacts us.
"A Lopsided Arms Race" is worth reading over and over.
Digital Declutter - in summary this is essentially a proposal of blunt force trauma to your current digital usage. It’s a cold turkey technique of 30 days where he emphasizes that “aggressive action is needed to fundamentally transform your relationship with technology.”
To me, every process and thought explained in this book are equally important but "Join the Attention Resistance" has to be what Trevor Hoffman was to the San Diego Padres. It’s the closer and the final chapter in giving actionable advice to address this problem.
Conclusion
For me, what didn’t work was digital declutter, so I compromised. I tried a cold turkey schedule every fourth week of the month. That worked once and my remaining attempts failed. So I tinkered and ended up using small wins which for me just add up. I removed Facebook and Twitter for good from my phone. I need a laptop when I dip into those worlds.
All notifications for social media are turned off. And it’s really changed the way I frame other apps when I see them come to market. Long story short, I’m not on Tik Tok. It’s one of those scenarios where I continue to say to myself that if I never had it in the first place, I never really missed it.
I don’t look down on my past usage but I am moderately more assertive of what I’m doing when I’m inside of that Instagram game, a Messenger Chat or scrolling through a feed. And for now that’s step one which was definitely better than yesterday, when there were no steps at all.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
This post may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase by clicking on any of the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full affiliate disclosure here.
What’s up everyone and welcome to the AllWebSD Podcast. Let’s get right to it, yes? I’d like you to take in informal data point on your immediate social network. No, not the people you like, heart or drop cute little emoticons on, I’m talking about actual people you talk or text with.
Now, count on 10 fingers (yourself included) on what smart phone you and your 9 other peers are on. At first pass, that’s 5 on an iPhone and 5 on an Android. This includes my immediate family members, in-laws, the boys if you will and me.
I use an iPhone and I have that bias groomed into me from the start. There’s 50% of an audience I very much overlook. 50% of an audience I don’t necessarily acknowledge when I code and it’s a thought I want to process today with you by my side.
This pondering impacts everything we do on both a business and cultural level. But bringing it back to the context of this channel, namely, web app development, it gets me to once again think. This is a challenge once again brought to my attention by my JavaScript Instructor, Thomas Powell.
A small except from a previous conversation, he says "grab a stock Android phone or throttle your dev tools and feel the pain”.
Here’s an ad hoc test I just did right now. I have Outlook’s web app open in my Chrome browser and I’ve intentionally throttled the app at a Slow 3G connection. I’ve had the the time to write and rewrite what I’m saying to you at the moment because Load is at 1.7 minutes. Okay, I’m over it. Flipping this back to Online and it has a Load of 7.36 seconds.
Now, to be clear this is Outlook which means an abundance of emails (text and downloadable images) so for Outlook to do this over the wire is amazing in itself.
Unfortunately, I don’t find myself equipped to convince business leads that servicing these audiences are important. Except to say, it is.
Here’s some food for thought.
And a list of challenges we as developers need answers to in order to overcome this oversight:
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Where do I begin? It's been 6 years since I tended to this project so I wanted to first explain why that is.
Well, stuff happens.
Back then, I had just put in notice at my workplace at the time without a new offer in hand. I was out of gas. I'll explain that at a later time but I essentially had no direction and found time in the Summer of 2014 to kickstart the entire show. But then after 3 episodes I flatlined the project. I took a full-time 6-month contract in Carlsbad and de-prioritized allwebSD. In hindsight that was a mistake and I should have kept going.
Here I am yet again but under different terms. With social distancing the new norm, I find myself in less traffic and with more time to pick this back up. The goal is clear, however. And that's to simply keep running with this. The tank could be full or closer to empty but I'm gonna keep running this series.
So that's the gist of it for now but before I go, I want to leave you with a bit about the Web Developer side of me. Coding is hard. And if you're like me you play hard to get with the technology you're working with only to submit to it and go to Google and find your get out of jail free card.
Don't sweat it. Abuse it. For me, that was and still is very much JavaScript. For those of you learning it for the first time or if you've come from more Object Oriented Languages like C# or Java, you're immediately submerged into the obscurities right out the get go. Now for sake of time, I won't go into every detail. That will be a podcast in itself.
So when I'm caught in that rabbit hole or if it ever feels like quick sand, I'll always remember 5 things my JavaScript instructor taught me that I want to share with you as well.
So when you feel skirmish about this language, remember these 5 tips:
1.) Be realistic.
2.) Learn coding techniques.
3.) Don't mistake complex for correct or aim to find one true way to solve things.
4.) Make sure you aren't kidding yourself about your markup or CSS.
5.) Avoid libraries until you straight code JavaScript and DOM pretty well.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Hi, my name is Mark. I've been working professionally as a web developer since 2009. I got started by making tiny HTML snippets for pay per click ads and my responsibilities have grown tremendously since then. I’ve got my gripes about this profession, rest assured. I’ve had my headaches from working with Prototype and Scriptaculous, mucked with no conflicting that alongside jQuery, been weary about what’s really inside of npm packages and I’ve been through my fair share of browser wars too.
I remember when things were perfect at 960 wide, only to have this thing called Responsive Web Design take foot. Then came progressive web apps and a gnarly series of coin flips on if I should use React, Vue, Angular.
That said, the evolution continues and my enthusiasm remains. I’m doing what I can one keystroke at a time and I’m good with that. Recording out of North County San Diego, I’m here to help put my city’s digital savants on the forefront, talk tech and find the proper moments of rest before burnout becomes a reality. So sit back and enjoy these next few minutes and welcome to AllWebSD.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Online privacy. This topic can’t be covered in one talk but we’ll try. In this podcast, we speak with Cale Dansbee, small business owner of TopStone LLC out of Escondido. He brings 15+ years of cyber security engineering experience and serves us his insight and opinions on the landscape of internet security and how we can combat the potential security flaws that are hand-in-hand with the technology around us.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
Working in technology often comes with its perks of getting an influx of inquiries for your services. Sometimes it’s a hit. Sometimes it’s a miss. In this talk, we speak with Tech Recruiter Justin Stewart of Bridgepoint Education and gather his insights on what makes a great recruiter, what they look for when they screen candidates and along the way express a few humble opinions on the technology market in San Diego.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!
When you think mobile development, your first instincts are to think iOS and Android. But remember Blackberry? In this talk, we speak with former professor of UC San Diego and current Blackberry Evangelist Demian Borba about the overall marketshare in Blackberry, HTML5 development as it ties in to Blackberry and what tools/frameworks make developing for Blackberry not that far off from extensions into iOS and Android.
Thanks again for listening in. Remember, I’m here to foster innovation through conversation. So if you’d like to continue this discussion or any topics previously discussed, join me at San Diego Tech Hub and go head first into the AllWebSD Group. It’s totally free. Just visit this link or click San Diego Tech Hub on the footer of AllWebSD.com. Thanks and Aloha!