Sightsource, LLC

Some Things To Expect With Your First Software Developer Job When you first find yourself fortunate enough to make the jump from studying or learning programming on your own, either through schooling, one of the myriad of online learning opportunities, or through a developer bootcamp you'll likely be ecstatic that you get to turn your hobby into a career. This is a wonderful step your journey and here are some things that you'll likely encounter when you step into a professional environment. First of all is the sheer amount of technology that you will need to learn for the job. It's likely your learning covered a lot but not everything you will need for a professional environment and nearly every software developer position will come with lots of on the job learning. Perhaps you learned a lot about Angular and Python before you showed your promise and were hired, but now all your companies' projects are written in react, c#, and sql server. Part of being a developer is being adaptable and that means being able to use the logical skills you acquire throughout your journey and apply them to whatever toolset you are working with. Another aspect of professional development that stands out is the fact that you are working on stricter timelines, often in sprints, for your tickets/features. You may be  used to taking hours sitting in a coffeeshop to figure out your latest coding puzzle but when a client or a management team sets a date for a body of work to be completed, it may take a different approach to how you complete your work, and may even be a little anxiety inducing, but that is nothing to worry about when considering my next point. And that is that you are now most likely coding with a team of other developers with different levels of experience. No longer will you have those long nights of struggling on your own to learn your latest concept or figure out that bug that's been a thorn in your side for too long. This is one of the best parts of doing this professionally, learning from your colleagues and joining them in their endeavors to share your successes adds a whole new level of joy to programming. Not to mention how much it accelerates your rate of learning. But with all of that, I think one of the biggest differences is that now other people will be using the code you are writing in their day to day lives. Whether you are working on a project for a client or proprietary software, seeing your code actually being used by others and hearing positive feedback from them adds a whole other level of joy to this field. Your first developer job will be a huge leap with many changes and every day will be different with lots of learning so just make sure to enjoy the experience. Happy Coding.

Imposter Syndrome Software Development is a field that attracts certain kinds of individuals. People that want to be creative, solve problems, and build things that make positive, tangible changes in peoples' lives. The opportunities to do this with software are endless and it takes a multitude of skills and qualities for someone to achieve this. Patience, an eye for detail, communication, and most certainly passion are all imperative to thrive in development. Its this passion that pulls developers to take the extra time and care to think of edge cases, test relentlessly, build for efficiency and quality, and craft elegant code. Its this passion and all the joys of a successful coding venture that can lead to happy career or hobby. However, as many developers are aware, development is a challenging field at times, for sometimes different reasons. These challenges can impact our work, and in time, lead us to doubt our capabilities, regardless of ones experience or skill level. Repeated frustrations with a work of passion can lead to a developer doubting their skills. Whether its tickets being rejected, introducing an unexpected bug in an important feature, or just taking much longer on a body of work than was anticipated, we as developers can succumb to seeing ourselves as less capable than we really are, especially if its coupled with notable successes of our peers. The truth is that many people, in many fields, experience this Imposter Syndrome, where someone feels as though they aren't good enough for their position, that their peers have surpassed them, or that they are a fraud not deserving of their position. Its important to know that this is a temporary feeling and there are things that you can do to overcome it. One of the most helpful things you can do, is just communicate how you are feeling. Tell your coworkers, your boss, your friends, or anyone in your social circle about your difficulties. More likely than not, people will understand and often also have similar feelings to share about a time when they felt the same. It can help people know that its a normal experience and something that people get through and come out the other side  successful. Software development is a difficult but rewarding career and hobby, often coming with many ups and downs. Its important to celebrate your successes as well as share and learn from your struggles. Your peers are there to help you just as you have aided them and we all go through times of doubt. The sun still rose for the folks at Crowdstrike. Your build will compile. Happy Coding.

At Sightsource, we often guide clients through database transitions, including shifts from Microsoft SQL Server to PostgreSQL. If you're a SQL Server developer considering this move, here's what you need to know. PostgreSQL, or Postgres, is a powerful, open-source relational database system. While it shares many similarities with SQL Server, there are key differences to note. Syntax variations exist - Postgres uses double quotes for identifiers and single quotes for string literals, opposite to SQL Server. It's also stricter about data types and implicit conversions. Postgres offers a rich set of data types, including JSONB for JSON data and ARRAY for array storage. Procedural programming is done with PL/pgSQL, similar to T-SQL but with its own nuances. One significant difference is Postgres's use of Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC) for handling concurrency, which can lead to better performance in high-concurrency scenarios. Postgres also excels in extensibility, with a wide array of extensions available for specialized functionalities. Tools like pgAdmin or DBeaver offer similar functionality to Management Studio for database management. At Sightsource, we've helped numerous teams make this transition. While there's a learning curve, many developers find Postgres to be a powerful and flexible alternative to SQL Server. Considering a move to Postgres? Let's connect. Sightsource can guide you through the transition, ensuring you leverage Postgres's strengths while maintaining robust data practices. #PostgreSQL #SQLServer #DatabaseMigration #Sightsource

CI/CD With Git Actions At Sightsource, we're always looking for ways to enhance our development processes. Today, let's explore how GitHub Actions is revolutionizing Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD). GitHub Actions is a powerful automation tool built directly into GitHub. It allows developers to create workflows that build, test, and deploy code right from their GitHub repositories. This tight integration makes it an excellent choice for teams already using GitHub for version control. Key Benefits: Seamless Integration: With Actions, your CI/CD pipeline lives where your code does. No need to juggle multiple platforms or services. Flexibility: Actions supports a wide range of languages and frameworks. Whether you're working with Node.js, Python, Java, or .NET, GitHub Actions has you covered. Community-Driven: Leverage a vast ecosystem of pre-built actions or create custom ones. The possibilities are virtually limitless. Cost-Effective: GitHub offers free minutes for public repositories and a generous allocation for private ones, making it accessible for projects of all sizes. Setting Up Your First Workflow - Creating a CI/CD pipeline with GitHub Actions is straightforward: In your repository, create a .github/workflows directory. Add a YAML file (e.g., ci-cd.yml) to define your workflow. Use the workflow syntax to specify triggers, jobs, and steps. Here's a simple example for a Node.js project: name: Node.js CI/CD on:   push: branches: [ main ]   pull_request: branches: [ main ] jobs:   build: runs-on: ubuntu-latest steps: - uses: actions/checkout@v2 - name: Use Node.js    uses: actions/setup-node@v2    with:      node-version: '14.x' - run: npm ci - run: npm run build - run: npm test This workflow will run whenever code is pushed to the main branch or a pull request is created. It sets up a Node.js environment, installs dependencies, builds the project, and runs tests. Deployment with GitHub Actions For deployment, you can extend your workflow to include deployment steps. GitHub Actions integrates well with various cloud providers, making it easy to deploy to platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Best Practices: Keep secrets secure using GitHub's encrypted secrets feature. Use caching to speed up workflows and reduce build times. Implement branch protection rules to ensure CI passes before merging. Regularly review and update your workflows to maintain efficiency. At Sightsource, we've seen firsthand how GitHub Actions can streamline development workflows, improve code quality, and accelerate deployment cycles. By automating repetitive tasks and providing instant feedback, it allows our teams to focus on what really matters: building great software. Ready to supercharge your development process with GitHub Actions? Let's connect and explore how Sightsource can help implement a robust CI/CD pipeline tailored to your project's needs. #CICD #GitHubActions #Sightsource #SoftwareDevelopment

Unlocking Business Success with Data-Driven Insights At Sightsource, we've seen firsthand how data-driven decision making can transform businesses. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, leveraging data is no longer optional – it's a necessity for staying competitive and achieving growth. So, what exactly is data-driven decision making? Put simply, it's the process of using data to guide your business strategies and choices. Rather than relying on guesswork or gut feelings, you let the numbers do the talking. Here's why this approach is so powerful: Accuracy: Data doesn't lie. By basing decisions on hard evidence, you minimize the risk of costly mistakes. Efficiency: With data-driven insights, you can identify opportunities to streamline processes and optimize resources. Competitive Edge: Companies that harness data effectively can spot trends and adapt quickly, staying ahead of the curve. Customer-Centricity: Data helps you understand your customers on a deeper level, enabling targeted, personalized experiences. At Sightsource, we help our clients unlock the power of their data through cutting-edge analytics tools and expert guidance. Our team works to foster a data-driven culture that empowers businesses to make confident, informed decisions. Ready to take your decision making to the next level? Let's connect and explore how Sightsource can help you leverage data for success. #DataDrivenDecisionMaking #BusinessSuccess #TechConsulting #Sightsource