develpreneur podcast
Posted on Software Architecture From Scratch

Architecting The Database

In no particular order, we will look at architecting the database as we continue our tour of software architecture from scratch.  There are several key considerations to keep in mind while doing this work.  A wrong decision or improper architectural choice can have a far-reaching impact as we build from the backend.  Here are some areas that we want to think through as we design our backend solution. Primary Keys One of the most commonly utilized values in a database is the primary key.  This is the value that uniquely identifies a record within the database in a specific table.  You can limit that uniqueness to the database and even table, or you can make it universally unique (GUID).  While... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Software Architecture From Scratch

Frontend or Backend Where To Start? – Software Architectural Decisions

Every journey starts somewhere.  When we architect a solution, we need to decide whether to start at the frontend or the backend.  There are pros and cons to each approach.  Therefore, we need to look at each project to help us determine which method is best.  Let’s look at the strengths of each of these starting points. The Frontend Approach The frontend often feels like a comfortable way to start.  You can focus on user experience and the visual pieces of the solution.  This can hide complexity.  On the other hand, it is well suited to things like stories and clickable demos.  We will have visual designs and decisions that can easily be shared and assessed.  We also are pushing... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Software Architecture From Scratch

Software Architecture – Agile vs Waterfall

The decision of Agile vs Waterfall in software development is not often linked to architecture.  However, there is a difference in your approach that depends on the SDLC you choose.  This choice is one you will probably be asked to make when starting from scratch.  While not entirely the domain of the architect, this decision often seems to be driven by them. Agile vs Waterfall – Different Mindsets The most significant impact this decision will have is the one on your mindset.  A waterfall approach front-loads a lot of the architecture decisions.  You can define a relatively static and complete architecture without as much fear of substantial changes.  This includes common concerns like performance, cost, and extensibility. An agile approach... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Software Architecture From Scratch

Software Architecture From Scratch – Season Kick-Off

We kick off the season on software architecture from scratch with an overview of what we will cover.  We also set the table for the assumptions we will make as we walk through our topics.  Each topic will cover an area or two of architecting software that we need to address when we start at the beginning.  These are not always rocket science.  However, details matter, and we need to keep them in mind while mapping out our solution. Software Architecture Requires Questioning We have many ways we can approach creating a solution.  However, this season will assume we asked a lot of questions and got enough answers to build out a detailed list of requirements.  This is a critical... Read more

develpreneur podcast
Posted on Special Topics

Looking Forward and Planning for the Year Ahead

As we near the end of a decade, it is time to consider planning for the year ahead.  We need to consider the goals we want to achieve and how much better to be a year from now.  Here are some ideas to help you plot out your course. Improve Your Workspace Whether you work from home or an office, there are many ways you can improve your daily experience.  This can include hardware, office equipment (or supplies), or even software and services.  All of these items are likely to improve your productivity.  Therefore, there is at least one good reason to pursue these improvements.  The more significant ticket items like a new desktop/laptop may seem daunting to pursue.  However,... Read more